Week 12

This is the week in which students have to hand in the first draft of their second essay. They have been warned also that the quality of their second essay will have a bearing on the grades they will get for their final exam. The final exam will require them to write a similar essay to what they are doing now and so what they learn during the process of writing this essay will prepare them for their later exam. From discussions of the text in class and practical exercises we are doing, I feel that most students have a fairly good grasp of what it is they need to do. This whole idea of synthesis is quite new to most of them and it is understandable if they feel a little phased at first. It would be great if we had more time to do further practice but I’m afraid we don’t have that luxury. Teachers who have to constantly look forward and plan to the end of semester are acutely aware of what needs to be done and what time there is to do it. Students seem to survive from day to day and so don’t fully appreciate why particular deadlines need to be set. Unfortunately my course must proceed according to the schedule regardless of whether another instructor has organized a mid term on a particular day.

I left school at 1pm on Friday with a bag of essays to be graded over the weekend. The bag was not as heavy as it should have been. At least 30% of students missed the deadline for submission. What do they think is going to happen now I wonder?