what came out of my mouth was so totally different than what was going through my head....
today, in English, my teacher started telling us about our first essay (which, btw, we are taking like two weeks to finish, painfully slowly, with very few details for those of us who like to get a head start on things). She starts by asking, "How many paragraphs are in a college essay?"
I surprised myself by being the only one to answer. "Five." of course it's five. this is the kind of woman who has a right and a wrong for everything, and will lower your grade if you try to think outside the box.
but even though I said five, my mind was saying "how every many paragraphs you want and it takes to say everything that needs to be said." honestly. she gave us a length in sentances and amount of page space for each paragraph. ridiculous.
I mean, what if I want to put dialogue in? where does that go?
It is just possible that I won't be able to spend 10-14 sentances exactly on each body paragraph. maybe one point is exhausted after 6 sentances.
and really, you don't have supporting "points" in a narrative essay.
so what's with the stupid five paragraph thing? does anybody have a clue about this? does anybody else think it's the most ridiculous "rule" in English classes today????
and another thing! she says don't write your topic sentance until after you've written the paragraph. because only after you write the paragraph will you know what it's about, to put your topic sentance in. excuse me? does this make sense to you? I thought you wrote the topic sentance and created the paragraph around it, to support, prove, and embellish your point. of course I'm not very experienced in esssay-writing, but isn't it supposed to work like that? not....oh I'll write it first and figure out what I said later.
*sniff* I want my history teacher back....
ouch. that is brutal.
ReplyDeletebut my math teacher is worse. at least the new one is interesting, but she hands out two quizzes and a batch of homework the FIRST DAY. ugh.
but i totally agree with you on everything. your english teacher needs to be . . . erm . . . layed off. lol.
I took MLA last semester and can totally sympathize with all the silly rules thing. I had a nice teacher, but still. Five paragraphs?! Cluster format?! I'm going to be graded on MARGINS AND SPACING!?!?!! *gags* What about...um...content...maybe...?
ReplyDeleteSometimes I have to remember that these are rules for public schoolers who have low standards and need help with basic writing skills. These things are actually useful at that level - before you get to the point where you already know what you're doing and can write a good essay spending most of your time thinking about what you're writing and not thinking too much about how you're writing it. Strict guidelines make essays easier when you're still figuring out how to do it, and harder when you're not. So basically, if the rules help, use them. If not, use whatever works for you.
Of course, if you're being graded on the rules, use them until the last day of class and keep tabs on which ones were actually helpful.
*is in a very anti-institutional mood*
yes. totally agree. ditto everything you just said.
ReplyDeleteblah. :(
I feel like I'm in such a weird place though - I never had to write that much for school, like essays, until last year. so I don't have a ton of experience. it's not like it's really easy for me to just sit down and write something in the "correct" format. usually it ends up leaning towards all my thoughts about something just collected and organized.
but that's seemed to work so far. I just hope I can make it through this class without getting super-frustrated and strangling somebody, lol.
*sigh* oh school.
oh yeah....breakfast. school.
Wow, yeah, that is stupid.
ReplyDeleteBut I think Crystal has a point that for some people that stuff could be helpful. Although I personally think that if it's college we're talking about, students should have that figured out by now.
hurrmff. DOWN WITH SCHOOL! lol.
ReplyDeletebut yeah, i agree with all of you. writing should be more freestyle then rules. that way, it can actually be INTERESTING. unlike my Microeconomics textbook.
*sighs*
I think that is why I have never liked writing in the first place. All these certain rules and certain places for these certain DOTS. It has only been the past two years where I actually like writing now for CONTENT. Maybe I will just skip the writing class when I go to college. :-)
ReplyDeletei'm so sorry dear. life kinda sucks. soon as i finish my homework due tonight i'm gonna try and call you early, kay? <3
ReplyDeleteyes, and if you don't call me I will call you!
ReplyDeleteyeah Lucy, good luck with that....I don't think you can just skip it though.
I'm still very confidant that my other writing classes will be fun. I don't think I know anyone who's had a good experience with first level college writing.
oh dear, all of my recent posts have been all complaining, haven't they?
thats good. it's nice to see a little complaint out of you people once in a while. i was beginning to feel left out! *grins*
ReplyDeletebesides, i think we know get to know people better through hardships rather then fun times. at least, with SOME people that is the case.
EBENEZER!!!
ReplyDeleteactually, yes. it's good that we let our best friends know how we're feeling...and what things make us feel like that, etc. but for some people (i.e. me) when I get started complaining it's hard to stop. and then I tend to see all the bad instead of all the good.
which sucks.
that said, have a GREAT DAY!!!!
Yeah, I'm always closest with the friends who I can actually talk about how I feel with . . .
ReplyDeleteBut I get what your saying about how once you start, it's hard to stop.
!?$%?#%#@!!
ReplyDeleteI'm never going to college.
"Rules" are death to art. Rules are very very good, don't get me wrong, but like in writing, it is not only counter productive but frustrating!
I'm finding more and more about myself that I really don't like the silly rules meant to put on a good appearance, or keep people honest. But if you're already honest, the rules meant to keep you honest are just degrading.
Ok, that's about at much ranting as I will allow myself. :-)
I'll be praying for you Kacy! <3
hey! no rulse right? so rant your heart out! lol. besides, it's how we get to know you *wink*.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, I was about to go on about how I disagreed with you, Jake, until I remembered I agree. Lol That may not make sense, but it's true. It's really amazing what we say without even saying it. I can write a single sentence and say something about myself that I did not intend, completely aside from what I actually said.
ReplyDeleteso your saying i was being clever without knowing it? . . . . . lol kidding!
ReplyDeleteyes, i think i understand what your saying. it's kinda weird. *grin* oh well.
when Sam was on blog I found ways to both be mad at him and argue with him, even when I fully agreed with him.
ReplyDeleteweird, isn't it?
And Kacy this is completely relevant to the conversation. . . why do you have your profile picture as Sam?? Ooooohhhhh. . .
ReplyDeleteit's not sam it's.......one of those actor people she tends to like. i forget which. it's not robert sean leonard....is it the one who's horatio hornblower? or is that rsl?
ReplyDeletei don't think thats horatio hornblower. he had a slightly thinner face. this dude has a comfortable quantity in cheek space. lol.
ReplyDeleteawww... my Archie. :) *sigh*
ReplyDeleteyeah he's from Horatio Hornblower - he's Horatio's sidekick. Jamie Bamber is the actor. and apparently Lindy knows him from Battlestar Galactica. Horatio is played by Ioane Gruffud (the guy from Amazing Grace).
and all I know RSL from is DPS, Swing Kids, and House.
ok. I will shut up now.