Don't suffer in silence - share 'em here!
"Alexander Fleming discovered that mold was inherited by bacteria."
And the viruses have been angry ever since, and saying "But Grandma promised me the mold!
"I know I shouldn't be diagnosing anyone with anything without a license to do so, but seriously, something just isn't right with humans."
In a discussion board on the arts in the Middle Ages, one student contributed this gem:
What stood out to me the most is the quill pen. The pens are made from large Goose quills and they are great writing tools. Plastic is so bad for the environment so it is great to see them using a non-plastic alternative for everyday use.
Ummmmm......
Well, but it's true!
Environmentally sound ink, you know, and....hmmmm...well, maybe except for the goose.
I was dispirited when I discovered they don't just pluck a few feathers up from the ground in the barnyard.
Of course, I guess if the goose is going to be killed and eaten, better that the quills not be wasted.
Anyway, I have a dozen or so working ones, if anyone wants to try them.
Might need to sharpen 'em up a bit, the kids who (mostly) use them press a bit hard and blunt the tip, sometimes, but otherwise, they're alright...
M.
Playing "Monopoly" always reminds me of the wise words of the late great Kenny Rogers.
"You don't spit in the wind?"
Etc....
M.
Quote from: mamselle on September 28, 2019, 07:25:41 AM
"You don't spit in the wind?"
Etc....
M.
Nor do you tug on Superman's cape, nor pull the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger.
These are not in any way advisable activities.
According to his Wikipedia page literally right now, Rogers isn't dead yet.
Quote from: RatGuy on September 28, 2019, 07:21:04 AM
Playing "Monopoly" always reminds me of the wise words of the late great Kenny Rogers.
"Sometimes you got to fight when you're a man."
Quote from: traductio on September 28, 2019, 01:51:56 PM
Quote from: mamselle on September 28, 2019, 07:25:41 AM
"You don't spit in the wind?"
Etc....
M.
Nor do you tug on Superman's cape, nor pull the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger.
These are not in any way advisable activities.
And those are not from Kenny Rogers, they're from Jim Croce.
Shows how closely I ever listened to the radio then...
M.
Quote from: mamselle on September 27, 2019, 07:03:39 PM
Well, but it's true!
Environmentally sound ink, you know, and....hmmmm...well, maybe except for the goose.
I was dispirited when I discovered they don't just pluck a few feathers up from the ground in the barnyard.
Of course, I guess if the goose is going to be killed and eaten, better that the quills not be wasted.
Anyway, I have a dozen or so working ones, if anyone wants to try them.
Might need to sharpen 'em up a bit, the kids who (mostly) use them press a bit hard and blunt the tip, sometimes, but otherwise, they're alright...
M.
An artist writing about pen-and-ink drawing once said that he got all the quills he needed for pens from a nearby pond where migratory geese passed through.
Cool!
I do have one smaller quill from, I think, a pheasant or something similar. It does a lovely job of making fine lines for scrollwork.
But you do have to isolate and clean them if found live, they can carry various tiny vermin, of course.
M.
"These evil desires are birthed into society through sin and christened with putrid breath by ancient sages still barely old enough to comprehend them, but too beaten to conquer the miasma created by these monsters. What names these cantankerous mind-germs are ascribed varies from culture to culture, but, as language is the favorite hilt of morality's sometimes tempered blade, these names bear chief importance in the war against sin."
I feel like someone would rather be writing a fantasy novel than the literary analysis paper I assigned, but OK...
A review of "The Seven Deadly Sins"?
Or plagiarized from Swift?
M.
Quote from: present_mirth on October 04, 2019, 10:45:39 AM
"These evil desires are birthed into society through sin and christened with putrid breath by ancient sages still barely old enough to comprehend them, but too beaten to conquer the miasma created by these monsters. What names these cantankerous mind-germs are ascribed varies from culture to culture, but, as language is the favorite hilt of morality's sometimes tempered blade, these names bear chief importance in the war against sin."
I feel like someone would rather be writing a fantasy novel than the literary analysis paper I assigned, but OK...
Does the entire paper read like this? I'd wonder if student has run a quote through one of those online paraphrasing systems, though it does read too coherently, if exaggeratedly high in style, to be generated by a machine. But what are "ancient sages still barely old enough to comprehend them, but too beaten to conquer the miasma"?
Quote from: mamselle on October 04, 2019, 11:00:03 AM
A review of "The Seven Deadly Sins"?
Or plagiarized from Swift?
M.
Got it in one, pretty much! The paper is about
Dr. Faustus, specifically the Seven Deadly Sins pageant-within-a-play. Fortunately, the rest of it is not nearly as overwritten, and is really pretty decent on the whole; I am also confident it's the student's own work, he just couldn't resist the temptation to try to make his introduction all fancy.
Students do sometimes like to show off their Sunday-go-to-meeting fancy vocabulary. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I've never forgotten the start I got when an undergrad student used "crapulent," more or less correctly, in an exam essay.
Not a sentence, but the title of a submitted Word doc:
TheyWereRacist.docx.
What this student lacks in subtlety, hu gains in alignment with the Zeitgeist.
Quote from: writingprof on October 28, 2019, 08:19:02 AM
Not a sentence, but the title of a submitted Word doc:
TheyWereRacist.docx.
What this student lacks in subtlety, hu gains in alignment with the Zeitgeist.
Saves time for the person grading; if the grader is an "activist", then they can just assign the A+ and move on without opening it.
"The hexane was hated until the temperature stopped increasing."
"Due to deeply embedded fish line broken humorous, need surgery septic infection."
I marked off so many points on the student's paper just for this sentence.
Quote from: Aster on December 04, 2019, 01:05:54 PM
"Due to deeply embedded fish line broken humorous, need surgery septic infection."
I marked off so many points on the student's paper just for this sentence.
I'm curious as to the context of this sentence. Nursing class? Creative writing? Excuse for absence?
"The Russian government was then seeking to build the Trans-Atlantic Railway through Persia."
(No wonder the tsars didn't make it.)
Quote from: Aster on December 04, 2019, 01:05:54 PM
"Due to deeply embedded fish line broken humorous, need surgery septic infection."
I marked off so many points on the student's paper just for this sentence.
I strongly suspect the use of a paraphrasing website here.
From a student self-assessment this week:
I came to class every day and completed all the work, even if I didn't understand it.
That last part goes a long way in explaining her final grade.
My students confused "surely" with surly.
And causal with casual, every time. Nature is very casual. God has casual powers.
Nature of reality meant the reality of nature. Consciousness was conscience.
From a response to cantos 3-5 of The Rape of the Lock:
"This was like reading an espionage scene and the Yu Gi Oh manga fused together."
I don't really know what this means, but it's awesome, regardless.
"We are used to being taught in school about major American wars, like the Crusades and the War of 1812."
Yep. I will need more coffee before I can write a comment on that paper.
From the final lab report of the semester:
"Trial 3 is our best trial because it has the largest percent error."
I have failed.
From a student who is at least forty . . . "I'll confess that I had never heard of gentrification before this assignment."
The Left has failed.
In Comp I we learned the basics to write a paper based on our own onions and life experiences.
I know it's just a typo, but it made me giggle. Or maybe that was from the stack of lousy Comp II papers that came before this one. I'm a little punchy at the moment.
Quote from: AmLitHist on January 30, 2020, 08:06:44 AM
In Comp I we learned the basics to write a paper based on our own onions and life experiences.
I know it's just a typo, but it made me giggle. Or maybe that was from the stack of lousy Comp II papers that came before this one. I'm a little punchy at the moment.
Well, remember the immortal words of Shrek; "Onions have
layers."
Quote from: AmLitHist on January 30, 2020, 08:06:44 AM
In Comp I we learned the basics to write a paper based on our own onions and life experiences.
I know it's just a typo, but it made me giggle. Or maybe that was from the stack of lousy Comp II papers that came before this one. I'm a little punchy at the moment.
Spellcheck didn't flag it. So it HAS to be correct.
Quote from: AmLitHist on January 30, 2020, 08:06:44 AM
In Comp I we learned the basics to write a paper based on our own onions and life experiences.
With some papers, that might explain so much....
"The leaf welted".
Ouch.
"Waa laaa!" is still one of my favorite moments.
And
"Socrates here. Really needed to just check himself."
Quote from: AmLitHist on January 30, 2020, 08:06:44 AM
In Comp I we learned the basics to write a paper based on our own onions and life experiences.
I know it's just a typo, but it made me giggle. Or maybe that was from the stack of lousy Comp II papers that came before this one. I'm a little punchy at the moment.
Perhaps the assignment was Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott"?
The profundity of this one is profound.
QuoteEver since I was born, I have been going about my day throughout my life.
Reviewing the Coriolis Effect today. I was discussing the mythos behind which way that toilets flush in Australia.
Stu Dent: "I was stoned in Brazil once and the clouds were all moving in the same direction."
Reviewing woody plant growth patterns in class today.
Stu Dent: "So is marijuana a herb?"
Me to whole class: "Okay. Picture a cannabis plant. What do you think?"
Sea of blank faces. Our state has very lax marijuana laws, and at least half of these students have smoked/ingested marijuana. Some have definitely grown the plant indoors, it's the most popular indoor cultivated plant in the state. Half of the gardening bookshelf at the Barnes & Nobles is dedicated just to growing weed.
Me: "What? Nobody knows what a marijuana plant looks like?"
Nothing. Not even giggling or mumbling. This is getting weird. Maybe they think there's an undercover cop in the room.
So I had to tell them what an adult marijuana plant looked like. Like most of them didn't already know. Lame.
Quote from: Blackadder on February 19, 2020, 06:31:15 PM
The profundity of this one is profound.
QuoteEver since I was born, I have been going about my day throughout my life.
That would make a good ice cream koan.
"Also, men would not want to change their name to their wife's last name because more than likely it would probably break their morals and their manly hood."
Quote from: apl68 on February 20, 2020, 07:35:57 AM
Quote from: Blackadder on February 19, 2020, 06:31:15 PM
The profundity of this one is profound.
QuoteEver since I was born, I have been going about my day throughout my life.
That would make a good ice cream koan.
Whhoohooo! Very good!
M.
Quote from: lilyb on February 20, 2020, 10:20:22 AM
"Also, men would not want to change their name to their wife's last name because more than likely it would probably break their morals and their manly hood."
Yes, those XY thingy-s are all hoodlums. It's your manly moral duty to keep those hoods upright!
Quote from: lilyb on February 20, 2020, 10:20:22 AM
"Also, men would not want to change their name to their wife's last name because more than likely it would probably break their morals and their manly hood."
But if they are circumcised then maybe that isn't a problem to worry about?
Certain times of the year, the sounds of incests and deer can be heard in the nearby woods.
Once is a typo; it appears the same way 8 other times in the 500-word paper.
We're nearing the midterm, and students have the opportunity for some bonus by answering some "midterm reflection" questions on the LMS. Here's one student's response:
QuoteSo far, this class has lived up to all the information I found online about it, a lot of reading and a lot of writing. In all honesty, coming to class has little to no purpose in my opinion. We come to class at eight in the morning no matter the weather. Pouring rain? Does not matter. Twenty degrees? Does not matter. Tornado? Does not matter. All for what, a fifty minute lecture about powerpoints and works cited pages. All I am saying is, if we are coming to class this early, I want to enjoy it. I was not even supposed to be in this class, I wanted to have my instructor from last semester, I still wonder how that got messed up.
I guess I also need to lecture on awareness of audience.
Quote from: RatGuy on February 27, 2020, 07:00:35 AM
We're nearing the midterm, and students have the opportunity for some bonus by answering some "midterm reflection" questions on the LMS. Here's one student's response:
QuoteSo far, this class has lived up to all the information I found online about it, a lot of reading and a lot of writing. In all honesty, coming to class has little to no purpose in my opinion. We come to class at eight in the morning no matter the weather. Pouring rain? Does not matter. Twenty degrees? Does not matter. Tornado? Does not matter. All for what, a fifty minute lecture about powerpoints and works cited pages. All I am saying is, if we are coming to class this early, I want to enjoy it. I was not even supposed to be in this class, I wanted to have my instructor from last semester, I still wonder how that got messed up.
I guess I also need to lecture on awareness of audience.
I can't wait to see how
full time employment appeals.
Quote from: marshwiggle on February 27, 2020, 07:23:11 AM
Quote from: RatGuy on February 27, 2020, 07:00:35 AM
We're nearing the midterm, and students have the opportunity for some bonus by answering some "midterm reflection" questions on the LMS. Here's one student's response:
QuoteSo far, this class has lived up to all the information I found online about it, a lot of reading and a lot of writing. In all honesty, coming to class has little to no purpose in my opinion. We come to class at eight in the morning no matter the weather. Pouring rain? Does not matter. Twenty degrees? Does not matter. Tornado? Does not matter. All for what, a fifty minute lecture about powerpoints and works cited pages. All I am saying is, if we are coming to class this early, I want to enjoy it. I was not even supposed to be in this class, I wanted to have my instructor from last semester, I still wonder how that got messed up.
I guess I also need to lecture on awareness of audience.
I can't wait to see how full time employment appeals.
My thoughts as well. I really hope that this student is a freshman who still has a couple of years to learn a few "it's not all about you" lessons.
Quote from: RatGuy on February 27, 2020, 07:00:35 AM
We're nearing the midterm, and students have the opportunity for some bonus by answering some "midterm reflection" questions on the LMS. Here's one student's response:
QuoteSo far, this class has lived up to all the information I found online about it, a lot of reading and a lot of writing. In all honesty, coming to class has little to no purpose in my opinion. We come to class at eight in the morning no matter the weather. Pouring rain? Does not matter. Twenty degrees? Does not matter. Tornado? Does not matter. All for what, a fifty minute lecture about powerpoints and works cited pages. All I am saying is, if we are coming to class this early, I want to enjoy it. I was not even supposed to be in this class, I wanted to have my instructor from last semester, I still wonder how that got messed up.
I guess I also need to lecture on awareness of audience.
No matter the weather! You mean you don't cancel if there is a chance they might get their shoes wet?! Or at least send over an Uber to pick them up with an umbrella and a latte? [insert eye roll here]
Yikes. That student is going to be in for a shock when they are fired for being late. For lots of entry level jobs, it only takes once.
Quote from: marshwiggle on February 27, 2020, 07:23:11 AM
Quote from: RatGuy on February 27, 2020, 07:00:35 AM
We're nearing the midterm, and students have the opportunity for some bonus by answering some "midterm reflection" questions on the LMS. Here's one student's response:
QuoteSo far, this class has lived up to all the information I found online about it, a lot of reading and a lot of writing. In all honesty, coming to class has little to no purpose in my opinion. We come to class at eight in the morning no matter the weather. Pouring rain? Does not matter. Twenty degrees? Does not matter. Tornado? Does not matter. All for what, a fifty minute lecture about powerpoints and works cited pages. All I am saying is, if we are coming to class this early, I want to enjoy it. I was not even supposed to be in this class, I wanted to have my instructor from last semester, I still wonder how that got messed up.
I guess I also need to lecture on awareness of audience.
I can't wait to see how full time employment appeals.
And this, people, is why you should always make your children work in the summer. Geeze.
Quote from: AmLitHist on February 22, 2020, 11:52:43 AM
Certain times of the year, the sounds of incests and deer can be heard in the nearby woods.
Once is a typo; it appears the same way 8 other times in the 500-word paper.
Search and replace is not everyone's friend.
Auto-correct is not everyone's friend.
At least it was wrong only through a 500-word paper. I've seen some big reports that fail on a key technical word every time for a hundred pages.
Quote from: backatit on February 27, 2020, 02:23:54 PM
Quote from: marshwiggle on February 27, 2020, 07:23:11 AM
Quote from: RatGuy on February 27, 2020, 07:00:35 AM
We're nearing the midterm, and students have the opportunity for some bonus by answering some "midterm reflection" questions on the LMS. Here's one student's response:
QuoteSo far, this class has lived up to all the information I found online about it, a lot of reading and a lot of writing. In all honesty, coming to class has little to no purpose in my opinion. We come to class at eight in the morning no matter the weather. Pouring rain? Does not matter. Twenty degrees? Does not matter. Tornado? Does not matter. All for what, a fifty minute lecture about powerpoints and works cited pages. All I am saying is, if we are coming to class this early, I want to enjoy it. I was not even supposed to be in this class, I wanted to have my instructor from last semester, I still wonder how that got messed up.
I guess I also need to lecture on awareness of audience.
I can't wait to see how full time employment appeals.
And this, people, is why you should always make your children work in the summer. Geeze.
I have a 50-something friend who does hard physical work outside involving trees and electric poles. All year round (and this is Canada). He says that they can never keep under-30 employees because they all quit when they find out that they're expecting to work in bad weather conditions. One quit in the first hour of his first day when finding out that they're expected to work in the rain. And that was before the snow came this winter. He's really sick of hearing how Millennials have an unfair reputation for being lazy.
Had Joseph left, Mary probably would have went through miscarriage and this could have been shown to Joseph in a dream therefor the birth of baby Jesus would have never been a thing.
