Writing in History includes analytic essays and that is about it. Professors hand us a book, tell us to read it in three weeks, and then to write a four to six page paper on it.
Okay, here is what is wrong with that.
Number one. Three weeks to read a book that is, on average, 300 pages, while taking fifteen credit hours, working twenty hours a weeks, and pretending to have a social life is just impractical. Don't even get me started if you want to get a normal amount of sleep and not be considered a member of the waking dead society. Forget about it!
Number two. These papers almost always turn into a battle of interpretation between you and your professor. History professors are notorious for slamming you if you don't pull out the exact points they feel you should be focusing on. News flash--I am not a mind reader. Gosh.
Number three. Four to six page papers are long. Rambling will most likely happen in order for you to get your page quota. And let me just tell you a story about the actual writing of these papers, humor me.
So you have had this assignment for three weeks now, but life happens and you still have one hundred pages left to read. Well the paper is due tomorrow, and it is now five o'clock. You crack open the book and sit still until you have finished, you don't even let your self have a bathroom break. That is a luxury and you will reward your self later. Finally, you read the closing pages, and nervously glance at the clock...9:00. Okay. You know have maybe two more hours of good brain time to work on this beast of a paper, but of course it is nearly impossible to write. You see 12:00 roll pass....1:30....2:43...you still have two more pages to write....3:52....so..tired....4:22....okay, one more point and the closing paragraph, I can do it.....5:16...6:38...FINISHED. time for bed. You rest your head down for an hour and then get up and head to class.
Okay history majors, we all know that we've had an experience just like this. Tell the truth. Mine was for a French Revolution class and my paper was about the influence religion had on French culture during the eighteenth century. There, I told you mine.
Why do we do this to ourselves? But more importantly why do teachers do this to us? Well how else are they going to make sure we grasp the concepts. History is a subject of ideas. So many times we get thrown a multiple choice test that assesses our ability to regurgitate dates and facts than to really assess our learning. Essay writing is a necessary evil. Hopefully by allowing students freedom by not putting into place a page requirement and allowing students to pick the topic or book they are interested in will make the process less painful.
As teachers it is our job to assess student learning. So assess it, don't tear it apart or judge it strictly on your opinion. Did they have a strong thesis statement that was explained with examples and details? Or did they not. Leave your opinions at the door and judge their level of learning.
So here's the conclusion. Writing = pain. But pain causes growth and endurance. Lets make it painful in a good way and allow students to learn.
Monday, October 8, 2012
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3 comments:
I had to laugh a little as I read this because I totally have had experiences like this! I totally agree with you that we need to give out students a little choice in the matter to make it interesting to them. Also I could not agree more that as teachers we have to leave our opinion at the door and focus on whether or not a student completed the assignment as instructed.
Lauren, You are fantastic and have captured what every single student who has ever taken a history class feels. I had one proffessor that expected a 5-7 page paper every two weeks. oh and I was taking 15 credits. and every other class expected to do assignments too. I totally agree with you on when the proffessor expects you to read his/her mind. That is NOT was we are supposed to do as students, and that is not what we should expect our students to do. Let the students find what THEY think is important, and if they need guidance on stayin on track. give them guidance. don't base their grade on their lack of mind reading abilities!
This is such an interesting posting. It reminds me of the documentary "Race to Nowhere," which is about kids who got ulcers and other emotional and physical health problems because their teachers assigned so much homework. After they were at school for 6-7 hours, they would go home and do homework for another 6-7 hours, even in elementary and middle schools, which led to so much stress related to the pressure to overachieve.
There is research that suggests that TOO much homework--rather than being a hallmark of a wonderful and rigorous teacher--actually produces no gains in student learning. Your posting reminded me of the importance of striking a balance.
Thanks for your insights. :)
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