Teachers of comp: post best student sentences

[Catullus]

when you guys are wading through stuff like this and then you get a paper in which the sentences and paragraphs are reasonably well-written and coherent, does it tend to make you more forgiving w/r/t lazy/misguided/pedestrian arguments?

because i feel like this helped me get a few decent marks that i didn't really deserve

vividly remember sitting in a third-year class last year and the tutor saying, "now some of you need to work on using paragraphs..."

I find grading with wine helps. Otherwise I get mean.

But yeah, sometimes I'm less harsh on a decent though not well developed arguments. I still am a pretty harsh grader.

[Ampersand]

From the latest batch: "Imagine how many issues would arouse if every silly idea that popped into a person’s head was just implemented on people"

My favorite student made-up phrase is "grab a mental grasp of the situation," which I now frequently use irl.

[walt whitman]

when you guys are wading through stuff like this and then you get a paper in which the sentences and paragraphs are reasonably well-written and coherent, does it tend to make you more forgiving w/r/t lazy/misguided/pedestrian arguments?

no, i'm more concerned with argument and logic, style/organization less so. however, it's actually quite rare (in my experience) to see papers where the writing style is strong, and the argument weak. those aspects tend to be closely tied together, such that to be a good arguer, you generally need to write well or express your thoughts clearly (writing = thinking). i don't remember many instances in which i admired a student's grasp of form despite a lack of argument.

[Catullus]

when you guys are wading through stuff like this and then you get a paper in which the sentences and paragraphs are reasonably well-written and coherent, does it tend to make you more forgiving w/r/t lazy/misguided/pedestrian arguments?

no, i'm more concerned with argument and logic, style/organization less so. however, it's actually quite rare (in my experience) to see papers where the writing style is strong, and the argument weak. those aspects tend to be closely tied together, such that to be a good arguer, you generally need to write well or express your thoughts clearly (writing = thinking). i don't remember many instances in which i admired a student's grasp of form despite a lack of argument.

This happens more at a younger age. I teach primarily Sophomore HS students, and they are still learning how to analyze.

[Locke]

"if someone doesn't want raped in prison then do not do something to get you put into prison"

[mcneil]

no, i'm more concerned with argument and logic, style/organization less so. however, it's actually quite rare (in my experience) to see papers where the writing style is strong, and the argument weak. those aspects tend to be closely tied together, such that to be a good arguer, you generally need to write well or express your thoughts clearly (writing = thinking). i don't remember many instances in which i admired a student's grasp of form despite a lack of argument.

yeah i dunno, maybe my arguments were stronger than i thought. the rigour of expression = rigour of thought thing is something i think about a lot.

was mostly just thinking of the old saying that you can only polish a turd a certain amount, etc.

anyway thank you for your responses, teachers of comp, i admire your work.

[addison]

when you guys are wading through stuff like this and then you get a paper in which the sentences and paragraphs are reasonably well-written and coherent, does it tend to make you more forgiving w/r/t lazy/misguided/pedestrian arguments?

no, i'm more concerned with argument and logic, style/organization less so. however, it's actually quite rare (in my experience) to see papers where the writing style is strong, and the argument weak. those aspects tend to be closely tied together, such that to be a good arguer, you generally need to write well or express your thoughts clearly (writing = thinking). i don't remember many instances in which i admired a student's grasp of form despite a lack of argument.

that's the main ethos of our comp department but honestly it's bullshit, at least in the case of the students i teach
i have a few students who write well, and i let them get by simply for that fact, but then i could not give a fuck less

[addison]

I love everything about this one

People in the United States are struggling finically with trying to putting bread and water on the table, gas in tank, and a shelter under their feet let alone paying their health care bill.

[deadaswarhol]

haha that's amazing

[Dr. Norm Thagard]

The concentration camps were sights for sore eyes.

Not sure she gets the meaning of that cliche.

[important dentist]

well they were sights and i guess holocaust victims' eyes could maybe be described as sore

[Destroid]

In reference to "The Lottery": "The murder here is a killing."

[addison]

i have to teach creative writing in a couple hours and i'm going through the student comments on a discussion board and the first one i read is this, i can't tell if it's sarcasm

Firstly, I would like to commend your writing skill. This is a fantastic poem.

Feedback: the title of this poem is very captivating, you had my attention from the offset. I very much savoured your use of tension in this poem. The title, alongside your use of commas to delay the reader from uncovering the facts and the use of short sharp phrases was exhilarating. Additionally, I appreciated your successful attempts to engage the reader by using rhetorical questions.

Conversely, I concur with Jennifer in that I am at a lost as to whether or not the poem is depicting metaphor or reality. However, I guess ambiguity is a beautiful thing. Furthermore, you are evidently a very intelligent and skilled writer - I feel you could have used more varied adjectives. But once again, you may have been aspiring for a simplistic effect.

Conclusively, this was a very satisfying poem to read.

[chairkicker]

more likely some poor kid who learned to write by way of standardized testing

[mutism]

marked 60 legal opinions where the majority of students thought a 15 year old male student sleeping with a female teacher could be grounds for his expulsion

[deadaswarhol]

my friend is teaching English at the community college and he was going over passive voice, and one kid raised his hand and was like "so where does 'passive agressive' fit into all this?"

[parades]

However, I guess ambiguity is a beautiful thing.

[addison]

Even though people marry for the fact of love alone, it is hard to classify what love exactly is. The meaning of love varies from person to person. The Gays represent this new marriage transition in America.

[Chyet]

the Florida high school standardized test was rated on a scale of 1-6 by two graders like the higher level tests. There was a pretty useless prep class and I still remember, 13 years later, the entirety of one of the,"0" examples. It was a real submission.

Vandalism

There once was a girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead; When she was good, she was very, very good, and when she was bad, she vandalized.

[The Emperor's Son]

Even though people marry for the fact of love alone, it is hard to classify what love exactly is. The meaning of love varies from person to person. The Gays represent this new marriage transition in America.

incredible

and honored.

[sadville]

friend of mine just got this for a revision cover letter:

i have fixed the all of the grammatically mistakes.