I'm ... not really sure whether the grammar or the theology here is more startling.
Um...they're engaging with the material...?
But..yeah.
M.
Some of the negative constipation around the vaccination issue is based on individual liberty and religious freedom.
Uh.....
Quote from: AmLitHist on March 08, 2020, 08:38:54 AM
Some of the negative constipation around the vaccination issue is based on individual liberty and religious freedom.
Uh.....
LOL! Added to Posting Hall of Fame.
I gave a midterm question on dimensional analysis along the lines of "find the speed at which the model must be tested if the model is one-quarter the size of the original [building/airplane/hot air balloon]..."
Student proceeds to write "one quarter = 25." Multiplies everything by 25...
I had another student that, when presented with a problem involving a vacuum chamber, stated "vacuum = no gravity." He then perpetrated the worst crimes against a free-body diagram that I've yet seen.
Third-year engineering students in both cases.
Quote from: AmLitHist on March 08, 2020, 08:38:54 AM
Some of the negative constipation around the vaccination issue is based on individual liberty and religious freedom.
Uh.....
I am constantly correcting misconceptions about positive and negative reinforcements and punishments. What is the world is
negative constipation?
Quote from: FishProf on March 12, 2020, 07:20:47 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on March 08, 2020, 08:38:54 AM
Some of the negative constipation around the vaccination issue is based on individual liberty and religious freedom.
Uh.....
I am constantly correcting misconceptions about positive and negative reinforcements and punishments. What is the world is negative constipation?
Dysentery, of course. Although how getting "the runs" as a side effect of vaccination would be an individual liberty and religious freedom issues remains obscure.
Quote from: apl68 on March 12, 2020, 07:37:27 AM
Quote from: FishProf on March 12, 2020, 07:20:47 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on March 08, 2020, 08:38:54 AM
Some of the negative constipation around the vaccination issue is based on individual liberty and religious freedom.
Uh.....
I am constantly correcting misconceptions about positive and negative reinforcements and punishments. What is the world is negative constipation?
Dysentery, of course. Although how getting "the runs" as a side effect of vaccination would be an individual liberty and religious freedom issues remains obscure.
Forced bathroom confinement curtailing liberty? Still murky on the religious issue though.
In one of my classes, students need to interview and immigrant and then write up his or her story. One of the papers has the following sentence:
"Imagine spending thousands of dollars to get a Ph.D for you to end up being just an unemployed citizen- that's the situation of many in Haiti."
Actually, yes, I can imagine that.
Of course, Haiti is a much, much poorer country than the U.S. I don't doubt an adjunct's life in the U.S. is much better economically than a poor person in Haiti. And I do not know how many unemployed PhDs there are in Haiti. But it struck me that this was a strange way to emphasize the poverty of Haiti (especially since the immigrant the student interviewed does not have a PhD).
"Since the beginning of time, standardized testing has caused problems in schools."
God, make it stop.
Quote from: writingprof on March 24, 2020, 11:01:33 AM
"Since the beginning of time, standardized testing has caused problems in schools."
Well, I can see history tests at the beginning of time being particularly problematic.
Quote from: marshwiggle on March 24, 2020, 11:13:14 AM
Quote from: writingprof on March 24, 2020, 11:01:33 AM
"Since the beginning of time, standardized testing has caused problems in schools."
Well, I can see history tests at the beginning of time being particularly problematic.
Well, they should have been easy to pass, anyway.
"Furthermore, the way that the peaches present themselves bear heavy resemblance to human butts."
Quote from: Nightshade on April 01, 2020, 01:40:36 PM
"Furthermore, the way that the peaches present themselves bear heavy resemblance to human butts."
How risqué of them - those naughty, naughty peaches!
Quote from: Nightshade on April 01, 2020, 01:40:36 PM
"Furthermore, the way that the peaches present themselves bear heavy resemblance to human butts."
That's a fantastic sentence! I appreciate the simile. I always appreciate figurative writing.
(About a year ago I supervised a master's student who wrote a fairly remarkable thesis about notions of authenticity in advertising. Her focus was a certain line of lingerie, but she was clearly struggling to maintain a sense of decorum in her writing. She found many creative ways to avoid the word "ass.")
Quote from: traductio on April 02, 2020, 08:00:33 AM
Quote from: Nightshade on April 01, 2020, 01:40:36 PM
"Furthermore, the way that the peaches present themselves bear heavy resemblance to human butts."
That's a fantastic sentence! I appreciate the simile. I always appreciate figurative writing.
(About a year ago I supervised a master's student who wrote a fairly remarkable thesis about notions of authenticity in advertising. Her focus was a certain line of lingerie, but she was clearly struggling to maintain a sense of decorum in her writing. She found many creative ways to avoid the word "ass.")
I laughed until my stomach hurt when I read it, even though the student was quite right in their analysis. I'm glad to hear others found it as lovely as I did. What an interesting thesis on the part of your student!
Quote from: Nightshade on April 02, 2020, 12:53:36 PM
Quote from: traductio on April 02, 2020, 08:00:33 AM
Quote from: Nightshade on April 01, 2020, 01:40:36 PM
"Furthermore, the way that the peaches present themselves bear heavy resemblance to human butts."
That's a fantastic sentence! I appreciate the simile. I always appreciate figurative writing.
(About a year ago I supervised a master's student who wrote a fairly remarkable thesis about notions of authenticity in advertising. Her focus was a certain line of lingerie, but she was clearly struggling to maintain a sense of decorum in her writing. She found many creative ways to avoid the word "ass.")
I laughed until my stomach hurt when I read it, even though the student was quite right in their analysis. I'm glad to hear others found it as lovely as I did. What an interesting thesis on the part of your student!
Saying the peaches "present themselves" this way suggests to me that the peaches made a conscious, deliberate act. As in, "Hey, humans! Look at this!"
Peaches mooning humans...
M.
Quote from: mamselle on April 02, 2020, 06:43:30 PM
Peaches mooning humans...
M.
This is clearly the thread I needed to read tonight.
"God told Eve to bare children..."
"I was directed by my advisor to ask you my question regarding the [Technical Basketweaving I] courses being offered next semester. I am wondering why seven [Technical Basketweaving I] courses are offered but four are for [Technical Major 1] students and two are for [Technical Major II] students leaving only one [Technical Basketweaving I] class for the remaining students not in those other two programs but still need to take the course as a prerequisite for various graduate programs?"
My reply: Those majors need the course for requirements HERE, and they need all the seats. It has been this way for years, I'm surprised your advisor doesn't know this.
Quote from: smallcleanrat on April 02, 2020, 05:07:33 PM
Quote from: Nightshade on April 02, 2020, 12:53:36 PM
Quote from: traductio on April 02, 2020, 08:00:33 AM
Quote from: Nightshade on April 01, 2020, 01:40:36 PM
"Furthermore, the way that the peaches present themselves bear heavy resemblance to human butts."
That's a fantastic sentence! I appreciate the simile. I always appreciate figurative writing.
(About a year ago I supervised a master's student who wrote a fairly remarkable thesis about notions of authenticity in advertising. Her focus was a certain line of lingerie, but she was clearly struggling to maintain a sense of decorum in her writing. She found many creative ways to avoid the word "ass.")
I laughed until my stomach hurt when I read it, even though the student was quite right in their analysis. I'm glad to hear others found it as lovely as I did. What an interesting thesis on the part of your student!
Saying the peaches "present themselves" this way suggests to me that the peaches made a conscious, deliberate act. As in, "Hey, humans! Look at this!"
Their crude sense of humor is one reason why I've never liked peaches. Or beans.
This sentence comes from a student paper on the French film, A Very Long Engagement (Un long dimanche de fiançailles), set during World War I:
"One thing that surprised me about this film was the sexual content. Sex is a part of life, but there was a particular scene with a house that it seemed men went to, to indulge with women. I had never heard of that at this time period. "
I was soooo tempted to reply with "Since the dawn of time..."
"They were all spoiled pre-Madonnas."
omg you guys, those are great! Thanks for the pick-me-up!
Mine, from today's batch of essays:
QuoteThe explosion of Africans is not by poverty but by race.
I
think what they meant was that the rate of
exposure of
African-Americans to hazardous waste sites and materials is best explained by race, rather than economic factors. But I can't be sure. Context does not help at all, in this instance.
Quote from: apl68 on April 03, 2020, 08:04:23 AM
Quote from: smallcleanrat on April 02, 2020, 05:07:33 PM
Quote from: Nightshade on April 02, 2020, 12:53:36 PM
Quote from: traductio on April 02, 2020, 08:00:33 AM
Quote from: Nightshade on April 01, 2020, 01:40:36 PM
"Furthermore, the way that the peaches present themselves bear heavy resemblance to human butts."
That's a fantastic sentence! I appreciate the simile. I always appreciate figurative writing.
(About a year ago I supervised a master's student who wrote a fairly remarkable thesis about notions of authenticity in advertising. Her focus was a certain line of lingerie, but she was clearly struggling to maintain a sense of decorum in her writing. She found many creative ways to avoid the word "ass.")
I laughed until my stomach hurt when I read it, even though the student was quite right in their analysis. I'm glad to hear others found it as lovely as I did. What an interesting thesis on the part of your student!
Saying the peaches "present themselves" this way suggests to me that the peaches made a conscious, deliberate act. As in, "Hey, humans! Look at this!"
Their crude sense of humor is one reason why I've never liked peaches. Or beans.
It's the heaviness, of peaches, of butts, of their crude sense of humor, the heaviness is what did it for me.
"The specialty of this article is that the words are being used in the form of phrases."
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on April 19, 2020, 10:07:47 AM
"The specialty of this article is that the words are being used in the form of phrases."
This seems like a variation on that English lit essay favorite, "This story/poem/play has a lot of diction."
"I had the urge to panic and abort ship."
Please, it's not a "ship" until it sails on the ocean. The phrase you're looking for is "products of naval construction."
Quote from: 0susanna on April 20, 2020, 09:15:52 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on April 19, 2020, 10:07:47 AM
"The specialty of this article is that the words are being used in the form of phrases."
This seems like a variation on that English lit essay favorite, "This story/poem/play has a lot of diction."
!
I hadn't heard that one before!
Quote from: writingprof on April 21, 2020, 10:28:36 AM
"I had the urge to panic and abort ship."
Please, it's not a "ship" until it sails on the ocean. The phrase you're looking for is "products of naval construction."
When the economy gets back to normal, we're going to be missing all those ships that were cancelled before construction by panicky builders.
Quote from: apl68 on April 21, 2020, 12:48:14 PM
Quote from: writingprof on April 21, 2020, 10:28:36 AM
"I had the urge to panic and abort ship."
Please, it's not a "ship" until it sails on the ocean. The phrase you're looking for is "products of naval construction."
When the economy gets back to normal, we're going to be missing all those ships that were cancelled before construction by panicky builders.
Hmmmm. If this is a continuation of my abortion joke, it is too subtle for mine eyes.
Quote from: 0susanna on April 20, 2020, 09:15:52 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on April 19, 2020, 10:07:47 AM
"The specialty of this article is that the words are being used in the form of phrases."
This seems like a variation on that English lit essay favorite, "This story/poem/play has a lot of diction."
Back in my days as an AP lit exam reader, I read sooo many variations on "The author is using diction and syntax..."
(Why, yes, literature generally consists of words
and sentences. How clever of you to have noticed!)
Quote from: present_mirth on April 21, 2020, 05:13:48 PM
Quote from: 0susanna on April 20, 2020, 09:15:52 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on April 19, 2020, 10:07:47 AM
"The specialty of this article is that the words are being used in the form of phrases."
This seems like a variation on that English lit essay favorite, "This story/poem/play has a lot of diction."
Back in my days as an AP lit exam reader, I read sooo many variations on "The author is using diction and syntax..."
(Why, yes, literature generally consists of words and sentences. How clever of you to have noticed!)
lmao!
Today's gem from grading jail: "In 19th century, America faced a Hurricane Named "Katrina". Which nearly destroyed nearly all America."
My current favorite:
"Basically, theater plays were kind of like live television or live shows of entertainment before those things were invented."
Quote
lmao!
Today's gem from grading jail: "In 19th century, America faced a Hurricane Named "Katrina". Which nearly destroyed nearly all America."
I guess my US history class skipped that bit. . .
Very bold use of capital letters.
Very Important Hurricane Indeed!
Quote from: Pendragon on April 27, 2020, 10:22:01 AM
My current favorite:
"Basically, theater plays were kind of like live television or live shows of entertainment before those things were invented."
Reminiscent of the time Charlie Brown's sister Sally wrote about how ancient Greece had no television, but many philosophers. She said that she, personally, wouldn't care to spend all evening watching a philosopher.
Quote from: apl68 on April 27, 2020, 01:45:39 PM
Reminiscent of the time Charlie Brown's sister Sally wrote about how ancient Greece had no television, but many philosophers. She said that she, personally, wouldn't care to spend all evening watching a philosopher.
https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1974/05/01
"Communication has always been a cornerstone in conveying a message."
Yes, and in mathematics, x=x.
"Religion has coexisted with humans for hundreds of thousands of years..."
Bonus point for first sentence.
Quote from: Diogenes on May 05, 2020, 08:31:58 AM
"Religion has coexisted with humans for hundreds of thousands of years..."
Bonus point for first sentence.
And for avoiding "since the beginning of time," which had to have been a temptation.
I got one! I finally got one!
"From the dawn of time, chiropractic therapy has been seen as a hoax or a religion".
The real beauty, however, is the VERY NEXT sentence where he identifies (correctly) the year of Chiropractic's invention; 1895.
Quote from: FishProf on May 08, 2020, 11:24:47 AM
I got one! I finally got one!
"From the dawn of time, chiropractic therapy has been seen as a hoax or a religion".
The real beauty, however, is the VERY NEXT sentence where he identifies (correctly) the year of Chiropractic's invention; 1895.
=D
I have these gems from the same paper.
1) The human tissue is very manageable and using its thermal effects to focus high – intensity on the specific area of interest is the main source of sonoluminescence.
2) Although this is a process for the determination of such live changing evidence, the total numbers varied between if the US was effective enough to capture the area of interest or if it was differed when compared to the HIFU devices.
3) Therefore, this specific treatment can't be a definitive method of therapy as it has many limitations, and the side effects are very dangerous when in comparison to diseases that are inclusive with the US therapy.
4) It has the ability to underestimate or potentially overlooked and the machines that are available via athletic trainers or sporting events aren't as effective as larger machines
5) The claim is that Non – thermal ultrasound will enhance their cell killing of hyperthermia, due to its general manageability in relation to tissue attenuation.
6) Neither group did not have any major differences in the tumor characteristics, but also no not severe complications were drawn from the HIFU treatment.
The student is livid and insulted that I said his paper was incoherent.
Quote from: FishProf on May 08, 2020, 12:02:40 PM
I have these gems from the same paper.
1) The human tissue is very manageable and using its thermal effects to focus high – intensity on the specific area of interest is the main source of sonoluminescence.
2) Although this is a process for the determination of such live changing evidence, the total numbers varied between if the US was effective enough to capture the area of interest or if it was differed when compared to the HIFU devices.
3) Therefore, this specific treatment can't be a definitive method of therapy as it has many limitations, and the side effects are very dangerous when in comparison to diseases that are inclusive with the US therapy.
4) It has the ability to underestimate or potentially overlooked and the machines that are available via athletic trainers or sporting events aren't as effective as larger machines
5) The claim is that Non – thermal ultrasound will enhance their cell killing of hyperthermia, due to its general manageability in relation to tissue attenuation.
6) Neither group did not have any major differences in the tumor characteristics, but also no not severe complications were drawn from the HIFU treatment.
The student is livid and insulted that I said his paper was incoherent.
Especially given that the topic of the paper was a critique of gender and class in the works of Charles Dickens.
Quote from: apl68 on May 08, 2020, 12:15:46 PM
Quote from: FishProf on May 08, 2020, 12:02:40 PM
I have these gems from the same paper.
1) The human tissue is very manageable and using its thermal effects to focus high – intensity on the specific area of interest is the main source of sonoluminescence.
2) Although this is a process for the determination of such live changing evidence, the total numbers varied between if the US was effective enough to capture the area of interest or if it was differed when compared to the HIFU devices.
3) Therefore, this specific treatment can't be a definitive method of therapy as it has many limitations, and the side effects are very dangerous when in comparison to diseases that are inclusive with the US therapy.
4) It has the ability to underestimate or potentially overlooked and the machines that are available via athletic trainers or sporting events aren't as effective as larger machines
5) The claim is that Non – thermal ultrasound will enhance their cell killing of hyperthermia, due to its general manageability in relation to tissue attenuation.
6) Neither group did not have any major differences in the tumor characteristics, but also no not severe complications were drawn from the HIFU treatment.
The student is livid and insulted that I said his paper was incoherent.
Especially given that the topic of the paper was a critique of gender and class in the works of Charles Dickens.
It might have helped if that were so. Maybe.
Comp I student's C&C paper about her parents:
They are complete and udder opposites.
Quote from: FishProf on May 08, 2020, 12:02:40 PM
I have these gems from the same paper.
