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Thread: Please not another one

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    Default Please not another one

    I don't want to be some young dumb stripper. I have always thought of myself as somewhat smart and able to handle all types of material but my English class is killing me! Its not the length of the papers its the expected content in them. My last English class was about 2 years ago and I got B. From that last class is how I know how to write. Well, for my current English honors class I have to take it to get all my required units before applying to the UC. There are no other options available. Theres even only 8 people in the class including me.

    He's the kind of teacher that makes you feel stupid for having an opinion. I know he's trying to challenge us but god why belittle me at the same time? I'm seriously dropping this class tomorrow and signing up for summer school when the schedule is out. 8 weeks of a teacher I get along with and doesn't make you feel like crap I would put up with than finishing this semester with my current teacher.

    I just feel like a failure. Can anyone help me feel better? I just don't think our teaching to learning styles match up.
    you live like an ivy vine
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    God/dess VegasPrincess's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please not another one

    You are quite obviously not stupid I read your posts all the time you are smart AND funny

    I have had teachers I didn't mesh with and if you can drop the class do it!! If you can't try to suck it up and think about him sucking a fat man's cock or walking around naked when he tries to make you feel stupid.

    Some teachers really think that is a good teaching strategy, it is SAD
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    God loves strippers and when guys do things like that its an automatic ticket to HELL!


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    Featured Member georgiapeach's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please not another one

    you're not a failure; he is. it's his job to teach you and all he did was make you feel like you had to quit. not beacause the material is too difficult, but because he couldn't do his job. it is not a reflection of your abilities in the least.

    i majored in english and there are definitely some teachers like the one you've got. it's definitely lousy. sometimes they still offer insight that you can at least learn from. and if nothing else, writing papers to fit someone else's agenda/style is at least a good exercise to stretch your own writing capabilities. but those types of teachers are always tough to deal with and often better avoided if possible.

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    Default Re: Please not another one

    ^^ I am learning alot but I lack the ability to express my words into a paper the way he wants me to. Creative writing is what I do best. I got my first paper back and was given a chance to rewrite it (as he didn't even give me a grade on it) and it had all these red marks all over it. Everything was negative. Not one thing was positive.

    I don't expect him to baby me in any way. He's the kinda guy that although he offers his office time you don't wanna go for fear of being shutdown. Its sucks that so far in all my Englishes classes I've taken in college not one has had me do THIS much research. It was usually read 10 pages of material and write a compare and contrast essay. *Boom* instant A/B paper. For me it feels like a huge leap from my last class to another.
    you live like an ivy vine
    you can only survive by clinging onto trees
    that's your flaw
    put down some roots so you can stand on your own
    -Kenpachi



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    Featured Member georgiapeach's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please not another one

    it's been a couple years since i was in school, but i'd be more than happy to help you out if you'd like

  6. #6
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: Please not another one

    Well, your summer class is going to cover the same material, yes? So make sure that is still your expectation.

    and I can tell you are not stupid by how well you articulate your thoughts here. If this teacher doesn't mesh with you, there's no shame in dropping the class. No Day But Today. Any class that makes you feel badly about yourself is not worth taking. Drop it.

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    Default Re: Please not another one

    Hey, I'm happy to help, too -- I have a good friend who is really smart and a funny writer but had a really hard time adapting to academic writing. It's a specific style and a lot of professors don't appreciate any deviance. While I agree that the prof shouldn't be a dick, they are not all going to mesh with you and it's better to learn to deal with all types than to just quit the class. It's easy enough to figure out what they want. Treat him like a customer (but, you know, keep your top on)! Be nice, find out what he wants, and tailor your approach. And email me your paper because I am curious!

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    God/dess PookaShell's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please not another one

    I know how that can feel. I'm pretty fresh out of some pretty tough english courses, if you need any help. Im pretty good at English and used to always write peoples papers for them as a supplemental income, (haha). Anyway if you need help wif anything there's a pooka still freshly writing papers in texas who's here for ya!

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    Default Re: Please not another one

    Quote Originally Posted by georgiapeach View Post
    you're not a failure; he is. it's his job to teach you and all he did was make you feel like you had to quit. not beacause the material is too difficult, but because he couldn't do his job. it is not a reflection of your abilities in the least.

    i majored in english and there are definitely some teachers like the one you've got. it's definitely lousy. sometimes they still offer insight that you can at least learn from. and if nothing else, writing papers to fit someone else's agenda/style is at least a good exercise to stretch your own writing capabilities. but those types of teachers are always tough to deal with and often better avoided if possible.
    yea ditto. also majored in english literature and i can think of a seminar like the one you are describing, Philosophy of Literature .. and the professor.. *shudder* i felt similarly but i did as Susan suggested, and found out what he wanted exactly and conformed my style for that class. now the count is three of us willing to help you

    Love it!

