December 1, 2010
My Students Are Trying To Tell Me Something
Before my day went to total shit, I was grading papers. I pick up papers just, you know, off the stack in the order they are.
First paper thesis: Sodas are bad for you. It’s a whole paper just scaring you about how bad sodas are for your health. “Fair enough, they are kind of bad,” I said. I commented on the paper, “No citations!,” and moved on to the next one.
Second paper thesis: Energy drinks are bad for you. All kinds of health problems and issues, blah blah blah. Similar format. “Well, alright, that is a common sort of idea, sure,” I thought. I graded away. “No citations!” Next paper!
Third paper thesis: Sodas are bad for you. Again. Clearly different paper, of course, but same topic, similar points.
I look ahead. “Okay, thing about bottled water next, then… energy drinks again.”
I turned around in my chair. “These papers are trying to tell me something,” I told Cara. “They want me to stop drinking Soda and Energy Drinks.”
Then I went and got a soda from the fridge in the office.