1) The human tissue is very manageable and using its thermal effects to focus high – intensity on the specific area of interest is the main source of sonoluminescence.
2) Although this is a process for the determination of such live changing evidence, the total numbers varied between if the US was effective enough to capture the area of interest or if it was differed when compared to the HIFU devices.
3) Therefore, this specific treatment can't be a definitive method of therapy as it has many limitations, and the side effects are very dangerous when in comparison to diseases that are inclusive with the US therapy.
4) It has the ability to underestimate or potentially overlooked and the machines that are available via athletic trainers or sporting events aren't as effective as larger machines
5) The claim is that Non – thermal ultrasound will enhance their cell killing of hyperthermia, due to its general manageability in relation to tissue attenuation.
6) Neither group did not have any major differences in the tumor characteristics, but also no not severe complications were drawn from the HIFU treatment.
The student is livid and insulted that I said his paper was incoherent.
Maybe he's upset that the money he paid for someone else to write his paper didn't work out.
Quote from: Aster on May 11, 2020, 07:29:05 AM
Quote from: FishProf on May 08, 2020, 12:02:40 PM
I have these gems from the same paper.
1) The human tissue is very manageable and using its thermal effects to focus high – intensity on the specific area of interest is the main source of sonoluminescence....
The student is livid and insulted that I said his paper was incoherent.
Maybe he's upset that the money he paid for someone else to write his paper didn't work out.
Maybe, but his presentation and his poster were both reasonable and understandable.
Rx: he copied the poster and presentation verbatim but turned the "word salad" thesaurus generator on the later work, fearing three well-written items would arouse suspicion...
How cynical one becomes...
M.
Quote from: mamselle on May 11, 2020, 08:59:20 AM
Rx: he copied the poster and presentation verbatim but turned the "word salad" thesaurus generator on the later work, fearing three well-written items would arouse suspicion...
How cynical one becomes...
M.
This doesn't even read like thesaurus abuse.
I don't know what this is because even my non-native English speakers tended to be better than this as did my semi-literate general education students.
Quote from: FishProf on May 08, 2020, 12:02:40 PM
I have these gems from the same paper.
1) The human tissue is very manageable and using its thermal effects to focus high – intensity on the specific area of interest is the main source of sonoluminescence.
2) Although this is a process for the determination of such live changing evidence, the total numbers varied between if the US was effective enough to capture the area of interest or if it was differed when compared to the HIFU devices.
3) Therefore, this specific treatment can't be a definitive method of therapy as it has many limitations, and the side effects are very dangerous when in comparison to diseases that are inclusive with the US therapy.
4) It has the ability to underestimate or potentially overlooked and the machines that are available via athletic trainers or sporting events aren't as effective as larger machines
5) The claim is that Non – thermal ultrasound will enhance their cell killing of hyperthermia, due to its general manageability in relation to tissue attenuation.
6) Neither group did not have any major differences in the tumor characteristics, but also no not severe complications were drawn from the HIFU treatment.
The student is livid and insulted that I said his paper was incoherent.
I've seen this sort of weird, meandering, convoluted writing once. An ex of mine wrote like this. He thought it made him sound super intelligent and that anyone who couldn't understand his writing was obviously an idiot.
Quote from: the_geneticist on May 11, 2020, 11:28:28 AM
Quote from: FishProf on May 08, 2020, 12:02:40 PM
I have these gems from the same paper....
I've seen this sort of weird, meandering, convoluted writing once. An ex of mine wrote like this. He thought it made him sound super intelligent and that anyone who couldn't understand his writing was obviously an idiot.
Another sentence (the one that really tipped me off) was clearly a confunded attempt at paraphrase.
The source: Treatment with A results in B, which then causes C, D, and E.
His writing: A is treatment with C and D, which causes B and E.
Quote from: FishProf on May 11, 2020, 11:42:13 AM
Quote from: the_geneticist on May 11, 2020, 11:28:28 AM
Quote from: FishProf on May 08, 2020, 12:02:40 PM
I have these gems from the same paper....
I've seen this sort of weird, meandering, convoluted writing once. An ex of mine wrote like this. He thought it made him sound super intelligent and that anyone who couldn't understand his writing was obviously an idiot.
Another sentence (the one that really tipped me off) was clearly a confunded attempt at paraphrase.
The source: Treatment with A results in B, which then causes C, D, and E.
His writing: A is treatment with C and D, which causes B and E.
That's not even good Mad Libs.
"Nature tends to vary, depending on where you are."
Essay on environmental ethics, winning my prize for terse understatement.
Quote from: bento on June 04, 2020, 08:30:32 AM
"Nature tends to vary, depending on where you are."
Essay on environmental ethics, winning my prize for terse understatement.
If ever there was a sentence that should have started with "since the beginning of time" . . . .
"Plato was a scholar conceived in Athens somewhere in the range of 429 and 423 B.C."
This is probably true, but it is an unusual way to date the philosopher.
"We eat according to the taste of weather."
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 15, 2020, 12:17:49 PM
"We eat according to the taste of weather."
Well...nasty weather CAN spoil the appetite.
From a Comp II paper:
By combining writing and editing, I prevent myself from getting into the flow of ether.
Oh, sweetie, after reading this kind of stuff all day, with some time out for engaging in a heated argument with two deans, I could use some of that ether myself right about now.
"With this type of brain injury, explicit memories are impaired while illicit memories remain intact."
Quote from: smallcleanrat on June 16, 2020, 10:50:01 AM
"With this type of brain injury, explicit memories are impaired while illicit memories remain intact."
Porn addiction? (I know, not an "injury", per se.)
From a paper on invasive species:
"many plant species have been brought to various regions for their ascetic appeal with no regard to their impact on the local environment"
This excerpt is from a lab report about standing waves.
"This experiment is completed using an online stimulation with string attached to a hanging mass."
Apparently, there is also a "stimulation" website...
A hypothesis must be falsifiable and testifiable.
TESTIFY!
you'll never hear someone in church yell FALSIFY!
I might, but I'd get kicked out...
Quote from: Thursday's_Child on October 04, 2020, 11:37:43 AM
A hypothesis must be falsifiable and testifiable.
Aww, I kind of like that one.
Quote from: Thursday's_Child on October 04, 2020, 11:37:43 AM
A hypothesis must be falsifiable and testifiable.
In other words, don't make any hypothesis that you're not ready to swear to in court.
From a lab report about testing antibiotic susceptibility. "The lab manual does not include cutoff values for E. coli and penicillin because the FDA has not done enough tests on this combination".
Yeah. The most studied bacteria on the planet and the first ever antibiotic. We haven't tried that one yet.
"If college were free, the ratio of students to professors would skyrocket, which would harm teaching quality."
Yes, friends: Even in purely hypothetical worlds, the number of tenure-track positions cannot be increased.
From my first years in teaching, a pro-life essay (a topic I told the class to stay away from):
"As Darwin said in his work on the survival of the fetus...."
I think that course also yielded my first "it's a doggy dog world."
Quote from: fourhats on November 06, 2020, 02:47:11 PM
From my first years in teaching, a pro-life essay (a topic I told the class to stay away from):
"As Darwin said in his work on the survival of the fetus...."
That student is so stupid and ignorant that s/he almost rounds the corner and becomes brilliant.
Quote from: apl68 on October 05, 2020, 10:26:38 AM
Quote from: Thursday's_Child on October 04, 2020, 11:37:43 AM
A hypothesis must be falsifiable and testifiable.
In other words, don't make any hypothesis that you're not ready to swear to in court.
But can you take the fifth?
"Also, with the addition of Mercury barley having an atmosphere, the planet can't hold gases and the temperatures would be insane..."
I know the student meant 'barely', but the idea of a well-placed comma (and a few other changes) leads one to think that Mercury has vast fields of barley.
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 06, 2020, 08:03:32 PM
"Also, with the addition of Mercury barley having an atmosphere, the planet can't hold gases and the temperatures would be insane..."
I know the student meant 'barely', but the idea of a well-placed comma (and a few other changes) leads one to think that Mercury has vast fields of barley.
But if it can't hold gasses, it won't make good beer.
"[Other thing] is the same thing as being bedridden, minus the part of having to stay in bed."
Quote from: present_mirth on November 22, 2020, 02:46:37 PM
"[Other thing] is the same thing as being bedridden, minus the part of having to stay in bed."
Yes. I've often felt that way.
Quote from: Juvenal on November 22, 2020, 03:24:29 PM
Quote from: present_mirth on November 22, 2020, 02:46:37 PM
"[Other thing] is the same thing as being bedridden, minus the part of having to stay in bed."
Yes. I've often felt that way.
Well, not having to stay in bed
would make being bedridden less inconvenient.
"When thinking about famous pieces of writing, most people in America might think of the Constitution, the Twilight series, or People magazine."
The thing that's so discouraging about this sentence is that it's not even wrong.
Quote from: writingprof on November 23, 2020, 12:00:36 PM
"When thinking about famous pieces of writing, most people in America might think of the Constitution, the Twilight series, or People magazine."
The thing that's so discouraging about this sentence is that it's not even wrong.
I don't know if I should laugh or cry at this!
OMG! I am reading an article in a peer-reviewed journal about the teaching of statistics, and I've just read this sentence:
"Since the dawn of civilization, pictorial representations and symbols have been used to communicate simple statistics."
No wonder our students are using phrases like this. They are reading these phrases in published scholarship!
"For all ages, there is not a mortality rate because the doctors obviously do not want to subject any of the patients to death unless the situation absolutely calls for it."
From an exam question about 1787 play
The Contrast. This is the answer in its entirety.
QuoteWhen he says "endeavor in a friendly manner to rectify her foibles," he's talking about men who simp and orbit.
Quote from: OneMoreYear on December 05, 2020, 04:35:10 PM
OMG! I am reading an article in a peer-reviewed journal about the teaching of statistics, and I've just read this sentence:
"Since the dawn of civilization, pictorial representations and symbols have been used to communicate simple statistics."
No wonder our students are using phrases like this. They are reading these phrases in published scholarship!
Gah! But also: did they cite any evidence for the claim?
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 12, 2020, 10:12:35 AM
Quote from: OneMoreYear on December 05, 2020, 04:35:10 PM
OMG! I am reading an article in a peer-reviewed journal about the teaching of statistics, and I've just read this sentence:
"Since the dawn of civilization, pictorial representations and symbols have been used to communicate simple statistics."
No wonder our students are using phrases like this. They are reading these phrases in published scholarship!
Gah! But also: did they cite any evidence for the claim?
They cited a mathematics education study looking at the use of graphs that was published in the 1980s. Since I was confused (are they saying that civilization started in the 1980s?), I googled the sentence, which led me to a book synopsis for a book describing the use of graphs in K12 education. So, not only is this a horrible sentence with no provided evidence, it is plagiarized.
Quote from: OneMoreYear on December 12, 2020, 11:08:37 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on December 12, 2020, 10:12:35 AM
Quote from: OneMoreYear on December 05, 2020, 04:35:10 PM
OMG! I am reading an article in a peer-reviewed journal about the teaching of statistics, and I've just read this sentence:
"Since the dawn of civilization, pictorial representations and symbols have been used to communicate simple statistics."
No wonder our students are using phrases like this. They are reading these phrases in published scholarship!
Gah! But also: did they cite any evidence for the claim?
They cited a mathematics education study looking at the use of graphs that was published in the 1980s. Since I was confused (are they saying that civilization started in the 1980s?), I googled the sentence, which led me to a book synopsis for a book describing the use of graphs in K12 education. So, not only is this a horrible sentence with no provided evidence, it is plagiarized.
Now I'm trying to imagine cave people painting graphs-- maybe depictions of multiple animals were actually showing the mean hunting success values?
The bonus question on the last quiz for my introductory ethics course asked students which topics they liked best, least, and which they would have liked us to cover. In response to the last of these:
QuoteI would have appreciated it if we covered the topic of Morality.
Translated, that means sex.
M.
Ha, I like that guess!
Probably we should cover consent and harassment...
Quote from: Thursday's_Child on December 12, 2020, 09:28:36 AM
"For all ages, there is not a mortality rate because the doctors obviously do not want to subject any of the patients to death unless the situation absolutely calls for it."
A doctor subjecting a patient to death would kind of defeat the purpose....
A couple gems from two of my students:
"In the United States of America, we are known for so many things."
"Health is one of the biggest things in the world."
Quote from: sinenomine on December 14, 2020, 12:27:46 PM
"In the United States of America, we are known for so many things."
"Health is one of the biggest things in the world."
One of the reasons I like hanging out here despite not being an academic is that you learn something new every day.
Quote from: apl68 on December 14, 2020, 01:03:45 PM
Quote from: sinenomine on December 14, 2020, 12:27:46 PM
"In the United States of America, we are known for so many things."
"Health is one of the biggest things in the world."
One of the reasons I like hanging out here despite not being an academic is that you learn something new every day.
And they are likely things you'll learn nowhere else.
Memorable statements from the papers submitted by my Intro to Music students:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
We learned about all the instrument in music and some of them were extreme like the guitar or the saxophone.
Along with that came the consonance of the music and its continuous legendary status through each era being played by multiple new generational musicians in order to perfect their style by playing that style of music since the composers of that time were virtuosic.
How much others and the writer love you for the things you've done.
The era of Classical music is an art that has been passed down generations to keep the same aspiration for the musical elegance.
The expansion of classical music made it a must see in concerts.
Increasing your performance can also lead you to creating your own classical music type songs that have never been heard before maybe making you one of the highest known talented musical composers of all time reaching an accolade not many can named.
Without humans, businesses and music would simply not exist.
The success of classical music was defined as becoming a certified composer that that outside of your initial community/church can listen to.
(Beethoven's) piano symphony, Pathétique, with its dynamic contrasts, explosive accents, is one of the sonatas that can decrease heart rate. (from an exercise science major)
The innovation of classical music began immediately when sound, pitch, dynamics, and tone color came into existence.
During the late 1770's to early 1880's these types of performances were for wealthy aristocrats that wanted more entertainment to throw some jazz in their life.
I learned in this class that music is a part of everyday life and has been for a very long time.
As a audience, you don't want to hear an out of tone, melody and rhythm music.
As the conductor goes throughout the show, he will change the songs up, giving the crowd a show.
Dissonance was once considered to be a beautiful sound and was widely accepted, but now consonance is preferred.
Oh, my golly....
(Said with feeling from one who also teaches music....)
There's a whole selection of Barenboim's recordings over in the Quiet room if you need to recover....
M.
Wish I had kept that selection of memorable passages from a Latin American History final I graded as a TA years ago. It could have given this a run for its money.
Next time you feel like your heart is racing away with you, listen to Beethoven's "Pathetique." It'll help.
"Without humans businesses and music simply would not exist."
Sorry, but this is simply incorrect. The world is full of non-human music--birdsong, the wind singing in the treetops, running water. As for businesses, as long as there are ferrets that congregate in groups the world will continue to have those.
"The setting of the story first takes place in [location] at [time] around the late [xx]00's, based on the characters [X], [Y] and [Z] whom are real people during this error."
Stu, these are characters in a story; they are not real people; 'era', not 'error'.
I might not have any hair left by the end of the semester.
Sure sounds like an error to me . . .
AR.
Quote from: Langue_doc on February 03, 2021, 08:26:36 AM
"The setting of the story first takes place in [location] at [time] around the late [xx]00's, based on the characters [X], [Y] and [Z] whom are real people during this error."
Stu, these are characters in a story; they are not real people; 'era', not 'error'.
I might not have any hair left by the end of the semester.
Maybe the reference to "real people" was an effort to say that they were realistically-drawn characters?
Stu is lost, and woefully unprepared for this course.
Quote from: Langue_doc on February 03, 2021, 11:23:06 AM
Stu is lost, and woefully unprepared for this course.
Well, no arguments there, if the student can write sentences like that!
Guess SOME of those who wander are lost after all...
Quote from: apl68 on February 03, 2021, 12:44:42 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on February 03, 2021, 11:23:06 AM
Stu is lost, and woefully unprepared for this course.
Well, no arguments there, if the student can write sentences like that!
Guess SOME of those who wander are lost after all...
Wouldn't have thought of that if you hadn't pointed it out. Thanks, apl68. I needed a laugh.
Quote from: Langue_doc on February 03, 2021, 01:08:06 PM
Quote from: apl68 on February 03, 2021, 12:44:42 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on February 03, 2021, 11:23:06 AM
Stu is lost, and woefully unprepared for this course.
Well, no arguments there, if the student can write sentences like that!
Guess SOME of those who wander are lost after all...
Wouldn't have thought of that if you hadn't pointed it out. Thanks, apl68. I needed a laugh.
Glad to help! We ALL need laughs!
From a good student in my lit class:
[Michael Wigglesworth] was a man respected and feared by his pears.
I'm imagining a golf-whispered aside, "His peaches and bananas, however, didn't share this high opinion."
I know it's just a typo, but it made me giggle. She'll get a kick out of it too when I point it out to the student; she has a great sense of humor.
Hmm....or maybe they had seen his gravestone? His has acanthus leaves....
