OK, but, in the context of a teacher to her students, doesn't she have a point by providing two options?
The purpose of the student is to learn. If the teacher makes a suggestion for improvement, the only way the teacher can see any learning has taken place is by a) the draft being changed in light of the comments, or b) the student commenting on why the change was not made.
Without either of those things, the teacher has no way to know if you understood anything she said, if you took any of it into account, if you learnt anything at all from her comments.
I understand that you're angry, and I understand your anger comes from interpreting her words as "this piece of writing should incorporate my changes", and that this interpretation assumes she has some right of ownership over your writing, or you have less ownership of it.
However, wasn't she really just saying "in order for me to mark you on your learning, I need to see evidence of learning - either through a changed draft, or through reasons for your decision to leave it
why can't she judge my learning by what i've written? i wrote a twenty-five page paper about a subtopic of the course. so shouldn't that show what i've learned?
her comments were largely not substantive. primarily they dealt with structure, etc. for example, she wanted me to cut my introduction and also to move around the order of certain sections. where she made substantive comments, i did indeed take them, because she knows far more about the topic than i and i'd be an idiot not to accept substantive corrections from an expert.
Fair call. And I agree, that "as professionals" your job is to think creatively and write original content, not be a typist transcribing your editor's thoughts.
eh, i'm not as angry now. is there some point at which professors get taught to be complete and utter d-bags? could we replace that time with teaching them how to be responsive, supportive, helpful readers and commenters, instead?
I think you should completely explain in excruciating detail why each and every one of her suggestions sucks. Like, I would literally go down each and every single point, and then at the very end be like "but most importantly, I haven't taken your suggestions because its mine, I own it and I don't want to change it" then you should add a 'ps' that says "you'd think by the second draft as a professor with some experience you'd come to the conclusion that, if your edits are rejected its because they aren't good enough, without having the whole student body point it out to you in a email.
Comments 8
The purpose of the student is to learn. If the teacher makes a suggestion for improvement, the only way the teacher can see any learning has taken place is by a) the draft being changed in light of the comments, or b) the student commenting on why the change was not made.
Without either of those things, the teacher has no way to know if you understood anything she said, if you took any of it into account, if you learnt anything at all from her comments.
I understand that you're angry, and I understand your anger comes from interpreting her words as "this piece of writing should incorporate my changes", and that this interpretation assumes she has some right of ownership over your writing, or you have less ownership of it.
However, wasn't she really just saying "in order for me to mark you on your learning, I need to see evidence of learning - either through a changed draft, or through reasons for your decision to leave it
Reply
her comments were largely not substantive. primarily they dealt with structure, etc. for example, she wanted me to cut my introduction and also to move around the order of certain sections. where she made substantive comments, i did indeed take them, because she knows far more about the topic than i and i'd be an idiot not to accept substantive corrections from an expert.
but the other stuff? my perogative.
Reply
And I agree, that "as professionals" your job is to think creatively and write original content, not be a typist transcribing your editor's thoughts.
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
Reply
Reply
Reply
That bitch.
Reply
Leave a comment