Spring Time Students

[Miss Fatale]

Maybe this wasn't a good idea

In this class, students complete several (that is, 7) assignments centered on the same topic. Due to the wording put in by the course designers, I do not have the power to approve or deny topics (I wish I could!). However having taught this course several times, I try to steer people away from bad topics....

Student: I want my topic to be [something that will work, but barely, let's say tractors]

Me: Student, I'm not sure that topic will work. How will you use this topic in the upcoming persuasive paper?

Student: Why do you keep picking on me? I want to write about tractors!

Me: Student, you can write about what you wish, I just want you to consider how this topic will work for all of the upcoming assignments.

A week after the first big paper

Student: Uh, Miss Fatale, I had a hard time with this topic and I don't know how I'm going to use it for all of the assignments, like the persuasive paper.

Me:

The Real World

I try to point out how the work we do applies to the "real world" (a phrase I hate). But sometimes, the real reason we are doing something is so students can just practice their writing skills.

Me: So, this assignment is kind of weird, but kind of fun. You might not create a formalized document like this on the job, but you might be asked to do something similar. For example, at my husband's job [real world example of this assignment].

Student: But when would we use this in the real world???


What's the Procedure?

Student: Miss Fatale, I'm moving in a few weeks. What should I do?

Me: Well, this week is a great time to figure out how you will allocate your time for research and writing. I encourage you to turn in your work early. You can also turn in your work late [reviews school's late policy].

Student: But that's it? There's no procedure for this situation?

Me: You can turn your work in early or you can turn it in late.

Student: But I have to pack.

Me: Well, that's why papers can be turned in late. When I was a student, I couldn't turn in work late at all. [I hate the "back in my day" stuff, but it's true.]

But I thought it's what you wanted

Me: Student, this paper is entirely plagiarized; it's copied 100% from another source. All work that is not your own must be cited correctly. If you have questions about how to do this, let me know. For examples, please read your textbook and visit these websites.....

Student: But I thought it's what you wanted!

[Tama]

Oh boy, stupid students.

[Magpie]

Why do I get the feeling that this isn't the first time these people have taken the course.

Can I offer you some booze, or do you have marking?

[Exaspera]

I teach at a small community college. It's almost like high school the way some students behave. I do not tolerate assignments being handed in late, yet I still get every excuse in the book-my printer broke, I had to work, etc.-yet they knew when it was due and didn't follow through, like in the real world. And they get a zero anyway.

I worry sometimes.

[Hanzoku]

Did you report the last one to his teacher / administration? Plagarism is normally a dismissable offense at schools...

[Miss Fatale]

I don't get to drink much, because there's always grading to be done.

And yes, the last student was reported to the school for plagiarism. I take plagiarism very seriously. I spend a lot of time discussing why it's wrong, and how to avoid it, as well as offering a variety of resources for students to use. I don't accept excuses when it comes to that.

[Magpie]

I don't get to drink much, because there's always grading to be done.

And yes, the last student was reported to the school for plagiarism. I take plagiarism very seriously. I spend a lot of time discussing why it's wrong, and how to avoid it, as well as offering a variety of resources for students to use. I don't accept excuses when it comes to that.

Well then here's some cookies.

And THANK YOU for being willing to go through with reporting students for academic offenses. Far too many instructors want to be nice/don't have the energy to deal with the appeals process.

[Pagan]

I teach at a small community college. It's almost like high school the way some students behave. I do not tolerate assignments being handed in late, yet I still get every excuse in the book-my printer broke, I had to work, etc.-yet they knew when it was due and didn't follow through, like in the real world. And they get a zero anyway.

I worry sometimes.

I'm assuming that you do make some exceptions?

[Exaspera]

I'm assuming that you do make some exceptions?

It depends upon the situation. If they have missed classes, been late on a regular basis with no explanations and now their printer breaks, I tend not to give them the benefit of the doubt. There was one student however, who told me that he would miss 2 classes due to training for the census, who had not missed a class all semester, who sat up front and participated-I accepted his late paper. No problem!

I'm not a tyrant. I just don't put up with BS.

[Pagan]

It depends upon the situation.

I was gonna say. One semester in college, I had something assigned on a Friday due the next Monday and I didn't do it considering my dad almost died over the weekend. I didn't go to class that day, either, and not thinking straight, didn't call the prof (this was before e-mail). Got to class Wednesday and told her what happened. By then, I had the assignment done. She wouldn't take it and her attitude was pretty much "suck it up".

[South Texan]

Student: But I thought it's what you wanted!

Next time, why not explain that when you say you want papers that are well written, show a lot of research and analysis, contain correct grammar and spelling, stay on topic, include arguments and facts that support whatever position the author takes on the topic, cite the other works upon which the author relies, and actually make sense when read, you mean that you want the students to do the work of CREATING a paper like that rather than FINDING it already written by someone else.

[Tama]

I always enjoyed classes like that, where I had to write...

My papers always blew everyone away.

Sorry, tooting my own horn.

I always enjoyed hearing the teacher tell us the HORRIBLE CONSEQUENCES for plagiarizing...

[chainedbarista]

yes, the special snowflakes of today can't seem to grasp the concept of time management, hard due dates and what research is; i doubt i could handle these types as a teacher-i'd be reporting too many of them or 'suggesting' they take a preparation class instead of the current one, since it seems to be beyond their current skill levels.

argh.

[lupo pazzesco]

we had to give presentations in a research methods class I'm taking this semester. Essentially, we're presenting on a topic we've been studying ALL semester. research the literature, compile a survey to test a hypothesis (or 3, in my case), analyze the data and put together a presentation.

Oh man, you should've heard the whining and complaining, even though the prof specifically set it up so we had due dates for various portions of the project. i.e., literature view due one week, two weeks later, turn in a definitive research question and corresponding hypotheses. Two weeks after that, compile the survey instrument, then meet with the prof to give it a test run. During spring break, give the survey to a sample of respondents, only 20 people required. After that, two weeks devoted to data analysis, then one week devoted to putting together powerpoint presentations, and finally, last week, presentations were given.

You'd think people had NO idea what was going on, and they were scrambling to get shit done at the last second and bitching because they had NO time to prepare!!11!!! On top of that, the presentation for each person was 15 minutes, 1 minute intro, 10 minutes for the presentation of how the research went on and the results, and 2-3 minutes for Q&A. And of course you hear "But how am I gonna talk for 10 whole minutes!?!?!?" Grr. If you've been working on this project for the whole flippin' semester, you should be able to talk about it for 10 freakin' minutes!!

One classmate just...didn't show up at all for his presentation. And he tried to tell the prof he had NO idea it was his day to present. Well, nuts to him because when the presentation schedule went up, he initialed next to his name, to signify he read the schedule and knew when it was his turn.

Special snowflake syndrome in college. Gotta love it...

Wow, I'm so sorry I rambled so much! Oops...

[Miss Fatale]

Next time, why not explain that ....... you mean that you want the students to do the work of CREATING a paper like that rather than FINDING it already written by someone else.

Oh I love this! I'll file this away.