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18784172/michael-wigglesworth/photo#view-photo=213345919
There are actually pumpkins and gourds on his wife's stone:
https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2007/216/18983449_118637005430.jpg
And yes, the gourds were often placed as on this stone, as a visual pun for breasts.
;--}
Alternatively, perhaps it was the pear-headed priest (1:20) the student was thinking of....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZAOIWWlLzg
from my very favorite-ist children's book of all:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/364190.Pish_Posh_Said_Hieronymus_Bosch
M.
From an essay on the disadvantages of online learning
...damage done to a first year college student does irreparable destruction to their growth.
Regardless of a first impression being positive or negative, it allows a student to capture a sense of who is who, and where to navigate themselves in terms of the community.
Quote from: mamselle on February 10, 2021, 04:08:27 PM
Hmm....or maybe they had seen his gravestone? His has acanthus leaves....
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18784172/michael-wigglesworth/photo#view-photo=213345919
There are actually pumpkins and gourds on his wife's stone:
https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2007/216/18983449_118637005430.jpg
And yes, the gourds were often placed as on this stone, as a visual pun for breasts.
;--}
Alternatively, perhaps it was the pear-headed priest (1:20) the student was thinking of....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZAOIWWlLzg
from my very favorite-ist children's book of all:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/364190.Pish_Posh_Said_Hieronymus_Bosch
M.
Interesting headstone shots. I've seen the winged skulls before, but not some of the other motifs.
Quote from: AmLitHist on February 10, 2021, 02:12:58 PM
From a good student in my lit class:
[Michael Wigglesworth] was a man respected and feared by his pears.
You're supposed to
talk to your plants, not threaten them!
I had a student just write that they really enjoyed Flannery O'Connor's short story "A Good Man Is Hard to Grind."
I don't know if the student has a dirty mind there, but I sure do. :)
Quote from: apl68 on February 11, 2021, 08:43:22 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on February 10, 2021, 02:12:58 PM
From a good student in my lit class:
[Michael Wigglesworth] was a man respected and feared by his pears.
You're supposed to talk to your plants, not threaten them!
Not if you're the demon Crowley!! (Gratuitous Good Omens reference there).
Quote from: fishbrains on February 15, 2021, 10:30:29 AM
I had a student just write that they really enjoyed Flannery O'Connor's short story "A Good Man Is Hard to Grind."
I don't know if the student has a dirty mind there, but I sure do. :)
Attempting to locate SparkNotes, a student inadvertently accesses erotic fan fiction. Was the author Flannery O'Boner?
(Sorry, sorry! Mods, please delete this if I've gone too far.)
Quote from: EdnaMode on February 15, 2021, 11:27:37 AM
Quote from: apl68 on February 11, 2021, 08:43:22 AM
Quote from: AmLitHist on February 10, 2021, 02:12:58 PM
From a good student in my lit class:
[Michael Wigglesworth] was a man respected and feared by his pears.
You're supposed to talk to your plants, not threaten them!
Not if you're the demon Crowley!! (Gratuitous Good Omens reference there).
Or if your plant's name is Audrey....
<...gulp!>
M.
I had some "public policy" essay writing without the l in public. In once instance something like 12 times.
Quote from: Golazo on February 16, 2021, 06:50:11 AM
I had some "public policy" essay writing without the l in public. In once instance something like 12 times.
Those of us who work in public libraries have to be on guard against this all the time in our correspondence.
Adds a new layer of meaning to "Special Collections"...
M.
Actual favorite. My LMS stalled when I was apparently trying to run too many applications through it (too many = 2). I had to leave the synchronous session and come back in. As I was rejoining, I could see the chat. One student had written "We're unsupervised! Let's run amok!"
Quote from: OneMoreYear on February 21, 2021, 07:34:20 PM
Actual favorite. My LMS stalled when I was apparently trying to run too many applications through it (too many = 2). I had to leave the synchronous session and come back in. As I was rejoining, I could see the chat. One student had written "We're unsupervised! Let's run amok!"
I love it — thanks for the laugh!
I asked my students to describe how their arguments will be structured.
Student: "The structure of my argument will be a 3.5 paragraph essay."
Student subsequently describes the main point to be addressed in the 3 paragraphs, but does not tell me the plan for the .5.
AR.
Quote from: AvidReader on February 28, 2021, 09:38:23 AM
I asked my students to describe how their arguments will be structured.
Student: "The structure of my argument will be a 3.5 paragraph essay."
Student subsequently describes the main point to be addressed in the 3 paragraphs, but does not tell me the plan for the .5.
AR.
It's a four-paragraph essay where you go back and edit out half of one paragraph before submitting the final draft. Sounds like something they must be teaching in high school now.
Not quite sentences, but two darling phrases from a student paper:
fish hunter
suicide boomer
Quote from: apl68 on March 01, 2021, 07:22:39 AM
Quote from: AvidReader on February 28, 2021, 09:38:23 AM
I asked my students to describe how their arguments will be structured.
Student: "The structure of my argument will be a 3.5 paragraph essay."
Student subsequently describes the main point to be addressed in the 3 paragraphs, but does not tell me the plan for the .5.
AR.
It's a four-paragraph essay where you go back and edit out half of one paragraph before submitting the final draft. Sounds like something they must be teaching in high school now.
Any idea what the logic is behind that? That approach seems rather arbitrary and ill-suited to most writing situations in any of my classes.
Quote from: traductio on March 08, 2021, 09:43:05 AM
Quote from: apl68 on March 01, 2021, 07:22:39 AM
Quote from: AvidReader on February 28, 2021, 09:38:23 AM
Student: "The structure of my argument will be a 3.5 paragraph essay."
It's a four-paragraph essay where you go back and edit out half of one paragraph before submitting the final draft. Sounds like something they must be teaching in high school now.
Any idea what the logic is behind that? That approach seems rather arbitrary and ill-suited to most writing situations in any of my classes.
I assumed apl68 was being sarcastic/funny. I still don't know what the student intended.
AR.
Quote from: AvidReader on March 08, 2021, 10:41:49 AM
Quote from: traductio on March 08, 2021, 09:43:05 AM
Quote from: apl68 on March 01, 2021, 07:22:39 AM
Quote from: AvidReader on February 28, 2021, 09:38:23 AM
Student: "The structure of my argument will be a 3.5 paragraph essay."
It's a four-paragraph essay where you go back and edit out half of one paragraph before submitting the final draft. Sounds like something they must be teaching in high school now.
Any idea what the logic is behind that? That approach seems rather arbitrary and ill-suited to most writing situations in any of my classes.
I assumed apl68 was being sarcastic/funny. I still don't know what the student intended.
AR.
I've heard the term refer to 3 body paragraphs--5 paragraphs total (because of the intro and conclusion paragraphs, so . . . 3.5 paragraph essay.
I think it's a confusing term, and I'm not sure why we are not just calling it a 5 paragraph essay.
Quote from: AvidReader on March 08, 2021, 10:41:49 AM
Quote from: traductio on March 08, 2021, 09:43:05 AM
Quote from: apl68 on March 01, 2021, 07:22:39 AM
Quote from: AvidReader on February 28, 2021, 09:38:23 AM
Student: "The structure of my argument will be a 3.5 paragraph essay."
It's a four-paragraph essay where you go back and edit out half of one paragraph before submitting the final draft. Sounds like something they must be teaching in high school now.
Any idea what the logic is behind that? That approach seems rather arbitrary and ill-suited to most writing situations in any of my classes.
I assumed apl68 was being sarcastic/funny. I still don't know what the student intended.
AR.
That's probably the case -- I'll be honest, I struggle any more to tell the world of the
Onion from the world we live in!
This gem was just posted to my weekly Q&A thread for logic:
"some of those quiz questions made me feel like I was staring into alphagetti like some kind of canned pasta haruspex."
A bright future in the academy beckons!
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 08, 2021, 08:22:49 AM
Not quite sentences, but two darling phrases from a student paper:
fish hunter
suicide boomer
So, was the 'fish hunter' supposed to be a 'fisherman/fisherperson?'
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 08, 2021, 05:46:46 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 08, 2021, 08:22:49 AM
Not quite sentences, but two darling phrases from a student paper:
fish hunter
suicide boomer
So, was the 'fish hunter' supposed to be a 'fisherman/fisherperson?'
Yup!
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 08, 2021, 06:02:10 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on March 08, 2021, 05:46:46 PM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 08, 2021, 08:22:49 AM
Not quite sentences, but two darling phrases from a student paper:
fish hunter
suicide boomer
So, was the 'fish hunter' supposed to be a 'fisherman/fisherperson?'
Yup!
But "fish hunter" conjures up more of the scuba-gear-and-speargun image, which is way cooler than guy-in-a-boat-with-a-net.
Quote
Quote from: marshwiggle on March 09, 2021, 04:26:54 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 08, 2021, 06:02:10 PM
So, was the 'fish hunter' supposed to be a 'fisherman/fisherperson?'
Yup!
But "fish hunter" conjures up more of the scuba-gear-and-speargun image, which is way cooler than guy-in-a-boat-with-a-net.
Or THIS (https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-a-spinosaurus-hunting-an-onchopristis-while-two-carcharodontosaurus-117613725.html)
Quote from: FishProf on March 09, 2021, 06:59:37 AM
Quote
Quote from: marshwiggle on March 09, 2021, 04:26:54 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 08, 2021, 06:02:10 PM
So, was the 'fish hunter' supposed to be a 'fisherman/fisherperson?'
Yup!
But "fish hunter" conjures up more of the scuba-gear-and-speargun image, which is way cooler than guy-in-a-boat-with-a-net.
Or THIS (https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-a-spinosaurus-hunting-an-onchopristis-while-two-carcharodontosaurus-117613725.html)
And we thought a bear swiping a salmon out of a stream was impressive!
Quote from: apl68 on March 09, 2021, 07:15:04 AM
And we thought a bear swiping a salmon out of a stream was impressive!
Like This? (https://treeandneighborlawblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/journeyends140312.jpg)
Quote from: FishProf on March 09, 2021, 07:41:41 AM
Quote from: apl68 on March 09, 2021, 07:15:04 AM
And we thought a bear swiping a salmon out of a stream was impressive!
Like This? (https://treeandneighborlawblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/journeyends140312.jpg)
Guess that bear doesn't realize that the object is to get the fish out where you are, not to join the fish where it is....
"The ideology of massless, ideal, linear, and frictionless springs adjusted the problem to a reasonable candor."
I've never had problems of reasonable candor, nor am I sure what those would look like (I'm in a technical field; "springs" = bouncy devices, not seasons. We really don't delve into ideology)
Quote from: WidgetWoman on March 09, 2021, 11:49:00 AM
"The ideology of massless, ideal, linear, and frictionless springs adjusted the problem to a reasonable candor."
I've never had problems of reasonable candor, nor am I sure what those would look like (I'm in a technical field; "springs" = bouncy devices, not seasons. We really don't delve into ideology)
Is it possible that this has been run through one of those thesaurus programs? Because I am trying to imagine a such a spring and my imagination is failing me.
Quote from: RatGuy on March 09, 2021, 01:19:39 PM
Quote from: WidgetWoman on March 09, 2021, 11:49:00 AM
"The ideology of massless, ideal, linear, and frictionless springs adjusted the problem to a reasonable candor."
I've never had problems of reasonable candor, nor am I sure what those would look like (I'm in a technical field; "springs" = bouncy devices, not seasons. We really don't delve into ideology)
Is it possible that this has been run through one of those thesaurus programs? Because I am trying to imagine a such a spring and my imagination is failing me.
It definitely reads that way. I may need to do some more investigation, sadly.
I was recently trying to track down the source of student writing that had clearly been run though a paraphrase site. I noticed that there seemed to be more such sites than last time I looked, a couple of years ago. Also, that there was quite a lot of variation on the quality of the paraphrasing. My student had seemed to use a really terrible one that made more nonsense of the Cliffnotes they had used than the ones I tried.
I found the source by identifying some obvious thesaurus-equivalents. They had something like "cadaver" when the original had "corpse." It took some searching but I found it eventually. Names don't get changed, so they can be useful to keep in the search terms.
Quote from: RatGuy on March 09, 2021, 01:19:39 PM
Quote from: WidgetWoman on March 09, 2021, 11:49:00 AM
"The ideology of massless, ideal, linear, and frictionless springs adjusted the problem to a reasonable candor."
I've never had problems of reasonable candor, nor am I sure what those would look like (I'm in a technical field; "springs" = bouncy devices, not seasons. We really don't delve into ideology)
Is it possible that this has been run through one of those thesaurus programs? Because I am trying to imagine a such a spring and my imagination is failing me.
That's what I think. Try swapping out "candor" and put in "fairness".
They probably found information about the behavior of an "ideal spring" in physics (e.g. no friction) and tried to make the answer fit the question you asked.
Quote from: downer on March 09, 2021, 02:10:17 PM
I was recently trying to track down the source of student writing that had clearly been run though a paraphrase site. I noticed that there seemed to be more such sites than last time I looked, a couple of years ago. Also, that there was quite a lot of variation on the quality of the paraphrasing. My student had seemed to use a really terrible one that made more nonsense of the Cliffnotes they had used than the ones I tried.
I found the source by identifying some obvious thesaurus-equivalents. They had something like "cadaver" when the original had "corpse." It took some searching but I found it eventually. Names don't get changed, so they can be useful to keep in the search terms.
How do you generally handle this when it occurs?
Quote from: Charlotte on March 09, 2021, 05:26:27 PM
Quote from: downer on March 09, 2021, 02:10:17 PM
I was recently trying to track down the source of student writing that had clearly been run though a paraphrase site. I noticed that there seemed to be more such sites than last time I looked, a couple of years ago. Also, that there was quite a lot of variation on the quality of the paraphrasing. My student had seemed to use a really terrible one that made more nonsense of the Cliffnotes they had used than the ones I tried.
I found the source by identifying some obvious thesaurus-equivalents. They had something like "cadaver" when the original had "corpse." It took some searching but I found it eventually. Names don't get changed, so they can be useful to keep in the search terms.
How do you generally handle this when it occurs?
My students are getting better at plagiarism. My usual trick of copying/pasting sentences into Google is not bearing much fruit. I mean, I guess if they ran something through a translator and then edited it themselves, and it makes sense and meets the assignment requirements, worse things have happened.
But I can just tell these are written by professional writers and copied and pasted. IT'S DRIVING ME BATTY!
Quote from: Charlotte on March 09, 2021, 05:26:27 PM
Quote from: downer on March 09, 2021, 02:10:17 PM
I was recently trying to track down the source of student writing that had clearly been run though a paraphrase site. I noticed that there seemed to be more such sites than last time I looked, a couple of years ago. Also, that there was quite a lot of variation on the quality of the paraphrasing. My student had seemed to use a really terrible one that made more nonsense of the Cliffnotes they had used than the ones I tried.
I found the source by identifying some obvious thesaurus-equivalents. They had something like "cadaver" when the original had "corpse." It took some searching but I found it eventually. Names don't get changed, so they can be useful to keep in the search terms.
How do you generally handle this when it occurs?
This last time I just gave the student a 0 for the assignment.
The last time, when I worked out that there had been a pattern of cheating, I reported it to a dean and provided evidence. The student got zeros for the work they cheated on but I think they passed the course.
Asked my students in class this week to tell me their biggest concern or greatest achievement on our current essay. Most had pretty concrete things.
One: "I'm just concerned that if I write this essay the way that I feel it ought to be written, I won't be given the grade I deserve."
Oy.
AR.
Quote from: AvidReader on March 12, 2021, 11:57:51 AM
Asked my students in class this week to tell me their biggest concern or greatest achievement on our current essay. Most had pretty concrete things.
One: "I'm just concerned that if I write this essay the way that I feel it ought to be written, I won't be given the grade I deserve."
Oy.
AR.
That was my thought back in high school, and it's part of why I never took any arts/humanities courses in university.
Quote from: marshwiggle on March 12, 2021, 12:20:04 PM
That was my thought back in high school, and it's part of why I never took any arts/humanities courses in university.
Yes, I understand that, and I often work with students to see if/how we can make our expectations align. In this instance, I asked Stu how "the way that . . . it ought to be written" differed from the assignment directions, and Stu didn't know. In fact, on further examination, Stu had not read the directions.
AR.
Many students struggle to distinguish bad grades they get for thoughtcrimes from bad grades they get for refusing to back up their disorganized and grandiose ramblings with either evidence or argument.
Or, indeed, for not following the instructions.
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 13, 2021, 08:11:06 AM
Many students struggle to distinguish bad grades they get for thoughtcrimes from bad grades they get for refusing to back up their disorganized and grandiose ramblings with either evidence or argument.
Or, indeed, for not following the instructions.
Sure, but when you have students who got A's in Basketweaving in high school, but who never voluntarily take a basketweaving course later, it's much less likely to be due to incompetence. I don't know if it's ever been done, but for
all disciplines I'd like to see students surveyed about why they avoided taking more courses in something they got A's in prior to that.*
*For a good student, getting an A instead of an A+ is a big deal, and since they're probably the kind of people who read and follow instructions, it's easier to spot punishment for thoughtcrime.
