Comments on: Why I Detest “Writing in Class” http://cantseetheforest.org/2007/10/02/why-i-detest-writing-in-class/ Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:13:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Bluebear2 http://cantseetheforest.org/2007/10/02/why-i-detest-writing-in-class/#comment-37615 Bluebear2 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:45:45 +0000 http://cantseetheforest.org/2007/10/02/why-i-detest-writing-in-class/#comment-37615 I always did my best work in the back corner of the campus coffee house by candlelight. I always did my best work in the back corner of the campus coffee house by candlelight.

]]> By: Curtis http://cantseetheforest.org/2007/10/02/why-i-detest-writing-in-class/#comment-37614 Curtis Fri, 05 Oct 2007 19:36:07 +0000 http://cantseetheforest.org/2007/10/02/why-i-detest-writing-in-class/#comment-37614 Well, not to oversimplify, but I think that goes to show that teachers can make all the difference. My current Eng professor is a very good guy and extremely knowledgeable. He has an interesting way of explaining things like allusion and symbolism in literature, which, of course, I thoroughly enjoy along with most of the rest of the class. It's just this g.d. departmental policy of writing everything in class: firstly, I'm not a writer. I'm a typer. Secondly, I definitely do my best work at the comfort of my own desk and not on a filthy, graffitied tabletop under the glare of industrial lighting. Y'know. Well, not to oversimplify, but I think that goes to show that teachers can make all the difference.

My current Eng professor is a very good guy and extremely knowledgeable. He has an interesting way of explaining things like allusion and symbolism in literature, which, of course, I thoroughly enjoy along with most of the rest of the class.

It’s just this g.d. departmental policy of writing everything in class: firstly, I’m not a writer. I’m a typer. Secondly, I definitely do my best work at the comfort of my own desk and not on a filthy, graffitied tabletop under the glare of industrial lighting. Y’know.

]]> By: Bluebear2 http://cantseetheforest.org/2007/10/02/why-i-detest-writing-in-class/#comment-37540 Bluebear2 Wed, 03 Oct 2007 22:56:39 +0000 http://cantseetheforest.org/2007/10/02/why-i-detest-writing-in-class/#comment-37540 In my high school and first year college English Literature courses we spent 85% of the time on the subject of the writings. It was very interesting and left me wanting to read and explore more. Then 2nd semester of my sophomore year I had a professor who didn't give a rat's ass about the damn undergraduate English courses. He was known to excel in post graduate Shakespeare, but let it be known through his attitude that we were a waste of his time. We were studying the first volume of Norton Anthology 1,600 some pages of early English. Not once did we discuss content - it was all about style. I was so turned off by it - I was planning on becoming an English teacher. The first 25 points of the final exam were based on a two paragraph piece and we were supposed give a short essay on the style of the piece. The second 25 points were to give another short essay on the language of the piece. The remaining 50 points were single line quotes out of the book and we were supposed to give the title of the piece, the author and the year it was written. The exam took me all of 5 minutes to complete. I wrote across the front page how absolutely irrelevant it was and exactly where he could put it - walked out of the room and joined the takeover of the ROTC office - protesting the Vietnam war. My dreams of being an English teacher were smashed and teaching jobs were exceptionally hard to find so I left college at that point. I finally went back about 5 years ago to take some engineering courses which I use in my work. In my high school and first year college English Literature courses we spent 85% of the time on the subject of the writings. It was very interesting and left me wanting to read and explore more.

Then 2nd semester of my sophomore year I had a professor who didn’t give a rat’s ass about the damn undergraduate English courses. He was known to excel in post graduate Shakespeare, but let it be known through his attitude that we were a waste of his time.

We were studying the first volume of Norton Anthology 1,600 some pages of early English.

Not once did we discuss content - it was all about style. I was so turned off by it - I was planning on becoming an English teacher.

The first 25 points of the final exam were based on a two paragraph piece and we were supposed give a short essay on the style of the piece.

The second 25 points were to give another short essay on the language of the piece.

The remaining 50 points were single line quotes out of the book and we were supposed to give the title of the piece, the author and the year it was written.

The exam took me all of 5 minutes to complete.

I wrote across the front page how absolutely irrelevant it was and exactly where he could put it - walked out of the room and joined the takeover of the ROTC office - protesting the Vietnam war.

My dreams of being an English teacher were smashed and teaching jobs were exceptionally hard to find so I left college at that point.

I finally went back about 5 years ago to take some engineering courses which I use in my work.

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