tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post5607681941686994781..comments2023-10-15T04:23:50.187-04:00Comments on College Misery: The Impotence of 'Self of Steam"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-14514083443535929372011-09-02T15:28:56.006-04:002011-09-02T15:28:56.006-04:00@CouldBeBetter: classic!@CouldBeBetter: classic!The Contemplative Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088570661592922436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-32030199684993283682011-09-02T03:38:04.104-04:002011-09-02T03:38:04.104-04:00When I was working as a writing tutor, I once help...When I was working as a writing tutor, I once helped a first-year student (not originally from this country, with almost no experience writing essays) craft a reasonable (B-ish level) paper for an introductory history course.<br /><br />We somehow got to talking about academics and publishing, and I explained some of the features that could potentially make one of my own academic papers CouldBeBetterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17494567309967997639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-31389255732820343812011-09-01T09:48:07.034-04:002011-09-01T09:48:07.034-04:00Although it should be noted that "not college...Although it should be noted that "not college-level work" should not be getting a C. So make that a D.Frog and Toadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377542172335502858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-89401013787410870842011-09-01T07:59:30.971-04:002011-09-01T07:59:30.971-04:00I'm sorry -- I apologize on behalf of every in...<i>I'm sorry -- I apologize on behalf of every instructor you've had who was too lazy to let you know that this is not college-level work and to help you improve.</i><br /><br />Froad, I wrote something similar to that on a student essay once. This was particularly egregious: a senior at a SLAC who was writing at what I estimate was a C-minus middle-school level.introvert.profhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09042783611716432247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-71775464705735456612011-08-31T22:54:53.287-04:002011-08-31T22:54:53.287-04:00I did a POW. I did a POW! I'm so excited. This...I did a POW. I did a POW! I'm so excited. This has to mean I'm special and, therefore, my self esteem will increase for a reason! :o)<br /><br />I'd like to think that I set out to simply teach students and that the sum of my job is to make sure they learn. But I'm not sure they CAN learn without it being meaningful to them (which I equate to 'making a difference'). I wantThe Contemplative Cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088570661592922436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-75423901243286699152011-08-31T15:38:22.429-04:002011-08-31T15:38:22.429-04:00Sometimes I give out the C and then, when I get th...Sometimes I give out the C and then, when I get the teary-eyed student in my office, I say, "I'm sorry -- I apologize on behalf of every instructor you've had who was too lazy to let you know that this is not college-level work and to help you improve."Frog and Toadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377542172335502858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-90753151612820601852011-08-31T10:57:38.623-04:002011-08-31T10:57:38.623-04:00Pretty much what Stella said.
I once had an Honor...Pretty much <a href="http://collegemisery.blogspot.com/2011/08/impotence-of-self-of-steam.html?showComment=1314761257927#c5544606977509337601" rel="nofollow">what Stella said</a>.<br /><br />I once had an Honors (that is, qualified for the honors sequence) pull the "I've always gotten As, why am I getting a C?" on me. Her writing was gawdawful, and she repeatedly demonstrated a introvert.profhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09042783611716432247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-33430037775219191162011-08-31T06:50:14.876-04:002011-08-31T06:50:14.876-04:00In one of the "Hitch-hiker's Guide to the...In one of the "Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy" books, Slartibartfast says something to the effect of "I'd rather be happy than right." <br /><br />I remember it came as a mild shock to me well into adulthood when I realized that I'd rather be right than happy. A lot of things suddenly made more sense when I realized that.Rosencrantz Andor Guildensternhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05095512139776536635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-55323690713472362011-08-31T01:21:15.676-04:002011-08-31T01:21:15.676-04:00If anything, my self-esteem is bolstered by the sa...If anything, my self-esteem is bolstered by the satisfaction of knowing their self-esteem is overinflated. This, in turn, bolsters the self-esteem of my higher-ups, who have the satisfaction of knowing that my self-esteem is overinflated. Wait.<br /><br />Like Stella, I value the notes from students even if I can't remember them, along the theme of "I hated your class at the time, but Eskarinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14854383335265386899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883226237165701608.post-55446069775093376012011-08-30T23:27:37.927-04:002011-08-30T23:27:37.927-04:00How many of you feel YOUR self esteem is negativel...<i>How many of you feel YOUR self esteem is negatively affected by having to deal with students who have an overinflated belief in their 'self of steam'?</i><br /><br />My own personal self-esteem isn't affected one iota. If I allowed the whims and emotions of students to affect my self-esteem, I would have shot myself a long time ago. <br /><br /><i>Do you feel you CAN make a StellafromSparksburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17584701718285662953noreply@blogger.com