Had to take a break from grading to share this one, which I think is probably 100% true:
"For example, this generation will most likely be known as the generation that went to [. . .] school during a global pandemic. In fifty years chances are students will read in text books about what it was like during the covid19. During school they might have a 2020 theme for homecoming and students will wear face masks and gloves to represent this generation."
Maybe this hits home because roaring '20s parties were big when I was in college and in grad school.
AR.
Quote from: marshwiggle on March 13, 2021, 08:44:47 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 13, 2021, 08:11:06 AM
Many students struggle to distinguish bad grades they get for thoughtcrimes from bad grades they get for refusing to back up their disorganized and grandiose ramblings with either evidence or argument.
Or, indeed, for not following the instructions.
Sure, but when you have students who got A's in Basketweaving in high school, but who never voluntarily take a basketweaving course later, it's much less likely to be due to incompetence. I don't know if it's ever been done, but for all disciplines I'd like to see students surveyed about why they avoided taking more courses in something they got A's in prior to that.*
*For a good student, getting an A instead of an A+ is a big deal, and since they're probably the kind of people who read and follow instructions, it's easier to spot punishment for thoughtcrime.
Have you not encountered many students who were straight-A across all subjects in high school? Their A's in some subjects reflected their ability to 'game' their teachers' grading systems, not any interest in the subject. I was straight A in English and I absolutely despised it and would never have voluntarily taken an English course in college. (I have since grown to appreciate the field.) My best friend had an even higher "A" average than I did in English and boasted later that he never read a single assigned novel, but just used Cliff Notes for all the tests. I don't think he ever voluntarily took an English class in college either.
Quote from: mbelvadi on March 16, 2021, 01:42:46 PM
Quote from: marshwiggle on March 13, 2021, 08:44:47 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on March 13, 2021, 08:11:06 AM
Many students struggle to distinguish bad grades they get for thoughtcrimes from bad grades they get for refusing to back up their disorganized and grandiose ramblings with either evidence or argument.
Or, indeed, for not following the instructions.
Sure, but when you have students who got A's in Basketweaving in high school, but who never voluntarily take a basketweaving course later, it's much less likely to be due to incompetence. I don't know if it's ever been done, but for all disciplines I'd like to see students surveyed about why they avoided taking more courses in something they got A's in prior to that.*
*For a good student, getting an A instead of an A+ is a big deal, and since they're probably the kind of people who read and follow instructions, it's easier to spot punishment for thoughtcrime.
Have you not encountered many students who were straight-A across all subjects in high school? Their A's in some subjects reflected their ability to 'game' their teachers' grading systems, not any interest in the subject. I was straight A in English and I absolutely despised it and would never have voluntarily taken an English course in college. (I have since grown to appreciate the field.) My best friend had an even higher "A" average than I did in English and boasted later that he never read a single assigned novel, but just used Cliff Notes for all the tests. I don't think he ever voluntarily took an English class in college either.
It's also entirely possible to do well in subjects one doesn't care for without taking any shortcuts. I hated math in school but made straight As in it. Because I was taught to do my best at something whether I actually had an interest in it or not. Once I no longer had to take math courses in college, I never took another math course. I wish now that I had not wasted the opportunity to build a little more on my foundation there.
This difference in both stories makes it so that the stories are not completely the same.
and
This is a good argument supporting that the construction of each story remains coherent between the two but fails to argue the context does.
eek!
Quote from: hungry_ghost on March 18, 2021, 01:49:35 PM
This difference in both stories makes it so that the stories are not completely the same.
and
This is a good argument supporting that the construction of each story remains coherent between the two but fails to argue the context does.
eek!
Is the whole piece like that, or were these sentences just unfortunate outliers?
Quote from: marshwiggle on March 12, 2021, 12:20:04 PM
Quote from: AvidReader on March 12, 2021, 11:57:51 AM
Asked my students in class this week to tell me their biggest concern or greatest achievement on our current essay. Most had pretty concrete things.
One: "I'm just concerned that if I write this essay the way that I feel it ought to be written, I won't be given the grade I deserve."
Oy.
AR.
That was my thought back in high school, and it's part of why I never took any arts/humanities courses in university.
There are some really great high school history and English teachers and there are also some really bad ones. Students who think they know better than their instructors in high school could be right. It doesn't tend to translate well to college.
I've had a number of students with this attitude and I'll say that all of them struck me as people who thought they were a lot smarter than they were. Students who imagine they are being penalized for not following rules they see as too restrictive usually don't understand the purpose of the rules. I believe that its important to tell students why you structure assignments the way you do and why I'm asking them to do something. The problem is that these kinds of students weren't paying attention because they assumed they already understood.
"The last element we must speak of is eroticism. The term "sex sales" has always been accurate." :)
Quote from: Nightshade on March 19, 2021, 12:31:20 PM
"The last element we must speak of is eroticism. The term "sex sales" has always been accurate." :)
Reminds me of the old comment about not being sure which was worse--the idea that everybody has their price, or how low that price seems to be in most cases.
Quote from: apl68 on March 19, 2021, 07:57:37 AM
Quote from: hungry_ghost on March 18, 2021, 01:49:35 PM
This difference in both stories makes it so that the stories are not completely the same.
and
This is a good argument supporting that the construction of each story remains coherent between the two but fails to argue the context does.
eek!
Is the whole piece like that, or were these sentences just unfortunate outliers?
The whole piece. And this is a native English speaker. It is actually a bit upsetting.
From an essay in which this statement was quite appropriate:
The world and life is not fair sometimes, but I think it should be.
This is an actual favorite.
Not a sentence, just a phrase.
This one student has repeatedly referred to my Course Notes in the weekly discussion as "Coarse Notes."
I wondering if they are having a dig at me.
Quote from: downer on March 31, 2021, 09:54:27 AM
Not a sentence, just a phrase.
This one student has repeatedly referred to my Course Notes in the weekly discussion as "Coarse Notes."
I wondering if they are having a dig at me.
Better than curse notes, I suppose.
"Furthermore, proving these baskets have similarities and differences." Edited to add that this was the concluding sentence fragment of a paper I just assessed.
"The objective of self teaching myself material that was supposed to be taught by the teacher has drawn me to forcing myself to simply memorize what is needed..."
Quote from: Langue_doc on April 08, 2021, 11:12:47 AM
"The objective of self teaching myself material that was supposed to be taught by the teacher has drawn me to forcing myself to simply memorize what is needed..."
I'm reminded of Ben Jonson saying that "He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master."
Quote from: apl68 on April 08, 2021, 12:30:15 PM
I'm reminded of Ben Jonson saying that "He that is taught only by himself has a fool for a master."
That is great. Ha ha ha.
This should be posted in Gigantic Font over the top of every self-help video on YouTube.
Grading annotated bibliographies today and enjoying my students' attempts to explain why various sources are reliable and/or appropriate for their essays. They are really rising to the challenge and doing great work, but the typo has caught this one:
"This source is reliable because it is pee-reviewed."
And this one made me smile:
"The article also provides information from worldly sources such as the The New York Times and The Washington Post."
AR.
Quote from: AvidReader on April 09, 2021, 01:40:01 PM
Grading annotated bibliographies today and enjoying my students' attempts to explain why various sources are reliable and/or appropriate for their essays. They are really rising to the challenge and doing great work, but the typo has caught this one:
"This source is reliable because it is pee-reviewed."
I think this applies to fire hydrants and urban trees.
Two months before the term actually starts, receiving an email that says:
"Will there be exams?"
lol
"It is very difficult trying to juggle the academic stress of needing to memorize all the responsibilities I have to attend to."
From a business plan for a new candy:
"We use the latest abortion line, automatic equipment, so that the product has sufficient supply..."
Quote from: ciao_yall on April 10, 2021, 08:24:45 PM
From a business plan for a new candy:
"We use the latest abortion line, automatic equipment, so that the product has sufficient supply..."
I shudder to think what the topic was that this referenced.
Quote from: ciao_yall on April 10, 2021, 08:24:45 PM
From a business plan for a new candy:
"We use the latest abortion line, automatic equipment, so that the product has sufficient supply..."
An interesting approach, but perhaps you should suggest they investigate a manufacturing option that would not result in the Catholic church forbidding the use of their candy.
Quote from: Chemystery on April 11, 2021, 11:36:16 AM
Quote from: ciao_yall on April 10, 2021, 08:24:45 PM
From a business plan for a new candy:
"We use the latest abortion line, automatic equipment, so that the product has sufficient supply..."
An interesting approach, but perhaps you should suggest they investigate a manufacturing option that would not result in the Catholic church forbidding the use of their candy.
Feto-pops! Enhanced with stem cells!
Quote from: Langue_doc on April 09, 2021, 07:53:16 PM
"It is very difficult trying to juggle the academic stress of needing to memorize all the responsibilities I have to attend to."
Yes, I'm sure it is....
Quote from: Langue_doc on April 09, 2021, 07:53:16 PM
"It is very difficult trying to juggle the academic stress of needing to memorize all the responsibilities I have to attend to."
Indeed! I hate when I realize I've been stressing about one due date, but I have something more pressing that I should have been stressing about instead.
I tell these students to buy/download a calendar or day planner and use it.
Stu response to an Optics question:
"The angle changes to be less changed if the wavelength is higher."
Huh?
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 12, 2021, 07:32:58 PM
Stu response to an Optics question:
"The angle changes to be less changed if the wavelength is higher."
Huh?
I've been at this too long. It sounds like Stu is talking about dispersion and I can actually decipher what s/he's trying to say! (Retirement can't come too soon...)
Quote from: marshwiggle on April 13, 2021, 05:14:28 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 12, 2021, 07:32:58 PM
Stu response to an Optics question:
"The angle changes to be less changed if the wavelength is higher."
Huh?
I've been at this too long. It sounds like Stu is talking about dispersion and I can actually decipher what s/he's trying to say! (Retirement can't come too soon...)
Wait, does that mean I can retire soon too?
If you really want a good crash-course on deciphering "student-ese", try scoring Advanced Placement exams. And when it's the in-person scoring, you also get reminded how to read dreadful handwriting.
Quote from: marshwiggle on April 13, 2021, 05:14:28 AM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on April 12, 2021, 07:32:58 PM
Stu response to an Optics question:
"The angle changes to be less changed if the wavelength is higher."
Huh?
I've been at this too long. It sounds like Stu is talking about dispersion and I can actually decipher what s/he's trying to say! (Retirement can't come too soon...)
Correct; however, the grammar leaves a lot to be desired.
Editing a bit, but ...
"legendary comedians such as ... Bernie Mac"
Say what now?
"[...] and in any event, when such practices abuse the public authority's current creature government assistance enactment."
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on April 25, 2021, 12:30:30 PM
"[...] and in any event, when such practices abuse the public authority's current creature government assistance enactment."
Random word sentence generator?
Quote from: apl68 on April 27, 2021, 07:18:08 AM
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on April 25, 2021, 12:30:30 PM
"[...] and in any event, when such practices abuse the public authority's current creature government assistance enactment."
Random word sentence generator?
Thesaurus plugger-inner, I think. (Whatever those are called. 'Generator' seems inapt. IIRC they're primarily used to evade plagiarism detection.)
I now include a clause in syllabi saying any use of a paraphrasing tool will count as plagiarism. When I spot it, I come down heavy on the student.
Quote from: downer on April 27, 2021, 08:59:15 AM
I now include a clause in syllabi saying any use of a paraphrasing tool will count as plagiarism. When I spot it, I come down heavy on the student.
How do you find such paraphrasing? I get the impression that Google has changed its algorithm, and my old tricks don't work any more.
You note the feeling that you are reading a word salad that no human could generate.
It takes some effort to prove it. Last time I went through this I looked at the names that were mentioned in the passage and some of the odd words used, and I searched for more natural rough synonyms along with the names. It took a bit of trial and error but I was led back to a page from from Sparknotes.
Quote from: downer on April 27, 2021, 09:37:46 AM
You note the feeling that you are reading a word salad that no human could generate.
It takes some effort to prove it. Last time I went through this I looked at the names that were mentioned in the passage and some of the odd words used, and I searched for more natural rough synonyms along with the names. It took a bit of trial and error but I was led back to a page from from Sparknotes.
That was my approach with a case today -- that student almost won through attrition. But it took 45 minutes longer than the process took in the past.
Quote from: traductio on April 27, 2021, 09:45:28 AM
Quote from: downer on April 27, 2021, 09:37:46 AM
You note the feeling that you are reading a word salad that no human could generate.
It takes some effort to prove it. Last time I went through this I looked at the names that were mentioned in the passage and some of the odd words used, and I searched for more natural rough synonyms along with the names. It took a bit of trial and error but I was led back to a page from from Sparknotes.
That was my approach with a case today -- that student almost won through attrition. But it took 45 minutes longer than the process took in the past.
That's one reason why I come down very heavy on it. I want to discourage it since it wastes so much of my time.
"Some people think the avocado is a delicious fruit, while others think the fruit tastes as weird as bird poop."
Indeed.
Hmmm.....Wonder what thesaurus came up with that?
;--}
M.
I dunno. I've never tasted bird poop, but I'm no fan of avocados, either.
Quote from: traductio on April 27, 2021, 11:07:35 AM
I dunno. I've never tasted bird poop, but I'm no fan of avocados, either.
Apparently, others have.
Quote from: traductio on April 27, 2021, 10:49:55 AM
"Some people think the avocado is a delicious fruit, while others think the fruit tastes as weird as bird poop."
Quote from: traductio on April 27, 2021, 10:49:55 AM
"Some people think the avocado is a delicious fruit, while others think the fruit tastes as weird as bird poop."
Indeed.
Now, I really want to know what type of assignment prompted this response.
Quote from: OneMoreYear on April 27, 2021, 11:32:05 AM
Quote from: traductio on April 27, 2021, 10:49:55 AM
"Some people think the avocado is a delicious fruit, while others think the fruit tastes as weird as bird poop."
Indeed.
Now, I really want to know what type of assignment prompted this response.
Would you believe epistemology and communication theory? The student was trying to illustrate constructivism, I think.
For some reason this reminds me of the New Yorker cartoon that showed a guy eating a sushi roll in a restaurant and complaining "You call this guacamole?"
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on April 25, 2021, 12:30:30 PM
"[...] and in any event, when such practices abuse the public authority's current creature government assistance enactment."
It almost sound like something from Harry Potter.
Thesaurus abuse for sure.
One of my student essays begins:
"This essay is based on an interview with Maria, a Mexican immigrant, conducted on May 16, 2021."
Well, the paper was a project that was supposed to be worked on throughout the semester, and was due on May 12. But okay, I get that sometimes students have late starts, so starting an assignment four days after it was due is something that I can accept, if not celebrate.
But the paper was dated April 26.
And the paper was uploaded to Blackboard on May 15.
I graded the paper as normal, but I am left scratching my head as to when the student actually did the interview and wrote the paper.
Quote from: jerseyjay on May 17, 2021, 10:55:52 AM
One of my student essays begins:
"This essay is based on an interview with Maria, a Mexican immigrant, conducted on May 16, 2021."
Well, the paper was a project that was supposed to be worked on throughout the semester, and was due on May 12. But okay, I get that sometimes students have late starts, so starting an assignment four days after it was due is something that I can accept, if not celebrate.
But the paper was dated April 26.
And the paper was uploaded to Blackboard on May 15.
I graded the paper as normal, but I am left scratching my head as to when the student actually did the interview and wrote the paper.
I've had time travelling students in my class. Since they were supposed to be documenting the time sequence of a naturally occurring phenomenon for their project, mis-stating the date is equivalent to fabricating data. Thus, I have reported all time-travelling students for academic misconduct. Your case may be less egregious, but you might consider having a conversation with the student regarding the source of their "data".
Edited to add: Their excuses are also super annoying. One student stated that he couldn't be held accountable for fudging the dates because he didn't know anything about phenomenon X. Well, a) he was taking a class that talked about phenomenon X during week 8, and b) the whole point of the project was to give students an opportunity to see and think about phenonenon X *with their own observations* taken throughout the semester. Grrrr.
Quote from: jerseyjay on May 17, 2021, 10:55:52 AM
One of my student essays begins:
"This essay is based on an interview with Maria, a Mexican immigrant, conducted on May 16, 2021."
Well, the paper was a project that was supposed to be worked on throughout the semester, and was due on May 12. But okay, I get that sometimes students have late starts, so starting an assignment four days after it was due is something that I can accept, if not celebrate.
But the paper was dated April 26.
And the paper was uploaded to Blackboard on May 15.
I graded the paper as normal, but I am left scratching my head as to when the student actually did the interview and wrote the paper.
I had a student email to say that they would need to leave class early and wanted to let me know that they might be rushed for time and have to put in "bogus answers" on the assignment.
WTF?
I wrote back to say that they can turn it in late with a small penalty and that I would strongly encourage them to write thoughtful and complete answers.
Did they mean incomplete? Made up? Just random nonsense with enough key terms to hope for some points?
