Announcements for 2nd Sem SY 05-06 English I/11 and CW 100 students
(EDITED AS OF 12:22 AM, October 14, 2005)
The results of your diagnostic tests/essays will be given out during class on Tuesday (instead of being posted here or handed out on Monday, due to an unexpected work emergency). Since I have not secured a new classroom, we will meet at PH 112 until further notice.
We shall hold consultations about your writing beginning next week.
Syllabi and preliminary guide readings will be available on Tuesday.
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Student Survival Guide: The Short Version (adapted from Profs. I. Reyes and J. Duque)
1. If it's a big class (25 or more), recite once a meeting, but make it substantial. If it's a small class (15 or less), recite more than once--but make it substantial. This means not expecting any credit for saying stuff like “I don’t like the font” during creative writing workshops or “I don’t like the story, basta I don’t!” in English 11.
2. Don't try to get on your teacher's good side by:
a) agreeing with everything she says or constantly nodding your head when she's talking or otherwise doing something that can only be described as ass-kissing; or
b) disagreeing with everything she says; in fact, quibbling to the point of making a pest of yourself (just for the sake of looking “cool” or smart to your classmates, or for whatever your insecurity demands you do); and/or
c) asking silly questions.
3. Don’t be a pest. Bugging your teacher for special attention is just pathetic. Don’t go up to her to “confirm” what she said in class every single meeting. Learn to listen carefully and to stop relying on others.
If you're a student, being the last to leave the classroom so you can say "Bye, Ma'am" isn't going to add any points to your grade. The only thing it accomplishes is that it makes you look like a stalker.
4. Ask questions during class time so that other students benefit from the reply. Just be sure your question is intelligent and has not already been answered in class.
5. Read the assigned texts, do the homework, be prepared, don't wait to be spoon-fed, and keep your lates and absences to a minimum.
6. Follow instructions. Not following instructions is a sign to your teacher that you weren't listening (and maybe you weren't, but you wouldn't want her to know that.)
7. Never use the argument, "I'm entitled to my own opinion," especially if you’re trying to justify something lame or trying to force your beliefs on your classmates. Not only did you just resort to the most over-used excuse for not thinking, you're actually refusing to listen. Learning can’t take place in that case; you’re better off leaving class and talking to yourself.
8. Keep your religion and morality to yourself. (This is also in deference to your classmates who may believe differently.) Don’t try to insert them into all discussions for the sake of trying to “convert” people to your way of thinking; have some respect for your classmates’ brains, please. Besides, someone has probably already said or done it better than you.
9. Don't take your teacher's behavior as signs of friendship or anything else. If a teacher is professional, she'll do everything within reason to assist you. Teachers have different styles. Some are "nice," some are "casual," some are "concerned," some are "terror." Neither her assistance nor her style signify anything other than her desire to do her job well and provide you with the best teaching service she can.
10. Your teacher was once a student, so avoid spouting bullshit. Learning begins when you admit that you don't know something. There is, however, a huge difference between "I don't know," and "I don't know because I didn't read the readings for today/didn't pay attention to what you said/don't want to think for myself." College students should know what the difference is.
11. Don't beg for a higher grade. Who cares if you're on a scholarship? You get the same chance as everyone else, so make the most of it. No one is more important than anyone else in class. If you didn't do well enough during the sem, then don't seek extra points by asking to do more papers. Also, making special allowances for people on scholarship is both discrimination and an insult. Discrimination, because you want special treatment. Who are you anyway? It’s also an insult to yourself because you are, in effect, stating that you can’t make it without help. In that case, you probably don’t deserve your scholarship to begin with!
The results of your diagnostic tests/essays will be given out during class on Tuesday (instead of being posted here or handed out on Monday, due to an unexpected work emergency). Since I have not secured a new classroom, we will meet at PH 112 until further notice.
We shall hold consultations about your writing beginning next week.
Syllabi and preliminary guide readings will be available on Tuesday.
=========
Student Survival Guide: The Short Version (adapted from Profs. I. Reyes and J. Duque)
1. If it's a big class (25 or more), recite once a meeting, but make it substantial. If it's a small class (15 or less), recite more than once--but make it substantial. This means not expecting any credit for saying stuff like “I don’t like the font” during creative writing workshops or “I don’t like the story, basta I don’t!” in English 11.
2. Don't try to get on your teacher's good side by:
a) agreeing with everything she says or constantly nodding your head when she's talking or otherwise doing something that can only be described as ass-kissing; or
b) disagreeing with everything she says; in fact, quibbling to the point of making a pest of yourself (just for the sake of looking “cool” or smart to your classmates, or for whatever your insecurity demands you do); and/or
c) asking silly questions.
3. Don’t be a pest. Bugging your teacher for special attention is just pathetic. Don’t go up to her to “confirm” what she said in class every single meeting. Learn to listen carefully and to stop relying on others.
If you're a student, being the last to leave the classroom so you can say "Bye, Ma'am" isn't going to add any points to your grade. The only thing it accomplishes is that it makes you look like a stalker.
4. Ask questions during class time so that other students benefit from the reply. Just be sure your question is intelligent and has not already been answered in class.
5. Read the assigned texts, do the homework, be prepared, don't wait to be spoon-fed, and keep your lates and absences to a minimum.
6. Follow instructions. Not following instructions is a sign to your teacher that you weren't listening (and maybe you weren't, but you wouldn't want her to know that.)
7. Never use the argument, "I'm entitled to my own opinion," especially if you’re trying to justify something lame or trying to force your beliefs on your classmates. Not only did you just resort to the most over-used excuse for not thinking, you're actually refusing to listen. Learning can’t take place in that case; you’re better off leaving class and talking to yourself.
8. Keep your religion and morality to yourself. (This is also in deference to your classmates who may believe differently.) Don’t try to insert them into all discussions for the sake of trying to “convert” people to your way of thinking; have some respect for your classmates’ brains, please. Besides, someone has probably already said or done it better than you.
9. Don't take your teacher's behavior as signs of friendship or anything else. If a teacher is professional, she'll do everything within reason to assist you. Teachers have different styles. Some are "nice," some are "casual," some are "concerned," some are "terror." Neither her assistance nor her style signify anything other than her desire to do her job well and provide you with the best teaching service she can.
10. Your teacher was once a student, so avoid spouting bullshit. Learning begins when you admit that you don't know something. There is, however, a huge difference between "I don't know," and "I don't know because I didn't read the readings for today/didn't pay attention to what you said/don't want to think for myself." College students should know what the difference is.
11. Don't beg for a higher grade. Who cares if you're on a scholarship? You get the same chance as everyone else, so make the most of it. No one is more important than anyone else in class. If you didn't do well enough during the sem, then don't seek extra points by asking to do more papers. Also, making special allowances for people on scholarship is both discrimination and an insult. Discrimination, because you want special treatment. Who are you anyway? It’s also an insult to yourself because you are, in effect, stating that you can’t make it without help. In that case, you probably don’t deserve your scholarship to begin with!