if I read this right, your assignment was to suggest research materials for a student who is working in a particular subject matter, right? Is there an automatic assumption that the student in question is an undergrad, given your comment that "every undergrad uses" this JSTOR thing?
I do agree that if that source is *that* bloody common, though, it should be an inappropriate response for the assignment. If you're assuming that the student is an undergrad, you should also be able to assume that they checked that most common database before asking for help. (Yeah, I know, assuming only makes an ass out of you and me...)
In the setup to the question, we learn that the student in question is an undergrad, double-majoring in history and Spanish. I've not yet met a history major who hasn't used JSTOR; that said, if this student is the one, well, bully for him. Or her.
It just feels cheap. I ranted about the class to another friend a couple weeks ago, when we had to identify a mystery object. My partner and I had done the hard leg work, figuring out the trademark and the company and finding books - only to get to class (the Tuesday before it was due) to find that the professor told the other students everything about the object except its function. Silly class.
Actually, it's more silly me for getting competitive over this, but whatever. I totally can be this way, dammit! :)
JSTOR works alright for more Humanities-type stuff; I had decent experiences with it in undergrad and in my MA program. But for an overall article repository, it fails miserably.
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I do agree that if that source is *that* bloody common, though, it should be an inappropriate response for the assignment. If you're assuming that the student is an undergrad, you should also be able to assume that they checked that most common database before asking for help. (Yeah, I know, assuming only makes an ass out of you and me...)
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It just feels cheap. I ranted about the class to another friend a couple weeks ago, when we had to identify a mystery object. My partner and I had done the hard leg work, figuring out the trademark and the company and finding books - only to get to class (the Tuesday before it was due) to find that the professor told the other students everything about the object except its function. Silly class.
Actually, it's more silly me for getting competitive over this, but whatever. I totally can be this way, dammit! :)
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