Thursday, March 8, 2012

Overheard

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.]

comments: 8

Geo-B said...

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.

Michael Leddy said...

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?

Pete said...

Or - oh, the humanity! - a clear plastic cover?

Michael Leddy said...

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.

Sean said...

Beware the snide of March!

Michael Leddy said...

Yes, that’s tomorrow, last day before spring break.

sean said...

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."

Michael Leddy said...

In my family, we’re not made of steal, but we can’t resist the urge to pun.