In a distant grove — or was it hallway? — of academe, a student complaining about an essay assignment:
“I mean, she wants an introduction, a thesis statement. I’m sorry: this is, like, too much.”
What especially strikes me about this complaint: the assumption that an introduction and thesis statement are one despot’s demands, not elements of a college essay, made explicit for a student’s benefit. What will “she” demand next: sentences? paragraphs? a staple in the upper-left corner?
Related reading
All “overheard” posts (via Pinboard)
[Thanks, Michael.]
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Overheard
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comments: 8
Once in 1975 a student whined when I required that he only split words at the syllable breaks:"Yea, and I suppose when I get in another English class, I'll have to do it the way that teacher wants." I was actually flattered that he thought I had come up with splitting words by syllables.
I suppose that sometimes there’s a basis for complaint: my high school had an English teacher who had her own style for documentation.
But about hyphenation — that wasn’t you?
Or - oh, the humanity! - a clear plastic cover?
I used to have to ban them (they were a drag to disassemble and reassemble), but I haven’t seen one in years. I suspect they’ve become deeply uncool.
Beware the snide of March!
Yes, that’s tomorrow, last day before spring break.
I was going to go with "Beware the snide's remarks!", or even "Beware the snides of March!" but I was already reaching. And besides, "he who would pun would pick a pocket."
In my family, we’re not made of steal, but we can’t resist the urge to pun.
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