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Sep. 2nd, 2009 12:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icepixieI got told last night at class that I was "a legend among the first-year MAs." Apparently they think I have a complete draft of my thesis done already. I...am not sure where they heard this, because I definitely only have sixteen pages now. Which, yes, is further along than pretty much everyone else in my year, but it's not that remarkable. Nevertheless, I was rather pleased to hear that. :D
Teaching is less pleasing. It is getting easier, thankfully, but today I think I just confused my students while getting them to perform a mini rhetorical analysis in groups. I think they got by the end that they had to make a claim about the work rather than just restating MLK's argument in "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," but it was hard going. I'm glad I had them do it in groups, and didn't try to do it as a class, or have them work on it individually. Friday we're doing specifics of how to write a good intro, thesis, body paragraph, and conclusion, so I'll take one of their claims that they came up with and use it as a sort of running example--how to write a good statement of this claim, how to back it up, etc. Maybe that will make more sense. I guess this might be something where I just need to talk at them for a while, rather than trying to facilitate discussion of the topic that eventually arrives at answers. I try to stay away from lecturing, because if I do that, then why did I make them read the chapter in the book, you know? But this seems to be something that needs it.
Anyway, we're doing the body paragraph as a hamburger thing, which should be good for some laughs, especially since I can't draw on chalkboards at all.
And at least most of the kids are trying and willing to struggle with the material. I do have a few who are obviously completely uninvested and will undoubtedly fail out by November (the one who's missed three days of class already comes to mind), but on the whole, I have a good group of students.
And now I have to go read, because ILL finally got a book I need to me, but I only get it for FOUR DAYS. Grrr.
Teaching is less pleasing. It is getting easier, thankfully, but today I think I just confused my students while getting them to perform a mini rhetorical analysis in groups. I think they got by the end that they had to make a claim about the work rather than just restating MLK's argument in "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," but it was hard going. I'm glad I had them do it in groups, and didn't try to do it as a class, or have them work on it individually. Friday we're doing specifics of how to write a good intro, thesis, body paragraph, and conclusion, so I'll take one of their claims that they came up with and use it as a sort of running example--how to write a good statement of this claim, how to back it up, etc. Maybe that will make more sense. I guess this might be something where I just need to talk at them for a while, rather than trying to facilitate discussion of the topic that eventually arrives at answers. I try to stay away from lecturing, because if I do that, then why did I make them read the chapter in the book, you know? But this seems to be something that needs it.
Anyway, we're doing the body paragraph as a hamburger thing, which should be good for some laughs, especially since I can't draw on chalkboards at all.
And at least most of the kids are trying and willing to struggle with the material. I do have a few who are obviously completely uninvested and will undoubtedly fail out by November (the one who's missed three days of class already comes to mind), but on the whole, I have a good group of students.
And now I have to go read, because ILL finally got a book I need to me, but I only get it for FOUR DAYS. Grrr.
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no subject
Date: 2009-09-03 01:40 pm (UTC)Yeah, 9-12pg. It was probably good for me to write one, because I still suck at writing proposals (before I've written the paper, anyway).
Oh, that reminds me, I should totally ask for my Joyce paper back. (I was supposed to get it in May.
I hate it when that happens! I have so many papers from the end of last semester that I've never gotten feedback on....
Legendary for my nerdiness, perhaps...
You're in grad school. What other kinds of legends are there?
But usually the point isn't that they learn new information, it's that they apply concepts and analysis techniques to texts, you know?
True (although modelling those techniques yourself can be crazy effective). But if you do break into lecture and you feel guilty, just remember that somebody in your class is thinking, "yes, I don't have to listen to my classmates anymore! I get to listen to someone who knows what she's talking about!"
(BTW, I can't remember an English class where the teacher talked more per period than the students since...maybe sophomore year of high school? Perhaps middle school?)
(My high school English teacher steady lectured -- on her analyses of the texts -- and it was amazing. [There are few things about my high school I can legitimately call amazing.])
(Also: Shutt.)
no subject
Date: 2009-09-03 07:02 pm (UTC)I could probably use the practice as well, but...oh well. My introduction basically serves the same purpose at this point.
I hate it when that happens! I have so many papers from the end of last semester that I've never gotten feedback on....
It is a bit annoying, yes. At least this is the only one I'm missing; most profs here tend to be good about getting it back to you pretty soon.
You're in grad school. What other kinds of legends are there?
I think we have some beer-related legends. But yeah, not much else.
True (although modelling those techniques yourself can be crazy effective). But if you do break into lecture and you feel guilty, just remember that somebody in your class is thinking, "yes, I don't have to listen to my classmates anymore! I get to listen to someone who knows what she's talking about!"
That does make me feel better, actually. Although I seriously doubt I can say I know what I'm talking about in regards to rhetoric, which I just learned about, oh, last year...
(My high school English teacher steady lectured -- on her analyses of the texts -- and it was amazing. [There are few things about my high school I can legitimately call amazing.])
I seriously have no memory of being lectured to about a text. Ever. It's been discussion since we started reading texts.
(Also: Shutt.)
Well, there is that. Too bad I never took a Shutt class...
no subject
Date: 2009-09-07 08:55 pm (UTC)I'm a little worried this means there really *is* a substantive problem, but he's not telling me what it is. This professor is known to be a crazy perfectionist, though.
I could probably use the practice as well, but...oh well. My introduction basically serves the same purpose at this point.
I kind of hate you. My introductions always suck -- I always have eight million concepts I need to define before I can get to my actual thesis statement.
I seriously have no memory of being lectured to about a text. Ever. It's been discussion since we started reading texts.
Huh. Kenyon was the first time I remember having a legitimate discussion of a text.
Well, there is that. Too bad I never took a Shutt class...
BAH.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-08 03:11 am (UTC)Surely he'd tell you if there were a huge problem, though, especially this early. I might be able to understand if it were next April and he just wanted to get you through the defense, but now you actually have time to work through any giant holes.
I kind of hate you. My introductions always suck -- I always have eight million concepts I need to define before I can get to my actual thesis statement.
Oh. Well, yeah, I don't generally have that problem. I had to go a bit into the history of the aisling as a concept, and I did an incredibly brief overview (like, two pages) of the current state of Boland criticism, but that was about it. I spent most of my mental energy and space on working through why her representations of women are not essentializing, while the ones she criticizes are (I was seeing this as bedrock for my argument, and I guess as almost a miniargument in itself). But yeah, no special concepts a reader would have to be familiar with first; it was more like I had to define my point of view before I could get to the meat of my argument, if that makes sense.
Huh. Kenyon was the first time I remember having a legitimate discussion of a text.
Wow.
no subject
Date: 2009-09-11 04:44 am (UTC)I'm sure you're right. I'm just made of paranoid.
But yeah, no special concepts a reader would have to be familiar with first; it was more like I had to define my point of view before I could get to the meat of my argument, if that makes sense.
That does make sense, and it's exactly what an introduction should be. :)