The bind moggles.
M.
Quote from: the_geneticist on May 17, 2021, 01:19:44 PM
I had a student email to say that they would need to leave class early and wanted to let me know that they might be rushed for time and have to put in "bogus answers" on the assignment.
WTF?
I wrote back to say that they can turn it in late with a small penalty and that I would strongly encourage them to write thoughtful and complete answers.
Did they mean incomplete? Made up? Just random nonsense with enough key terms to hope for some points?
Try https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bogus definition 4. Current slang use of "bogus" can simply mean "not excellent".
Quote from: hungry_ghost on June 04, 2021, 05:35:02 PM
Quote from: the_geneticist on May 17, 2021, 01:19:44 PM
I had a student email to say that they would need to leave class early and wanted to let me know that they might be rushed for time and have to put in "bogus answers" on the assignment.
WTF?
I wrote back to say that they can turn it in late with a small penalty and that I would strongly encourage them to write thoughtful and complete answers.
Did they mean incomplete? Made up? Just random nonsense with enough key terms to hope for some points?
Try https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bogus definition 4. Current slang use of "bogus" can simply mean "not excellent".
What is this, the eighties?
Quote from: the_geneticist on May 17, 2021, 01:19:44 PM
Quote from: jerseyjay on May 17, 2021, 10:55:52 AM
One of my student essays begins:
"This essay is based on an interview with Maria, a Mexican immigrant, conducted on May 16, 2021."
Well, the paper was a project that was supposed to be worked on throughout the semester, and was due on May 12. But okay, I get that sometimes students have late starts, so starting an assignment four days after it was due is something that I can accept, if not celebrate.
But the paper was dated April 26.
And the paper was uploaded to Blackboard on May 15.
I graded the paper as normal, but I am left scratching my head as to when the student actually did the interview and wrote the paper.
I had a student email to say that they would need to leave class early and wanted to let me know that they might be rushed for time and have to put in "bogus answers" on the assignment.
WTF?
I wrote back to say that they can turn it in late with a small penalty and that I would strongly encourage them to write thoughtful and complete answers.
Did they mean incomplete? Made up? Just random nonsense with enough key terms to hope for some points?
They might have meant bonus? Although that doesn't really make much sense if they had less time...
Comp I narrative about remembered event (meeting boyfriend's family):
There I met his aunt, mother and brother. His aunt had pink hair with a kind voice.
Giggle.
An idea, rather than a verbatim sentence (I'm too toasted to look up the original):
I'm grading profiles in Comp I. Many were very good and on new-to-me topics. However, a bunch of them wrote narratives, even after two weeks of readings and exercises and a specific announcement and "tips" sheet I wrote up for them. One wrote a narrative about her taking her kids and sister to the zoo. My takeaway (paraphrasing her):
The penguins are fun to watch, even though one of them was crabby and grumpy, but it was understandable because she [the penguin] was pregnant.
Quote from: downer on April 18, 2021, 05:09:11 AM
Editing a bit, but ...
"legendary comedians such as ... Bernie Mac"
Say what now?
Bernie Mac joined fellow comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. L. Hughley in the film "The Original Kings of Comedy".
Maybe in your culture he isn't a legendary comedian, but perhaps he is in other's.
Quote from: bopper on July 13, 2021, 11:42:20 AM
Quote from: downer on April 18, 2021, 05:09:11 AM
Editing a bit, but ...
"legendary comedians such as ... Bernie Mac"
Say what now?
Bernie Mac joined fellow comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. L. Hughley in the film "The Original Kings of Comedy".
Maybe in your culture he isn't a legendary comedian, but perhaps he is in other's.
Bernie Mac taught me the correct mindset to have for the first day of classes with this legendary set: https://youtu.be/7JkPx0gk6LE (https://youtu.be/7JkPx0gk6LE). I owe him large.
Alas, my wife won't let me wear my face on my pants.
The next question is an incredibly thought provoking ponder.
[Story is about character] "eventually scumming to the temptation of the devil."
Quote from: Langue_doc on October 01, 2021, 01:17:22 PM
[Story is about character] "eventually scumming to the temptation of the devil."
Well, temptation often falsely adopts pleasing shapes, so a reminder of the essential sleaziness of it isn't a bad thing....
From a discussion post that appears to be acknowledging the long tradition of great Irish mythology, as splashed across the night sky: "The constellations I knew were O'Ryan's belt, Little Dipper, and Big Dipper."
Quote from: arcturus on October 05, 2021, 11:52:21 AM
From a discussion post that appears to be acknowledging the long tradition of great Irish mythology, as splashed across the night sky: "The constellations I knew were O'Ryan's belt, Little Dipper, and Big Dipper."
That is hilarious!
He's sipping a grog called Beetlejuice from a mug, too....
M.
Those of you teaching F2F should feel empowered by my student's insight:
Additionally, [the author] documents that the rise in technological innovation is rendering physical universities absolute.
Quote from: arcturus on October 05, 2021, 11:52:21 AM
From a discussion post that appears to be acknowledging the long tradition of great Irish mythology, as splashed across the night sky: "The constellations I knew were O'Ryan's belt, Little Dipper, and Big Dipper."
Ha!
"THC is becoming legal in more states, which is known to affect CB1 receptors in hypothalamus leading decreased efficiency in short-term memory encoding"
An unexpected civic problem?
Prompt: "Be sure to address, for your country or product, any issues related to your home or host country's political, legal or economic situation.
Response: "The only problem would be if theinspections on the Habu Sake failed because of the snakes but if there is no snakes in the drink then there should be no problem. Also sometimes America ate (sic) against eating certain animals, but if people drink most all orange sodas then hopefully they know that the use liquid from the beavers butt sack to help flavor the orange soda. If people can drink that then surely they can drink some snakes in alcohol."
"Oceans are salty because they are transformed coastal deserts where sand is abundance."
Mein Gott, does this student think Sand = Salt? In a Marine Biology course?
[Reads on]
Oh. She does. Oh no....
sorry for double post. Another gem
"The oceans are salty because they have a salinity of 35 ppt due to the concentration of salt in the water".
So, the oceans are salty because of the salt in them?
I'll bite.
In 9th grade Earth Science, we were told it was because the water evaporates but the salt doesn't so the salinity goes up as salt content from run-off becomes more concentrated in the water, having no place to go.
Is that still correct? Do I get a point?
;--}
M.
(I still have that textbook and could get up and look it up if I had to, too...)
Full points for that part of the question!
Today has been worth living, then.
;--}
M.
"Progressive" Stu decided to use the pronouns "they" and "them" for female characters, but not for the male counterparts. The assignment starts with the conventional pronouns "she" and "her", but abruptly transitions to the gender-neutral "they".
Quote
the narrator explain how tired they are and how they don't want to write in the journal anymore. It is about mid-summer, and the narrator explains that all they have really done is lie down. [Husband] reads to them in bed...
The two stories I am talking about are miserable and have similar plots.
"Hawthorne sets The House of the Seven Gables in Salem, MA to mine the mythology of the Salem Witch trials. The novel's message, however, is of the evils inherent in generational wealth. Witchcraft, like communism, is just a red herring."
I so hope that's a "Clue" reference.
Quote from: RatGuy on October 29, 2021, 06:25:10 AM
"Hawthorne sets The House of the Seven Gables in Salem, MA to mine the mythology of the Salem Witch trials. The novel's message, however, is of the evils inherent in generational wealth. Witchcraft, like communism, is just a red herring."
I so hope that's a "Clue" reference.
Don't get me started...or PM me, if you wish to....
Sounds like they're copying from stuff like Spark's and Cliff's notes, and throwing in some off-hand observations for good measure.
David Brown's and Mark Knoll's takes on it are still the best.
M.
I recall a poster wanting to know if we now had to chew the food for our baby students in addition to the expected spoon-feeding. I'm doing a lot of chewing this semester.
Quote
His solitary makes his imagination run wild,
Quote
However when that becomes tinted and darkness he is led to question
everything
From the introductory paragraph of an essay:
Quote
Time flows and runs like a river, and as time goes, one thing comes after another...
This is a hard-working student who needs some help with the language.
Quote from: Langue_doc on November 03, 2021, 12:54:04 PM
From the introductory paragraph of an essay:
Quote
Time flows and runs like a river, and as time goes, one thing comes after another...
This is a hard-working student who needs some help with the language.
And the physics. ;)
From the first sentence in the final paragraph of a mostly nonsensical essay (where the authors first name was misspelled multiple times and in different ways): "In confusion....." Oh boy.
Not a student, but . . . "We are allowing the government to divide and concur."
AR.
Autocorrect?
Quote from: AvidReader on November 05, 2021, 11:17:58 AM
Not a student, but . . . "We are allowing the government to divide and concur."
AR.
Sadly I must concur that we are divided.
Addendum to Stu's peer review:
Quote
Disregard what I said about Farce. Google gave me a terrible definition.
"Some moth species have already begun to experience a long-term decline in parts of Europe,
including a 25% decline of 442 species in Britain and similar declines in the Netherlands (Boyeset al., 2020), as well as parts of Germany, Sweden, Puerto Rico, and Costa Rica "
_
Wow. Brexit was worse than I thought. It has entangled the Western Hemisphere...
Those are some far flying moths!
In an essay about a novel dealing with immigration to New York City: "[the character] had to adapt to New York's busy fast paste lifestyle." Unfortunately, he was not able to get a job as plasterer or wall-paper hanger.
Well, yeah, if you can't keep up with the pasting you're likely to end up wrapped up and sealed in the stuff....
M.
Prelude to Stu's annotated bibliography:
Quote
I have chosen to discuss this topic in my research paper because for one I have a good
understanding (coming from much experience) of how relationships work (what the two people
in the bond have to contribute to each other as the nourishment, not to mention how something as
important as the recognition either of the women or the man and love between each other plays a
significant role in whether or not the spark continues to "live on" or "die out").
All all the books in the bib. listing by the student, then?
;--}
M.
From a student's three-paragraph account of how hu revised Assignment X:
Quote
Working with peers, whether they are assigned to me or not, helps a lot. It is nice to have someone my age to work
with, since they know how to help me best and reword sentences.
I guess profs can't help students with their writing because they're too old?! The detailed feedback I gave apparently doesn't count because of my age?
Quote from: Langue_doc on April 08, 2022, 12:24:22 PM
From a student's three-paragraph account of how hu revised Assignment X:
Quote
Working with peers, whether they are assigned to me or not, helps a lot. It is nice to have someone my age to work
with, since they know how to help me best and reword sentences.
I guess profs can't help students with their writing because they're too old?! The detailed feedback I gave apparently doesn't count because of my age?
There is something to be said for "peer mentoring", but I'm guessing that the student's writing is not going to be sufficiently improved by just "rewording" a few sentences.
Yep, we're too old, too strict,
enforcers of standards crushers of dreams.
Quote from: Langue_doc on April 08, 2022, 12:24:22 PM
From a student's three-paragraph account of how hu revised Assignment X:
Quote
Working with peers, whether they are assigned to me or not, helps a lot. It is nice to have someone my age to work
with, since they know how to help me best and reword sentences.
I guess profs can't help students with their writing because they're too old?! The detailed feedback I gave apparently doesn't count because of my age?
I imagine the peer says "Say it this way:...." rather than all of that pesky talk by
old people profs about
what you're trying to communicate and
why.
Quote from: marshwiggle on April 09, 2022, 05:26:44 AM
Quote from: Langue_doc on April 08, 2022, 12:24:22 PM
From a student's three-paragraph account of how hu revised Assignment X:
Quote
Working with peers, whether they are assigned to me or not, helps a lot. It is nice to have someone my age to work
with, since they know how to help me best and reword sentences.
I guess profs can't help students with their writing because they're too old?! The detailed feedback I gave apparently doesn't count because of my age?
I imagine the peer says "Say it this way:...." rather than all of that pesky talk by old people profs about what you're trying to communicate and why.
Students tend to assume I know stuff and dutifully follow along because they have to.
When a peer says something, they really take notice and engage because it's from a slightly unexpected source.
Quote
Prior to the death of her father, [Character] was already isolated because of circumstances out of her father's passing
Quote
[Character's] isolationism gets exponentially worse post her father's death.
The poor dad can't do anything right, living or dying, it sounds like.
He even gets them out of chronological order, messing the kid up more, apparently...
M.
Quote from: Langue_doc on May 03, 2022, 07:46:30 PM
Quote
[Character's] isolationism gets exponentially worse post her father's death.
Not even Pearl Harbor made her willing to reconsider supporting intervention overseas.
First sentence in a Freshman Comp research paper:
Quote
In [Author's] ["Short Story"], a woman named Jane is married to a man named John.
Probably an autocorrect error, but I enjoyed thinking about the fMRI imagining things:
QuotePast and current studies have used fMRI to imagine a child's brain who has ADHD while doing tasks.
Quote from: Langue_doc on May 04, 2022, 12:44:30 PM
First sentence in a Freshman Comp research paper:
Quote
In [Author's] ["Short Story"], a woman named Jane is married to a man named John.
I'm going to guess that her wallpaper is a tad bit yellow.
Quote from: Puget on May 11, 2022, 02:02:08 PM
Probably an autocorrect error, but I enjoyed thinking about the fMRI imagining things:
QuotePast and current studies have used fMRI to imagine a child's brain who has ADHD while doing tasks.
Do androids dream of electric sheep?
Quote from: RatGuy on May 11, 2022, 05:15:32 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on May 04, 2022, 12:44:30 PM
First sentence in a Freshman Comp research paper:
Quote
In [Author's] ["Short Story"], a woman named Jane is married to a man named John.
I'm going to guess that her wallpaper is a tad bit yellow.
Correct!
Stu was repeatedly urged to reread the story. Did Stu reread the story? Stu's account of the narrator's room:
Quote
However, she is mistaken, and the room is meant for mentally ill patients. It is also meant to be a prison in a way by trapping
patients so that they can't leave or hurt others.
Other gems:
Quote
Jane is dealing with postpartum depression, so her husband brings her to the home where the story takes place. Since John is a physician, he undermines the value of mental health.
Quote
She tries to conceal herself and her emotions by hiding her tears when she cries and her journal, where she goes on rants about the house, specifically the wallpaper and how she feels about it.
Quote
Near the end of the story, John's sister, Jennie, comes to visit and help around the house. She believes that Jane's writing is what's making her sick and believes that Jane is making problems out of something that doesn't exist. By doing so, her mental state is getting worse. John and Jennie do not believe her, so she is even more determined to get the woman out of the paper to prove to them that she was not "seeing things".
Quote
...since she creeps around in the paper and hides from Jane and everyone else. It is known that John is sleeps with Jane at night and is not always around during the day. When John is sleeping in bed with Jane, the woman hides and is trapped in the paper.
Wow, that even gives some of my recent comp papers a run for the money!
Most-if-not-all of my students seem to have lost their damned minds on the last papers of the spring. (Citation? What's a citation? We've studied those since Week 5? Really?) So at least this sentence from a struggling Comp I student made me giggle, rather than gnash my teeth:
The best thing about going to Lake of the Ozarks even if you don't like water is that there's always a big bomb fire every night after dark.
(Maybe I could print out all these papers and toss them into one of those bomb fires?)
I've been to Lake of the Ozarks, and I didn't see any big explosions in the evening. Mostly I just remember having some really good trout. That was some years back, though, so maybe things are different now.
Quote from: AmLitHist on May 12, 2022, 06:33:28 AM
Wow, that even gives some of my recent comp papers a run for the money!
Most-if-not-all of my students seem to have lost their damned minds on the last papers of the spring. (Citation? What's a citation? We've studied those since Week 5? Really?) So at least this sentence from a struggling Comp I student made me giggle, rather than gnash my teeth:
The best thing about going to Lake of the Ozarks even if you don't like water is that there's always a big bomb fire every night after dark.
(Maybe I could print out all these papers and toss them into one of those bomb fires?)
Sounds dangerous. ;)
Quote from: Langue_doc on May 12, 2022, 05:06:32 AM
Quote from: RatGuy on May 11, 2022, 05:15:32 PM
Quote from: Langue_doc on May 04, 2022, 12:44:30 PM
First sentence in a Freshman Comp research paper:
Quote
In [Author's] ["Short Story"], a woman named Jane is married to a man named John.
I'm going to guess that her wallpaper is a tad bit yellow.
Correct!
Stu was repeatedly urged to reread the story. Did Stu reread the story? Stu's account of the narrator's room:
Quote
However, she is mistaken, and the room is meant for mentally ill patients. It is also meant to be a prison in a way by trapping
patients so that they can't leave or hurt others.
Other gems:
Quote
Jane is dealing with postpartum depression, so her husband brings her to the home where the story takes place. Since John is a physician, he undermines the value of mental health.
Quote
She tries to conceal herself and her emotions by hiding her tears when she cries and her journal, where she goes on rants about the house, specifically the wallpaper and how she feels about it.
Quote
Near the end of the story, John's sister, Jennie, comes to visit and help around the house. She believes that Jane's writing is what's making her sick and believes that Jane is making problems out of something that doesn't exist. By doing so, her mental state is getting worse. John and Jennie do not believe her, so she is even more determined to get the woman out of the paper to prove to them that she was not "seeing things".