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    Default Re: Please not another one

    I had this problem at uni with funnily enough my english class. I only took it to make up credits so wasn't too bothered about my grade, but my tutor had it in for me from the start. I ended up leaving half way through a tutorial in tears because every time i said something i got shot down and belittled. He gave me a terrible mark for my paper, but i knew he wouldnt be marking the exam.
    I dealt with it by pepping myself up in an "i'll show him" kind of way. I studied my butt off for the exam with that thought in the back of my mind and i got an A!
    Have you tried challenging him? If he shoots you down just reply with "well i disagree because of X,Y and Z evidence". You never know he'll either be shocked at having a student express an opinion for once, or he'll start treating you better now he knows you think about the material in a different way.

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    Default Re: Please not another one

    Do you think I should just talk to him instead? My second paper is due today and I got less than half way through because I read his comments from my last paper. After I finished I thought that I can't write the way he wants me to and stopped everything.

    I talk all the time in class and contribute alot to the discussions. Sorry, I'm sulking a bit ; I cant get away from feeling like a failure.
    you live like an ivy vine
    you can only survive by clinging onto trees
    that's your flaw
    put down some roots so you can stand on your own
    -Kenpachi



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    God/dess Jenny's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please not another one

    Oh honey, no.

    First thing - he probably (not necessarily, but probably) doesn't mean to belittle you, and would likely (although not definitely) would feel terrible if he knew that is how you felt.

    Second thing - covered with red marks is a good thing! It means he read your paper with interest and really engaged with it, and really wants to help you do it better.

    So I would absolutely go and talk to him - I would tough it out rather than tell him that he hurt your feelings, but if you really can't, and his attitude is really affecting you, do it. Tell him that you really feel that you need the help, and it is absolutely okay in undergrad to say that your background in the subject is a little different or less demanding (because you are primarily a science person, aren't you?), and that you were, perhaps, not well prepared for the class, and that you appreciate his extensive commentary, and you would like to go over some of the finer points.

    Just to know - I have friends who teach who say that they never bother with comments because it is a waste of time. That the students who care will come and talk to them regardless of the grade, and the one's that don't just skip to the grade anyway. So the commentary really is good.
    I have taught that the sky in all its zones is mortal and its substance was formed by a process of birth

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    Featured Member Prester_John's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please not another one

    Quote Originally Posted by TigersMilk View Post
    I don't want to be some young dumb stripper. I have always thought of myself as somewhat smart and able to handle all types of material but my English class is killing me! Its not the length of the papers its the expected content in them. My last English class was about 2 years ago and I got B. From that last class is how I know how to write. Well, for my current English honors class I have to take it to get all my required units before applying to the UC. There are no other options available. Theres even only 8 people in the class including me.

    He's the kind of teacher that makes you feel stupid for having an opinion. I know he's trying to challenge us but god why belittle me at the same time? I'm seriously dropping this class tomorrow and signing up for summer school when the schedule is out. 8 weeks of a teacher I get along with and doesn't make you feel like crap I would put up with than finishing this semester with my current teacher.

    I just feel like a failure. Can anyone help me feel better? I just don't think our teaching to learning styles match up.
    Ive had teachers like that. They sucked, to be blunt, and were more or less counter productive to a lot of the student. However, I stuck with the courses, almost in defiance. They were not going to break me, and I had an attitude of "I will do well in their class despite their academic asshattery".

    For the most part it worked. I got all I could out of those classes, and actually felt a greater sense of accomplishment by sticking it out.

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    Featured Member lunchbox's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please not another one

    Quote Originally Posted by TigersMilk View Post
    I just feel like a failure. Can anyone help me feel better? I just don't think our teaching to learning styles match up.
    Professors are educated, not educators.

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    Featured Member Sinder's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please not another one

    I'd talk to him and tell him how his teaching style is affecting you....that he discouraging you rather than encouraging you. I had a chemistry teacher like this, but even after I had talked to him looking for some help, he really didn't give a shit and basically called me stupid for not understanding chemical equations. If you get the same reaction after your discussion, maybe a trip to the board of education for a complaint will get him to wise up and start acting like a teacher.

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    Default Re: Please not another one

    Quote Originally Posted by lunchbox View Post
    Professors are educated, not educators.
    Heh. It is hard to be taught how to teach. Who teaches the teachers?
    Thanks for all the advice everyone. Where would I be without my knowledgeable SW members?! I guess I will talk to him today and see what he says. Hopefully he doesn't give me a big kick in the head for this.
    you live like an ivy vine
    you can only survive by clinging onto trees
    that's your flaw
    put down some roots so you can stand on your own
    -Kenpachi



  17. #17
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: Please not another one

    Good luck! If he gives you any shit, just drop the class. But yeah, definitely talk to him first.

    I've had a few of these teachers and for some reason they're ALL English teachers.

  18. #18
    Featured Member georgiapeach's Avatar
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    Default Re: Please not another one

    ^^^i think it's more apparent in english classes because the grading is so subjective.

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