Things that are frustrating:

Apr 09, 2009 00:06

1. When one of your professors (who is also your advisor) says this about your writing: "The problem you have is completely the opposite of what I have to say to almost all of my students.  Your analysis is wonderful -- you know your material and can apply it well.  It's some of the best analysis I've seen at Manchester, especially since you're 19 ( Read more... )

school, rant, random, history, manchester, thinking

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Comments 7

mathwhiz78 April 9 2009, 04:40:27 UTC
You can teach technique.

You can't teach pure talent.

Consider it high praise indeed.

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peaceofpie April 9 2009, 09:15:58 UTC
*high five*
Well spoken.

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peaceofpie April 9 2009, 09:15:27 UTC
What Mike said!

Have you considered asking other professors who are familiar with your writing if they share his opinion? If indeed you find it holds weight with others, maybe he can offer you some "informal" formal writing instruction.

I've read your work, Simon, and it kicks ass. You write about graduate-level concepts comprehensibly. I hope the feedback he's offering you doesn't translate into "you're not speaking graduatese; make your papers incomprehensible to the masses so you can be more like the rest of academia!" because seriously if that's what he means, he can suck my left nut, because there are way more of us out here in the real world who need to be able to hear what you have to say than there are up in the ivory tower there. ;-)

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bluemoon02 April 9 2009, 10:03:32 UTC
At our uni we have a scheme called The Writing Room, where undergrads can submit an essay for 'examination', and then one of the post-graduated students who's signed up to volunteer will go through with them one-to-one what they're doing wrong. It works really well, because it's not a 'teacher', it's someone who's been precisely in your situation before, and they're usually a bit more understanding as to where you're coming from. It might be worth asking whether you do anything like that at your uni. They're usually run by the English department, so it might not be publicised so well if you're in a different school, but I expect you'd still be eligible.

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shawnaree April 9 2009, 13:55:53 UTC
Actually, I don't know that I agree with the wording, but I do agree with the sentiment. You write well, and he's right, you comprehend material extremely well, but you seem to not have taken any college level courses in technical or professional writing convention.

Nothing wrong with that, but it is interesting.

How good of your advisor to at least be honest with you about what he thinks.

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shawnaree April 9 2009, 13:56:43 UTC
Also, I love you.

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