Quote
...since she creeps around in the paper and hides from Jane and everyone else. It is known that John is sleeps with Jane at night and is not always around during the day. When John is sleeping in bed with Jane, the woman hides and is trapped in the paper.
Muriel Sparks' "The Comforters" would make a good companion assignment if she's going to take things that way...
M.
Same class, another Stu, another story. Stu is a native speaker of American English.
Quote
Throughout the entirety of "A Rose for Emily", it is never disclosed the townspeople's actual identities.
Quote
...it explains how the townspeople are indecisive when it comes to interpreting her life as it is unlike any other life they have seen before. Her detachment from reality and the town allows the townspeople to ponder about her life until concrete evidence Is brought forth.
Quote
As the situation escalated Miss Emily diffused it because she did not want to be poked and prodded by the townspeople and this was a situation that fed into her process of disconnection from the town.
Quote
this was seen as the icing on the cake that served as a sendoff for Emily and this would eventually lead to her death.
In conclusion,
Quote
the townspeople constant bombardment of her life caused Emily to cut herself off from her own society. And the relationship with Homer left her devastated which unplugged the cord and left her disconnected from reality with no chance of returning.
Some interesting use of metaphors there.
Maybe that's kind of appropriate, given that it's a paper on a story by an author whose own sentence style has earned a certain notoriety.
From a Comp II student (to whom I apparently didn't teach a damned thing):
The dismissal of Roe v Wade creates an escape goat for persons in power to defend the dismissal of all legislatures past the eighteenth century, including not only reproductive rights but all rights of women.
There has to be an end to this grading soon (one way or another).
What on earth is an escape goat? Is this the goat that escaped from the bomb fire in Lake of the Ozarks?
Ah, now I get it, thanks to autocorrect (Grammarly).
Quote from: AmLitHist on May 14, 2022, 09:27:09 AM
From a Comp II student (to whom I apparently didn't teach a damned thing):
The dismissal of Roe v Wade creates an escape goat for persons in power to defend the dismissal of all legislatures past the eighteenth century, including not only reproductive rights but all rights of women.
There has to be an end to this grading soon (one way or another).
Another goat has escaped!
Stu: "When the president needed to have
an escape goat from their wrongdoings, they would often say that the Supreme Court did not do their job properly."
I think that the president needs to order the secretary of the interior to do something about the crisis of escaped goats.
Fear not. Not all goats are escape goats. Here are some that are not escaped at all...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKt3S9_No-M
M.
Quote from: mamselle on May 16, 2022, 04:36:50 PM
Fear not. Not all goats are escape goats. Here are some that are not escaped at all...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKt3S9_No-M
M.
Those goats are nicknamed Harry Houdini, Dorothy Dietrich, and David Blaine.
Or Willow, Tatum, and Penny....
;--》
M.
I recall years ago that "escape goat" cropped up on the old Fora version of this thread. Somebody then commented: "If that's a goat trained to get you out of trouble in an emergency, I want one!"
Our family had some experience keeping goats when I was growing up. From what I saw of them, every goat is an escape goat. They have a genius for getting where you don't want them.
Quote from: apl68 on May 17, 2022, 07:39:19 AM
I recall years ago that "escape goat" cropped up on the old Fora version of this thread. Somebody then commented: "If that's a goat trained to get you out of trouble in an emergency, I want one!"
Our family had some experience keeping goats when I was growing up. From what I saw of them, every goat is an escape goat. They have a genius for getting where you don't want them.
My parents-in-law live on a small farm and have goats in a pen. Those goats are a genius for getting their heads stuck in the fence, over and over and over again, preferably at 3:00am when their bleating cries will best carry through the still night air.
And they're really pissy when you help them out, too.
I feel like they're living, breathing metaphors, although I'm not sure for what.
Scape goat is probably a corruption of "escape goat", so the students are not entirely on the wrong track. My understanding is the phrase comes from the biblical account of the two goats, one of which is sacrificed and the other which has the sins of the community recited over it and is then released into the wilderness to ritually carry away from the community. Thus, the goat that escaped becomes the 'scape goat-- the one that takes on the sins of others. This passage is still read as part of the Yom Kippur liturgy (no actual goats are involved).
Quote from: apl68 on May 17, 2022, 07:39:19 AM
I recall years ago that "escape goat" cropped up on the old Fora version of this thread. Somebody then commented: "If that's a goat trained to get you out of trouble in an emergency, I want one!"
Our family had some experience keeping goats when I was growing up. From what I saw of them, every goat is an escape goat. They have a genius for getting where you don't want them.
I had goats as well-- they are very smart and very good at opening gate latches with their mouths. The good thing is they are also homebodies, so when they do get out they generally come back to their barn when they're done eating-- so long as it's not your garden they're eating it's ok. Once ours got out and the gate blew shut after them, so they came up on the porch and looked through the window until we noticed them, then trotted back to the gate to be let back in. Like I said, smart.
Quote from: traductio on May 17, 2022, 07:52:34 AM
I feel like they're living, breathing metaphors, although I'm not sure for what.
Waiting until 3 am to get stuck and then urgently demanding help while in a pissy mood? It does sound vaguely familiar...
I just read this in a student's essay: "...all the deception in chiefs and wolves clothing...."
Yikes. At least I knew what they meant.
Are they discussing the latest round of J6 indictments?
M.
Quote from: mamselle on June 04, 2022, 01:40:35 PM
Are they discussing the latest round of J6 indictments?
M.
Ha! That is awesome.
That would make some sense. I mean, even setting aside spelling, the idiom is backwards. Sigh. I got a follow up email (followed up to my feedback) begging to resubmit because they knew if they didn't do well then they wouldn't pass the class.
I've seen "ark" spelled "arc" right here on The Fora. Of course the "arc" does appear toward the end of the account of Noah, when the rainbow makes its appearance. Dispute the historicity of the ark if one must, but the arc is an undeniable reality. I've seen it myself after a good rain, and that's even with my defective color vision!
"Self-government rights are the rights to political anatomy"
Edit: Another: "wearing those garments are not allowed in public places, like turbine or hijab"
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 15, 2022, 04:33:59 PM
"Self-government rights are the rights to political anatomy"
Edit: Another: "wearing those garments are not allowed in public places, like turbine or hijab"
Heck, using the notwithstanding clause to prevent people wearing turbines in public may not be a bad idea.
(Canadian joke (https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/rfc-dlc/ccrf-ccdl/check/art33.html)).
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 15, 2022, 04:33:59 PM
"Self-government rights are the rights to political anatomy"
So in other words they give you the right to become an active member of the "body politic?" Makes sense to me!
"...there has been a jerk reaction...".
Quote from: Parasaurolophus on June 20, 2022, 06:26:18 PM
"...there has been a jerk reaction...".
So common in online and social media discussions in many places that it's hardly even necessary to mention....
Here's a good one:
"It is a life-transforming experience, when someone confronts a tickling bomb dilemma, regardless of our activities during the act."
A tickling bomb is a terrifying thought! I can see it being used to deal with crowds of rioters, or possibly turned on peaceful protestors.
Quote from: apl68 on June 23, 2022, 07:33:18 AM
A tickling bomb is a terrifying thought! I can see it being used to deal with crowds of rioters, or possibly turned on peaceful protestors.
Sounds like an egregious human rights violation to me!
Quote from: Langue_doc on November 03, 2021, 12:54:04 PM
From the introductory paragraph of an essay:
Quote
Time flows and runs like a river, and as time goes, one thing comes after another...
This is a hard-working student who needs some help with the language.
So true. At least I think so. See my accompanying thought.
Quote
Children (dead or not), are born with the ability to learn language...
Quote from: ergative on August 09, 2022, 02:45:41 AM
Quote
Children (dead or not), are born with the ability to learn language...
Was the reference to dead children perhaps a tone-deaf attempt to say "children of past times?" You know, people born so long ago that they can't help being dead by now?
Quote from: apl68 on August 09, 2022, 07:29:58 AM
Quote from: ergative on August 09, 2022, 02:45:41 AM
Quote
Children (dead or not), are born with the ability to learn language...
Was the reference to dead children perhaps a tone-deaf attempt to say "children of past times?" You know, people born so long ago that they can't help being dead by now?
I think it might be a typo for 'deaf'... ? That was discussed in the class, but there's no other discussion of deafness in the essay, so 🤷♀️
Quote from: ergative on August 09, 2022, 07:42:59 AM
Quote from: apl68 on August 09, 2022, 07:29:58 AM
Quote from: ergative on August 09, 2022, 02:45:41 AM
Quote
Children (dead or not), are born with the ability to learn language...
Was the reference to dead children perhaps a tone-deaf attempt to say "children of past times?" You know, people born so long ago that they can't help being dead by now?
I think it might be a typo for 'deaf'... ? That was discussed in the class, but there's no other discussion of deafness in the essay, so 🤷♀️
Language development in zombie and ghost children has been greatly under-studied, presenting many important future directions. . .
Quote from: Puget on August 09, 2022, 08:20:46 AM
Quote from: ergative on August 09, 2022, 07:42:59 AM
Quote from: apl68 on August 09, 2022, 07:29:58 AM
Quote from: ergative on August 09, 2022, 02:45:41 AM
Quote
Children (dead or not), are born with the ability to learn language...
Was the reference to dead children perhaps a tone-deaf attempt to say "children of past times?" You know, people born so long ago that they can't help being dead by now?
I think it might be a typo for 'deaf'... ? That was discussed in the class, but there's no other discussion of deafness in the essay, so 🤷♀️
Since the dawn of time Llanguage development in zombie and ghost children has been greatly under-studied, presenting many important future directions. . .
Fixed that for you
Quote from: Puget on August 09, 2022, 08:20:46 AM
Quote from: ergative on August 09, 2022, 07:42:59 AM
Quote from: apl68 on August 09, 2022, 07:29:58 AM
Quote from: ergative on August 09, 2022, 02:45:41 AM
Quote
Children (dead or not), are born with the ability to learn language...
Was the reference to dead children perhaps a tone-deaf attempt to say "children of past times?" You know, people born so long ago that they can't help being dead by now?
I think it might be a typo for 'deaf'... ? That was discussed in the class, but there's no other discussion of deafness in the essay, so 🤷♀️
Language development in zombie and ghost children has been greatly under-studied, presenting many important future directions. . .
You're right, it
has been under-studied. Which means that nobody is even trying to do anything about improving how notoriously inarticulate they are.
Quote from: apl68 on August 09, 2022, 10:02:53 AM
Quote from: Puget on August 09, 2022, 08:20:46 AM
Quote from: ergative on August 09, 2022, 07:42:59 AM
Quote from: apl68 on August 09, 2022, 07:29:58 AM
Quote from: ergative on August 09, 2022, 02:45:41 AM
Quote
Children (dead or not), are born with the ability to learn language...
Was the reference to dead children perhaps a tone-deaf attempt to say "children of past times?" You know, people born so long ago that they can't help being dead by now?
I think it might be a typo for 'deaf'... ? That was discussed in the class, but there's no other discussion of deafness in the essay, so 🤷♀️
Language development in zombie and ghost children has been greatly under-studied, presenting many important future directions. . .
You're right, it has been under-studied. Which means that nobody is even trying to do anything about improving how notoriously inarticulate they are.
Time for a crowd sourced grant application?
NICHD RO1: Innovative Approaches to Improving Language Development Outcomes in Undead and Disincorporated Children
Go for it!
You start the thread, we'll all pile on.
;--}
M.
I know we've all had these, but a sentence in the introduction of a dissertation proposal (not quite the 1st sentence, but close):
Play is something that humans have done since the beginning of time.
"He uses the slipper slope fallacy." Stu used "slipper slope" twice, so it's probably not a typo. Does this argument involve throwing a slipper like that Iraqi journalist did to President Bush?
I've always been partial to hiking in the mountains in rubber-soled sneakers as opposed to hiking boots myself. But mountaineering in slippers seems to minimalist.
"Macs and PCs both have occult like followings."
Quote from: AmLitHist on April 16, 2023, 10:49:11 AM
"Macs and PCs both have occult like followings."
Well, I have to admit that users of both who are more proficient than I do seem to me to possess a great deal of hidden knowledge.
" Cuttlefish belong to one of the many species in the world with the unique ability to camouflage themselves."
Quote from: FishProf on April 21, 2023, 12:00:38 PM
" Cuttlefish belong to one of the many species in the world with the unique ability to camouflage themselves."
Gotta love widespread uniqueness!
Quote from: sinenomine on April 21, 2023, 12:19:13 PM
Quote from: FishProf on April 21, 2023, 12:00:38 PM
" Cuttlefish belong to one of the many species in the world with the unique ability to camouflage themselves."
Gotta love widespread uniqueness!
Remember, if everyone is unique, then no one is....
Quote from: sinenomine on April 21, 2023, 12:19:13 PM
Quote from: FishProf on April 21, 2023, 12:00:38 PM
" Cuttlefish belong to one of the many species in the world with the unique ability to camouflage themselves."
Gotta love widespread uniqueness!
Kind of like the "exclusive" club advertising on TV offering to let you join for ten or twenty bucks or so.
Quote from: FishProf on April 21, 2023, 12:33:16 PM
Quote from: sinenomine on April 21, 2023, 12:19:13 PM
Quote from: FishProf on April 21, 2023, 12:00:38 PM
" Cuttlefish belong to one of the many species in the world with the unique ability to camouflage themselves."
Gotta love widespread uniqueness!
Remember, if everyone is unique, then no one is....
No, No. They are unique in their commonality!
Sorry, I was channeling this YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lfxYhtf8o4)speech.
I suppose it is technically possible for everyone to be unique. Probably in a trivial way.
"From the moment we are conceived, we are subject to assessments..."
This was the opening sentence for an essay about the use of assessments in early childhood education to support children's development. I know I wanted them to discuss a range of assessments, but I really wasn't expecting them to start from conception!
Quote from: Sleepy72 on May 17, 2023, 11:56:36 AM
"From the moment we are conceived, we are subject to assessments..."
This was the opening sentence for an essay about the use of assessments in early childhood education to support children's development. I know I wanted them to discuss a range of assessments, but I really wasn't expecting them to start from conception!
Well, to be fair, it is right there in the name: a pregnancy *test*. So, yeah, apparently assessment starts at conception.
Writing this paper has made me realize that I can overcome this ossicle that stands in my way.
Quote from: AmLitHist on September 01, 2023, 08:40:31 AMWriting this paper has made me realize that I can overcome this ossicle that stands in my way.
Living in a warmer part of the country, I've never, even in the coldest winter freeze, encountered an ossicle that was much trouble to overcome.
As a response to a discussion prompt to explain why you have enrolled in a general education astronomy course:
"...the reason I decided to take this course was because of how much I love butter space!"
I am heading to the refrigerator now! [Astronomers do have a tendency to make analogies to food, so perhaps the student is not too far off?]
So many Milky Way thoughts come to mind!
Now I want a Moon Pie!
Now I want a warm, buttered cinnamon role.
"My hobbies consist of ruining track and going fishing and usually I will travels to Myrtle beach SC for vacation but now I don't know now that I'm in college but that just leaves up to new things to see."
I got a bunch of "Let's hand in this word salad and expect an A!" students this semester, for some reason.
Quote from: fosca on September 01, 2023, 12:53:36 PM"My hobbies consist of ruining track and going fishing and usually I will travels to Myrtle beach SC for vacation but now I don't know now that I'm in college but that just leaves up to new things to see."
I got a bunch of "Let's hand in this word salad and expect an A!" students this semester, for some reason.
On the other hand, what's the point of grading something like that for anything but doneness.
Quote from: fosca on September 01, 2023, 12:53:36 PM"My hobbies consist of ruining track and going fishing and usually I will travels to Myrtle beach SC for vacation but now I don't know now that I'm in college but that just leaves up to new things to see."
I got a bunch of "Let's hand in this word salad and expect an A!" students this semester, for some reason.
Well...at least you know it wasn't done by ChatGPT. It surely would have done a better job than that.
The part about a hobby of "ruining track" might actually be true, if the student likes to take a vehicle with a lot of torque out to the track and do burnouts. If it's a dirt track, a four-wheel ATV would also be a pretty good way to ruin it.
Quote from: Caracal on September 02, 2023, 04:14:06 AMQuote from: fosca on September 01, 2023, 12:53:36 PM"My hobbies consist of ruining track and going fishing and usually I will travels to Myrtle beach SC for vacation but now I don't know now that I'm in college but that just leaves up to new things to see."
I got a bunch of "Let's hand in this word salad and expect an A!" students this semester, for some reason.
On the other hand, what's the point of grading something like that for anything but doneness.
Essentially that's what I did; it's an Introduction forum, and I'm not allowed to grade on spelling/grammar unless it's completely unintelligible, which this isn't. It doesn't make it easier to see this coming from college students who either don't care or think this work is just fine.
