It's a freaking WRITING CLASS!

[Miss Fatale]

I teach a 200 level writing class, and I still have to explain what a paragraph is, how to use apostrophes, etc.

Some people had horrible experiences in elementary/high school and didn't learn it, some people suffer from learning/other problems that make it hard for them to grasp the concepts, some people are lazy, same are just stupid (at this; I prefer to assume that everyone is good at something -- it's okay if not everyone can master paragraphs, there are lots of things I can't do)......

It's really tough to teach a class that has all level of students in it.

And people love to complain about the material. You have to write in Composition? Read in Lit Class? Horrible!

[The Last to Know]

A CC is a REAL school - that's where I am - a CC getting my Associates in IT - networking. Honestly, how anybody can think that my (or your) CC isn't just as good is beyond me! Bravo to you Plaidman! Your teachers are going to love you :-)

[RetailWorkhorse]

You have to write in Composition?

Every time I see the word Composition I think of the notebooks with the marbled covers. What is "writing in Composition" and use small words for the brain-dead, please?

[Food Lady]

Plaidy, I went to community college, and you know how smart I am. It IS real college and I don't really have to state how I'm proud of you, do I?

[Imogene]

I got an A on my last, and didn't have any mistakes like that.
<snip>
Your expected to, you know, write, in a writing class.

No mistakes like that? None?
Just giving you shit.

[r2cagle]

Well, Plaid... guess you have been voted wrong.

The best writing and english teacher I had was in the local community college. But I understand the frustration from the idiocy of the rest of the students. Perception for some reason, is that CC is for those not smart enough to make it to a big school... but I graduated valedictorian and wanted to stay local so I could still work (so am I dumb?). Attending CC was the best decision I ever made. I learned more and since the classes are smaller, it's easier to get one on one with the teacher and better feedback. If you ask me, I think the best education comes from a community college.

At least you want to be there, and your teachers will appreciate the effort you make. That will make all the difference in the world.

[elsporko]

Quoth Plaidman View Post
Telling us the difference of They're, Their, There, Wear, Where, Four, For, To, Two, Too, and about a dozen more that I just dozed through.

I've got a writing minor and it took me until my third year of college to figure out the difference between to and too. That shit be tricky yo.

[ralerin]

I've (nearly) got me a writing major and I'm still amazed at the amount of students who bitch about having to write and grammar sucks and blah blah blah. These are the same types of students who put emoicons and smiley faces into their school exams, screw around on Facebook during class, throw a hissy fit when they have stuff to present and didn't do it, and beg the professor to let them out early. And then throw a bigger fit when they don't get A's.

Some people had horrible experiences in elementary/high school and didn't learn it, some people suffer from learning/other problems that make it hard for them to grasp the concepts, some people are lazy, same are just stupid (at this; I prefer to assume that everyone is good at something -- it's okay if not everyone can master paragraphs, there are lots of things I can't do)......

I heard somewhere that basic spelling and phonics are no longer taught in elementary school. That would explain a lot.

[elsporko]

I'm not sure what its like with writing majors (my school only offered writing as a minor) but most of the English majors I seemed to meet were pretentious doofuses who believed that they were going to be the next Chaucer and it didn't matter that they had no idea how to actually write a decent paper. The mechanics don't matter when you got the soul!!!!!

Of course these tended to be the people who also minored in poetry. Why the hell do you need a degree in poetry unless your going to be a poetry critic or something? If you're goal is to write poetry then you just write it. I doubt anybody is going to say "These poem is good, but I'm not going to publish it, the author doesn't have a minor in poetry."

[lwb]

Well, Plaid... guess you have been voted wrong.

The best writing and english teacher I had was in the local community college. But I understand the frustration from the idiocy of the rest of the students. Perception for some reason, is that CC is for those not smart enough to make it to a big school... but I graduated valedictorian and wanted to stay local so I could still work (so am I dumb?). Attending CC was the best decision I ever made. I learned more and since the classes are smaller, it's easier to get one on one with the teacher and better feedback. If you ask me, I think the best education comes from a community college.

At least you want to be there, and your teachers will appreciate the effort you make. That will make all the difference in the world.

The best experience I had at a 2 year (not exactly a community college since it was private) college was getting to "sub" for a math teacher who had to be out due to an emergency. The head of the department, who I knew quite well as this was a VERY small school, asked if I wanted to teach a quick lesson in Trig class. That one experience solidified my life's goal, to be a teacher. I NEVER would have gotten a chance like that at the 4 year school where I finished my BS. I now teach at a technical/community college and, while I could go to a 4 year school and teach for possibly more money, I wouldn't have the experience of helping as many students one-on-one that I get where I am. Community college is a great thing for the people it is good for. Some need to go straight to 4-year school, some don't.

To the original post, you sound like my wife (who teaches English at the same school where I teach). I hear the same stuff from her about her students too. Of course, I teach math, so I hear the same stuff from the math side too

[Amina516]

sadly there was a very heated thread at fratching about CC not being good and 4 year uni being OHSOMUCHBETTER!

Hmm..this is the reason I try to stay away from there. I hate fighting with my friends... Lol.

That being said...i think ill go look for it. LOL

[chainedbarista]

cc is a great bargain for the first two or so years to knock out any ge's or to refresh forgotten skills; anyone who pays more for that is...stupid.

school is school and when you get your diploma, it will have the same school on it as everyone else!

[Geek King]

Of course these tended to be the people who also minored in poetry. Why the hell do you need a degree in poetry unless your going to be a poetry critic or something? If you're goal is to write poetry then you just write it. I doubt anybody is going to say "These poem is good, but I'm not going to publish it, the author doesn't have a minor in poetry."

You don't have to have a degree to get published, but it would pay to study other poets and have an idea of what makes a good poem. I took a poetry class for my minor (Writing), and came out with a better appreciation for the style, even if I still had no real drive to write poetry myself. I can craft better insults in limerick form, though.

[mariamousie1]

I'm in community college too, and I've had my teachers (more than one) stop the class to explain the difference between their/they're/there. SAD. It's the high schools, I guess, they let everybody graduate knowing nothing.

[Chromatix]

Every time I see the word Composition I think of the notebooks with the marbled covers. What is "writing in Composition" and use small words for the brain-dead, please?

Composition class is writing class.

I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, not having taken one myself, but it probably involves learning to write in a number of different styles. An essay is different from a story which is itself different from a poem, but all have their own style which you use as a guide when composing one.

Needless to say, learning to write effectively involves a lot of practice at writing, which was the point of this thread...

The "reading in Literature" phrase is the analogous counterpart to the above. Literature class involves studying famous works of writing, by - shock horror - reading them. And then answering lots of very tricky questions about them (possibly in debate form) in class and in tests.