You should be graded for your attitude and if you put forth effort. If you try your hardest and fail a paper/test/etc., they shouldn't bash you for it. You should be graded a bit more on attitude and effort more than homework; that's what I'm trying to say. But, I guess teachers interpret it differently...
Yes, Luigison, I'm in 8th, FYI since you seem to be wondering.
"If you throw an object in the air, its shadow gets bigger. So, if you put a baseball next to the sun, its shadow would block out the Earth." ~One of my Friends