(no subject)
Ignore this rant. I'm procrastinating.
Okay, so I might deserve this for starting my paper about 4 h before it's due. (Hey, whatever, that class is crap, and I already have a fairly detailed outline.)
But still, I don't get/appreciate these requirements:
- First sentence [of every paragraph] is a topic sentence
- Last sentence [of every paragraph] is a concluding sentence
- Don't try to sound academic
So write like third graders who just learned to construct paragraphs, have a strange fascination with genetic diseases, and don't own a dictionary? Okay, the fascination with genetic diseases would make for an interesting kid, but still... Paragraphs are not made to be like that, and I don't understand what "sounding academic" means. Don't sound like a geneticist? Don't sound like a doctor? Don't sound like a person who attends college? My brain does not comprehend.
Okay, I guess these make sense in a general way, but in light of other instructions about amazingly obvious things (e.g. "define your terms" and "when you discuss published work, cite the paper"), they really bother me.
And the example paper was not all that impressive either. I'd like to point out that the example paper doesn't seem to have many paragraphs ending in Concluding Sentences. Although, that's a bit hard to tell since the gigantic pictures and their figures take up so much space, making it difficult to tell where one paragraph stops and another starts. I think the bolding of the Topic Sentences help a little bit, but that just makes me sad. Why, I ask you? I really dislike this style of writing. I can be concise (well, sort of) without sticking bare sentences next to one another. Poor simple sentences, all huddled together and trying to make a decent paragraph without the benefits of transitions or any sort of flow.
It makes me wonder if I can get away with the same level of writing. I could just take my outline and remove the bullets to make instant paragraphs. Add some references and humongous pictures, and I'd be done. I am so tempted to do this.
Other complaints, while I'm typing this to avoid writing my final paper: this paper topic sucks and is yet another example of how our professor treats us like middle schoolers. Middle school was probably the last time I had to write a "research" paper where I didn't have to think, only copy information down from the internet and compile it in a handy paper format. Really? Find a genetic disorder. Talk about it and show me pictures. Use topic sentences. Avoid using brain, if possible. Also, I don't like having to research genetic diseases, especially degenerative ones. There're too many symptoms spread over too many organs. The cause may be precise, but the effects are so messy and widespread. It irks me. It does. So does the professor's convoluted way of presenting information.
A lot of things irk me right now. The main thing being that I have a stupid paper due in less than 3 h.
Okay, off to try to not avoid horrible paper.
Another thing irritating about researching genetic diseases: all the ridiculous support pages and how non-factual they are. Well, whatever. I have my beautiful OMIM website to give me links.
Okay, so I might deserve this for starting my paper about 4 h before it's due. (Hey, whatever, that class is crap, and I already have a fairly detailed outline.)
But still, I don't get/appreciate these requirements:
- First sentence [of every paragraph] is a topic sentence
- Last sentence [of every paragraph] is a concluding sentence
- Don't try to sound academic
So write like third graders who just learned to construct paragraphs, have a strange fascination with genetic diseases, and don't own a dictionary? Okay, the fascination with genetic diseases would make for an interesting kid, but still... Paragraphs are not made to be like that, and I don't understand what "sounding academic" means. Don't sound like a geneticist? Don't sound like a doctor? Don't sound like a person who attends college? My brain does not comprehend.
Okay, I guess these make sense in a general way, but in light of other instructions about amazingly obvious things (e.g. "define your terms" and "when you discuss published work, cite the paper"), they really bother me.
And the example paper was not all that impressive either. I'd like to point out that the example paper doesn't seem to have many paragraphs ending in Concluding Sentences. Although, that's a bit hard to tell since the gigantic pictures and their figures take up so much space, making it difficult to tell where one paragraph stops and another starts. I think the bolding of the Topic Sentences help a little bit, but that just makes me sad. Why, I ask you? I really dislike this style of writing. I can be concise (well, sort of) without sticking bare sentences next to one another. Poor simple sentences, all huddled together and trying to make a decent paragraph without the benefits of transitions or any sort of flow.
It makes me wonder if I can get away with the same level of writing. I could just take my outline and remove the bullets to make instant paragraphs. Add some references and humongous pictures, and I'd be done. I am so tempted to do this.
Other complaints, while I'm typing this to avoid writing my final paper: this paper topic sucks and is yet another example of how our professor treats us like middle schoolers. Middle school was probably the last time I had to write a "research" paper where I didn't have to think, only copy information down from the internet and compile it in a handy paper format. Really? Find a genetic disorder. Talk about it and show me pictures. Use topic sentences. Avoid using brain, if possible. Also, I don't like having to research genetic diseases, especially degenerative ones. There're too many symptoms spread over too many organs. The cause may be precise, but the effects are so messy and widespread. It irks me. It does. So does the professor's convoluted way of presenting information.
A lot of things irk me right now. The main thing being that I have a stupid paper due in less than 3 h.
Okay, off to try to not avoid horrible paper.
Another thing irritating about researching genetic diseases: all the ridiculous support pages and how non-factual they are. Well, whatever. I have my beautiful OMIM website to give me links.