October 21, 2010
I Have To Take A Test
I have a test today.
I have no fucking idea why.
The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get. Why do I have a midterm? What sense does that make? This test basically does nothing to actually gauge my skill. It simply makes sure I’ve read, which I have, because I’ve been discussing these novels in class for weeks. It’s just kind of crazy.
Hear me out. I’m a grad student, and this is a grad-student-only class. All of us in this class have degrees. We’ve done our time. We’ve shown our commitment to learning, and proven we learn. This is what tests are for: to provide a score that proves learning, and to give incentive to pay attention in class to people who aren’t fully invested. But we’re grad students. We’re fully invested. We don’t need to do matching on quotes to prove our commitment to this thing. You’ve already caught us. Just let us learn.
It just seems extra crazy to me, given that part of the test is a take-home essay assignment. The topic for the essay could, easily, be a much longer essay than required. I mean, I don’t particularly want to write a long essay on this stuff, but at least that would make a little sense. That would prove my skills at grappling with these theoretical topics, instead of matching quotes for no reason for half the test score.
Grad school gives me benefits when I’m working through complex topics in my own way. The reason I’m there is to be pointed at the “right” topics to be concerned about, and then see how I deal with and interpret them by working through them with other people. It’s not about memorizing quotes, and it’s not about getting 100%. It’s about actual learning, with people who want to learn. This test isn’t that. I don’t get why we’re having it, and it annoys me that I’m wasting a whole week of class time on this.