Quote from: fosca on September 02, 2023, 04:40:12 PMQuote from: Caracal on September 02, 2023, 04:14:06 AMQuote from: fosca on September 01, 2023, 12:53:36 PM"My hobbies consist of ruining track and going fishing and usually I will travels to Myrtle beach SC for vacation but now I don't know now that I'm in college but that just leaves up to new things to see."
I got a bunch of "Let's hand in this word salad and expect an A!" students this semester, for some reason.
On the other hand, what's the point of grading something like that for anything but doneness.
Essentially that's what I did; it's an Introduction forum, and I'm not allowed to grade on spelling/grammar unless it's completely unintelligible, which this isn't. It doesn't make it easier to see this coming from college students who either don't care or think this work is just fine.
WHAT? Okay, on my 10/10 assignments that would have gotten a 9/10 with a comment that they needed to correct their grammar, as well as run it through a proofreader.
Can you at least comment to the student that they need to write more professionally?
Quote from: ciao_yall on September 02, 2023, 05:12:16 PMQuote from: fosca on September 02, 2023, 04:40:12 PMQuote from: Caracal on September 02, 2023, 04:14:06 AMQuote from: fosca on September 01, 2023, 12:53:36 PM"My hobbies consist of ruining track and going fishing and usually I will travels to Myrtle beach SC for vacation but now I don't know now that I'm in college but that just leaves up to new things to see."
I got a bunch of "Let's hand in this word salad and expect an A!" students this semester, for some reason.
On the other hand, what's the point of grading something like that for anything but doneness.
Essentially that's what I did; it's an Introduction forum, and I'm not allowed to grade on spelling/grammar unless it's completely unintelligible, which this isn't. It doesn't make it easier to see this coming from college students who either don't care or think this work is just fine.
WHAT? Okay, on my 10/10 assignments that would have gotten a 9/10 with a comment that they needed to correct their grammar, as well as run it through a proofreader.
Can you at least comment to the student that they need to write more professionally?
I've been told not to, because it discourages the students. I did say something about it being really hard to understand because of the errors, but that's likely walking right up to the line.
Quote from: fosca on September 02, 2023, 07:58:04 PMQuote from: ciao_yall on September 02, 2023, 05:12:16 PMQuote from: fosca on September 02, 2023, 04:40:12 PMQuote from: Caracal on September 02, 2023, 04:14:06 AMQuote from: fosca on September 01, 2023, 12:53:36 PM"My hobbies consist of ruining track and going fishing and usually I will travels to Myrtle beach SC for vacation but now I don't know now that I'm in college but that just leaves up to new things to see."
I got a bunch of "Let's hand in this word salad and expect an A!" students this semester, for some reason.
On the other hand, what's the point of grading something like that for anything but doneness.
Essentially that's what I did; it's an Introduction forum, and I'm not allowed to grade on spelling/grammar unless it's completely unintelligible, which this isn't. It doesn't make it easier to see this coming from college students who either don't care or think this work is just fine.
WHAT? Okay, on my 10/10 assignments that would have gotten a 9/10 with a comment that they needed to correct their grammar, as well as run it through a proofreader.
Can you at least comment to the student that they need to write more professionally?
I've been told not to, because it discourages the students. I did say something about it being really hard to understand because of the errors, but that's likely walking right up to the line.
Discourages the students from what? /facepalm.
Quote from: ciao_yall on September 03, 2023, 09:26:04 AMQuote from: fosca on September 02, 2023, 07:58:04 PMQuote from: ciao_yall on September 02, 2023, 05:12:16 PMQuote from: fosca on September 02, 2023, 04:40:12 PMQuote from: Caracal on September 02, 2023, 04:14:06 AMQuote from: fosca on September 01, 2023, 12:53:36 PM"My hobbies consist of ruining track and going fishing and usually I will travels to Myrtle beach SC for vacation but now I don't know now that I'm in college but that just leaves up to new things to see."
I got a bunch of "Let's hand in this word salad and expect an A!" students this semester, for some reason.
On the other hand, what's the point of grading something like that for anything but doneness.
Essentially that's what I did; it's an Introduction forum, and I'm not allowed to grade on spelling/grammar unless it's completely unintelligible, which this isn't. It doesn't make it easier to see this coming from college students who either don't care or think this work is just fine.
WHAT? Okay, on my 10/10 assignments that would have gotten a 9/10 with a comment that they needed to correct their grammar, as well as run it through a proofreader.
Can you at least comment to the student that they need to write more professionally?
I've been told not to, because it discourages the students. I did say something about it being really hard to understand because of the errors, but that's likely walking right up to the line.
Discourages the students from what? /facepalm.
Continuing in class and thus paying tuition.
Quote from: ciao_yall on September 03, 2023, 09:26:04 AMQuote from: fosca on September 02, 2023, 07:58:04 PMQuote from: ciao_yall on September 02, 2023, 05:12:16 PMQuote from: fosca on September 02, 2023, 04:40:12 PMQuote from: Caracal on September 02, 2023, 04:14:06 AMQuote from: fosca on September 01, 2023, 12:53:36 PM"My hobbies consist of ruining track and going fishing and usually I will travels to Myrtle beach SC for vacation but now I don't know now that I'm in college but that just leaves up to new things to see."
I got a bunch of "Let's hand in this word salad and expect an A!" students this semester, for some reason.
On the other hand, what's the point of grading something like that for anything but doneness.
Essentially that's what I did; it's an Introduction forum, and I'm not allowed to grade on spelling/grammar unless it's completely unintelligible, which this isn't. It doesn't make it easier to see this coming from college students who either don't care or think this work is just fine.
WHAT? Okay, on my 10/10 assignments that would have gotten a 9/10 with a comment that they needed to correct their grammar, as well as run it through a proofreader.
Can you at least comment to the student that they need to write more professionally?
I've been told not to, because it discourages the students. I did say something about it being really hard to understand because of the errors, but that's likely walking right up to the line.
Discourages the students from what? /facepalm.
Discourage is a bad way to put it, but I do think grading down on an intro post for grammar would come across as obnoxious. For later posts, it really depends what the purpose of these things is and what guidelines you have for them. I don't consider discussion posts and reading responses to be formal writing, I'm not trying to use them to get students to write better-I just want them to do the reading and think about it in some way.
I suspect this is a student who is failing to understand the difference between a text message to a friend and a post on a discussion board. This is probably going to carry over into other things and it would be a kindness to say something about the need to be more careful.
Quote from: Caracal on September 04, 2023, 04:36:26 AMQuote from: ciao_yall on September 03, 2023, 09:26:04 AMQuote from: fosca on September 02, 2023, 07:58:04 PMQuote from: ciao_yall on September 02, 2023, 05:12:16 PMQuote from: fosca on September 02, 2023, 04:40:12 PMQuote from: Caracal on September 02, 2023, 04:14:06 AMQuote from: fosca on September 01, 2023, 12:53:36 PM"My hobbies consist of ruining track and going fishing and usually I will travels to Myrtle beach SC for vacation but now I don't know now that I'm in college but that just leaves up to new things to see."
I got a bunch of "Let's hand in this word salad and expect an A!" students this semester, for some reason.
On the other hand, what's the point of grading something like that for anything but doneness.
Essentially that's what I did; it's an Introduction forum, and I'm not allowed to grade on spelling/grammar unless it's completely unintelligible, which this isn't. It doesn't make it easier to see this coming from college students who either don't care or think this work is just fine.
WHAT? Okay, on my 10/10 assignments that would have gotten a 9/10 with a comment that they needed to correct their grammar, as well as run it through a proofreader.
Can you at least comment to the student that they need to write more professionally?
I've been told not to, because it discourages the students. I did say something about it being really hard to understand because of the errors, but that's likely walking right up to the line.
Discourages the students from what? /facepalm.
Discourage is a bad way to put it, but I do think grading down on an intro post for grammar would come across as obnoxious. For later posts, it really depends what the purpose of these things is and what guidelines you have for them. I don't consider discussion posts and reading responses to be formal writing, I'm not trying to use them to get students to write better-I just want them to do the reading and think about it in some way.
I suspect this is a student who is failing to understand the difference between a text message to a friend and a post on a discussion board. This is probably going to carry over into other things and it would be a kindness to say something about the need to be more careful.
I made it clear to students that I expected clear writing and proper grammar and would mark down. I reminded them that they were in a professional environment. Further, there were students from different nationalities for whom English was not their first language, and if they did not write clearly their classmates might not understand them.
Maybe because I taught business, but I never got any pushback. Occasionally from foreign students in the beginning, but they knew where the writing lab was and soon did just fine.
Quote from: Caracal on September 04, 2023, 04:36:26 AMQuote from: ciao_yall on September 03, 2023, 09:26:04 AMQuote from: fosca on September 02, 2023, 07:58:04 PMI've been told not to, because it discourages the students. I did say something about it being really hard to understand because of the errors, but that's likely walking right up to the line.
Discourages the students from what? /facepalm.
Discourage is a bad way to put it, but I do think grading down on an intro post for grammar would come across as obnoxious. For later posts, it really depends what the purpose of these things is and what guidelines you have for them. I don't consider discussion posts and reading responses to be formal writing, I'm not trying to use them to get students to write better-I just want them to do the reading and think about it in some way.
I suspect this is a student who is failing to understand the difference between a text message to a friend and a post on a discussion board. This is probably going to carry over into other things and it would be a kindness to say something about the need to be more careful.
True, and I wouldn't take points off for spelling/grammar on introduction anyway because it is a "do it for credit" sort of thing, but I'm not allowed to grade on spelling/grammar for ANYTHING. Including non-discussion assignments.
QuoteTrue, and I wouldn't take points off for spelling/grammar on introduction anyway because it is a "do it for credit" sort of thing, but I'm not allowed to grade on spelling/grammar for ANYTHING. Including non-discussion assignments. QuoteThis is sad. What's wrong with your admincritters? Don't they want their graduating students to know how to put together a sentence, let alone well-constructed arguments, paragraphs, and essays?
Quote from: Langue_doc on September 05, 2023, 06:33:39 AMQuoteTrue, and I wouldn't take points off for spelling/grammar on introduction anyway because it is a "do it for credit" sort of thing, but I'm not allowed to grade on spelling/grammar for ANYTHING. Including non-discussion assignments. QuoteThis is sad. What's wrong with your admincritters? Don't they want their graduating students to know how to put together a sentence, let alone well-constructed arguments, paragraphs, and essays?
This is another example of why higher ed is losing its credibility among so many people in this country. And why employers complain so much about the recent graduates of many schools.
Quote from: apl68 on September 05, 2023, 07:38:38 AMQuote from: Langue_doc on September 05, 2023, 06:33:39 AMQuoteTrue, and I wouldn't take points off for spelling/grammar on introduction anyway because it is a "do it for credit" sort of thing, but I'm not allowed to grade on spelling/grammar for ANYTHING. Including non-discussion assignments.
This is sad. What's wrong with your admincritters? Don't they want their graduating students to know how to put together a sentence, let alone well-constructed arguments, paragraphs, and essays?
This is another example of why higher ed is losing its credibility among so many people in this country. And why employers complain so much about the recent graduates of many schools.
I've seen writing center staff caution against copy-editing student work, but it has always been ok at my place to include spelling/grammar as part of the grading rubric. At the very least, excessive technical errors (spelling/grammar) impede communication. As a consequence, any work that is littered with errors cannot earn a high grade in my class.
"At least 85% of the employees are either men or women, indicating a strong skew in the gender balance (Kanter, 1977)."
I am so tempted to add a comment asking whether the other 15% are alien!!!
Quote from: Sleepy72 on September 13, 2023, 01:45:12 AM"At least 85% of the employees are either men or women, indicating a strong skew in the gender balance (Kanter, 1977)."
I am so tempted to add a comment asking whether the other 15% are alien!!!
What about all of the non-binary ones???? And all of the ones who identify as dragon-kin and attack helicopters??? Oh the non-genderity!
"I am a skilled collaborator, as well as an effective cross functional communicator."
Is this like crossing the streams in Ghostbusters?
Quote from: mythbuster on September 14, 2023, 01:03:40 PM"I am a skilled collaborator, as well as an effective cross functional communicator."
Is this like crossing the streams in Ghostbusters?
That looked odd to me too. However, I suspected that it might be a trendy piece of business/organizational jargon. So I did a quick online search, and sure enough it turns out to be a thing. I've found this definition of it:
Quote"The communication between two operational teams in working towards a common outcome is called cross-functional communication."
Looks like we may have to put up with this one for at least a few years before it falls out of fashion.
You got it apl68. This is in a student resume. Since it's for a resume in the sciences, jargon like this actively hurts the student. It takes quite a while for them to realize that skills in science are concrete and not the buzzwords from the business community.
Quote from: apl68 on September 15, 2023, 07:42:12 AMQuote from: mythbuster on September 14, 2023, 01:03:40 PM"I am a skilled collaborator, as well as an effective cross functional communicator."
Is this like crossing the streams in Ghostbusters?
That looked odd to me too. However, I suspected that it might be a trendy piece of business/organizational jargon. So I did a quick online search, and sure enough it turns out to be a thing. I've found this definition of it:
Quote"The communication between two operational teams in working towards a common outcome is called cross-functional communication."
Looks like we may have to put up with this one for at least a few years before it falls out of fashion.
One person's jargon may be another person's daily use. I have used cross-functional communication in business for years to describe the coordination between two or more different business functions, such as sales, marketing, finance, engineering...
Quote from: mythbuster on September 15, 2023, 08:30:17 AMYou got it apl68. This is in a student resume. Since it's for a resume in the sciences, jargon like this actively hurts the student. It takes quite a while for them to realize that skills in science are concrete and not the buzzwords from the business community.
Good thing you're there to point that out to the student, then.
Ciao_yall indicates that in another context "cross-functional communication" is apparently a legitimate term. I suppose it goes to illustrate the importance of learning what flies and what doesn't in different fields.
It's the little things in life that really make an in pack on us.
Quote from: AmLitHist on September 21, 2023, 03:41:51 PMIt's the little things in life that really make an in pack on us.
Maybe the big things in life make an out pack on us?
Remember: Pack it in; Pack it out.
Pack it up. Pack it in? Let me begin?
Pack it up, pack it in,take it out to the bin.
Stu has a project on terraforming Mercury. This gem is nestled in stu's discussion:
"I can conclude this planet is a rock."
Um, ok...
And what did they offer as evidence?
Here's another one:
"The terrain of Venus is relatively smooth with two continent like fetuses named Ishtar and Aphrodite."
Quote from: waterboy on December 03, 2023, 05:22:01 PMAnd what did they offer as evidence?
The student mentioned that a website stated: "Mercury is composed of approximately 70% metallic and 30% silicate material."
So, yeah... rock! :)
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on December 03, 2023, 06:23:58 PMHere's another one:
"The terrain of Venus is relatively smooth with two continent like fetuses named Ishtar and Aphrodite."
This is superb! You made my day.
Quote from: fleabite on December 03, 2023, 07:02:41 PMQuote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on December 03, 2023, 06:23:58 PMHere's another one:
"The terrain of Venus is relatively smooth with two continent like fetuses named Ishtar and Aphrodite."
This is superb! You made my day.
Sounds like
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
I usually teach studio art classes but we needed someone to teach an art appreciation class last minute this semester and I got volunteered. It's been a while since I've had to grade student papers and while I'm ready to start drinking I have a few gems.
From two separate papers about The Persistence of Memory:
"Dali often used ants in his paintings to represent death and decay that he, himself symbolizes."
"This painting was not up for commission, which hints that Dalí was a surrealist."
I liked this one about another artist:
"The intense intensity radiating from the artwork established a profound and automatic connection..."
I would be disappointed to have apathetic intensity radiating for sure...
Quote from: onehappyunicorn on December 11, 2023, 03:13:41 PMI usually teach studio art classes but we needed someone to teach an art appreciation class last minute this semester and I got volunteered. It's been a while since I've had to grade student papers and while I'm ready to start drinking I have a few gems.
From two separate papers about The Persistence of Memory:
"Dali often used ants in his paintings to represent death and decay that he, himself symbolizes."
"This painting was not up for commission, which hints that Dalí was a surrealist."
I liked this one about another artist:
"The intense intensity radiating from the artwork established a profound and automatic connection..."
I would be disappointed to have apathetic intensity radiating for sure...
I can remember sentences like these from my TA days. And in those days students didn't need online bots to generate writing like that for them!
"Intense intensity radiating" was indeed repetitious and redundant. If the intensity is "radiating" then it's obviously intense, since apathetic intensity almost never has what it takes to radiate.
Stu was explaining the reason why a fairly esoteric mathematical statement couldn't be true. (Actually it was true, but that's beside the point.)
"This world wouldn't exist, humans wouldn't exist, and food wouldn't exist for that matter."
Quote from: Liquidambar on April 14, 2024, 10:09:25 PMStu was explaining the reason why a fairly esoteric mathematical statement couldn't be true. (Actually it was true, but that's beside the point.)
"This world wouldn't exist, humans wouldn't exist, and food wouldn't exist for that matter."
In that case, I'm glad that the student was mistaken. I'd hate it if food didn't exist, especially if I wasn't there to eat it.