Category: General (Page 1 of 2)

Background provided by Instructor: I received this email shortly before the midpoint of a fully online course. This “student” had been emailing me with excuses for not completing assignments that ranged from not having the textbook to not understanding the syllabus. Finally, I learned the real reason she was not doing her work:

hello profesor i M JUST WRITTING TO INFORM YOU THAT as of this week i will have all the required items to pARTICIPATE IN THE CLASS FULLY. HONESTLLY I HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS COURSE FROM MY PHONE ANTICIPATING MY REFUND TO PURCHASE A COMPUTER AND INTERNET SERVICE I AM NOT ASKING FOR ANY THING EXTRA BUT I WILL BE PUTTING FORTH THE EFFORT THAT I NEED IN ORDER TO PASS THE CLASS. I HONESTLY JUST WANTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU RATHER THAN TO KEEP YOU GUESSING AS TO WHY I HAVE NOT BEEN ACTIVE IN THE CLASS BUT THANKS FOR BEING UNDERSTANDING IN ADVANCE

Background provided by the Instructor: I just wanted to share how stunning it is that some students continue to equate “feminist” with “hates men.” I happen to teach a class where we discuss gender issues, including violence against women. Here is one of my course evaluations from a male in the class:

I took this class as an elective. It is obvious that our teacher is a feminist and hates men since she talked about issues like domestic violence being a problem and how rape is also an issue for girls. It is clear she hates men …. why else would she bring these up in a class on gender roles. As a guy I was really uncomfortable hearing her tell us about the studies.

Background provided by Instructor: As part of the term paper assigned for the class, students are told to use APA style and are given links to resources such as http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/, along with handouts explaining APA, and sample papers that use APA. This is a senior level class and I am stunned by the number of near-graduates who do not know how to write a paper or understand the basics of formatting their paper. The first assignment they are asked to turn in is a list of academic references they plan to use in their paper. It is due today and here is an email from a student:

I am a little confused about APA style. How does that work? Do I list the title of the article and then the journal? Does it need the year?  I haven’t had time to click on the link to the APA guide and I can’t find the handouts or notes from class. I wonder if you can just explain it again to me. Thanks.

Background provided by Instructor: Somewhere along the way students lost the meaning of a deadline.  Too many wait until the last minute – literally. I feel this email represents way too many of today’s college students. For this class, the students are required to turn their papers online. Deadlines are spelled out and explained on the Syllabus, announced in class, and reminders are emailed weeks in advance to all students.

i’m writing to ask how i can turn in my assignment that was due last night… you said the folder was open until midnight so i went on at 11:59pm and was in the process of  figuring out how to submit it when the folder disappeared.

Background provided by Instructor: I received this email from a student telling me they do not have the required book to do the assignment (10 weeks into the semester). All books are sold in the campus bookstore and also placed on reserve in the university library. The student sent this email just 12 hours before the writing assignment over the paperback was due:

I am not sure what I can do because I do not have the book. If their is anyway you can help me please let me know. If there is a store I can pick it up at please let me know.

Background provided by the instructor: In my small undergraduate seminar class, I corrected a student who was stating some things as “facts” – which were actually inaccurate representations of the research in my area of scholarship.  After class, I followed up via email with the student just to clarify. Here is the student’s reply to my email:

Dear Dr.  ___:

It is pretty pathetic when the student has to educate the professor on the research!

Background: Students seem to resent having to purchase books for class. A month before the course started, I sent an email to students informing them of the books needed. I explained that in addition to a new  textbook, there are 3 required paperbacks that will form the basis of 3 writing assignments. I encouraged them to find used copies of the 3 paperbacks – perhaps from a student who took the class last semester or search online.  One student sent me this email in response:

so we HAVE to buy all four of these books? First semester i bought 5 books and i only uses 2 of them. Trying to limit what i need to buy and what the bookstore can keep.

Hello, A few of my friends and I were curious as to how many classes you can fail until you are offically kicked out .