Tuesday, May 27, 2003

Why I Assign A Research Paper Some of my students have no idea why I assign a research paper for the end of the year.  Even after I explain why it is so important for anyone going to college to be able to write a coherent, organized paper on an assigned topic, many still try and look for the quick and easy way out, putting forth minimal effort and then becoming upset when they get a minimal grade back.  Worse yet is the increasing number of students who just out and out plagiarize so blatantly that I have a hard time keeping a straight face when they try and convince me that yes, it is possible that they can suddenly, literally overnight, write like a professional.  Last year I caught a record nine students plagiarizing out of five classes, including one who found an essay similar to the assigned topic online and cut and paste the whole thing, just taking enough time to make-up citations and a fake works cited page.  This year, I've caught seven in just two classes so far.  And it's not like I need a magnifying glass to find examples of copying.  The average sophomore doesn't write like a fifteen year old one day and then a PhD candidate the next.  It just jumps out at you.  I'm almost afraid to grade the other classes. An excellent article about how the "art" of writing is being lost among students was posted on The Boston Globe site today.  If there was more time in this school year, I'd require all of my students to read it, especially the ones who aren't doing much in the way of prepping themselves for the harsh reality of life at the college level for the unprepared.  Too many of my former students get into top colleges, but then very quickly return back home because they couldn't hack it.  The sad part is that they could have succeeded at the college level if they'd just listened to those who were pleading with them to do the work back when they were fifteen and sixteen.  But most don't.  Most just look at me as though I'm just a speedbump on their way to panoramic views of Central Park from their law office windows.  They never picture themselves not making it.  They've made it this far by not trying very hard or by just plain cheating.  Why should the future be any different? But I still plug away after many other teachers have just given up.  And as I keep reminding those students who refuse to heed my advice:  I always want ketchup with my fries. Related link: Fark discussion thread on The Boston Globe article 10:10:26 PM     |

A Small World After All Nothing shrinks the world down into an almost tidy package like the internet.  Through the connection that you're enjoying now, you not only have access to my site, but also, with a little searching and patience, access to nearly every corner of our planet. A simple demonstration of this is The World as a Blog.  That site graphically shows postings to weblogs around the world, just like this one, as they occur.  Watch it for a couple of minutes and you'll see messages from countries that you may never have even heard of, or certainly didn't know had access to the net.  Click on one of the pop-ups or colored markers on the map, and suddenly you are transported to that wee corner of the world.  From where I'm sitting, that's incredible.  Certainly not something one could envision having the ability to do from your home just ten years ago. By the way, if you want to help prove that it is a small world, you can join the Small World Research Project at Columbia University.  There they are trying to prove the whole six degrees of separation theory. And further by the way, isn't the photo I posted with this article amazing? 8:52:26 PM     |

© Copyright 2005 Alex L. Mauldin.