Yay... English... Wait, no I am not in English class??? Why am I learning about civil rights?
My English professor is very disappointing. I signed up and payed for a class were the description was pretty much "how to write research papers". However, I ended up in a class were the teacher has not once yet taught or showed any steps to write a research paper. Instead she rants on about civil rights during the class period. Don't get me wrong I am not bigoted. I think civil rights are a great thing to learn about. However, there is a time and a place for it (ie history or political science). The problem I have with her is she focuses too much on slavery in early American history, instead of teaching me what I payed for. It bothers me as the field of interest I have is journalism... Where having the skills of research papers would come in handy. But no... I really think its not going to get better as one book she assigned for the semester was Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. In the syllabus, it even mentions what topics we can "choose" from for our thesis (ie: slave clothing, slave food, slave religion, etc.) I'm a little bit nervous on speaking up (even though I think eventually will soon), because she might try to play the racist card on me, which i would find oh so immature. She might not, but that is the impression she gives me when she talks to the class like we are all decendents of slave owners who have no remorse for what happened those many centuries. It even adds to my nervousness as I am in the metro-Detroit area, which unfortunatly one of the most ethnically segregated areas in the United States As the city of Detroit has one of the highest percentages of black residents; two miles to the west of that is Livonia, a city with what I believe has the highest percentage of white citizens in the U.S.; and a tad bit to the southeast of Livonia is Dearborn, a city known for its heavy middle eastern population. Anyway, enough with that before I get off topic. Does anyone have any advice on what I should do... I was thinking of talking to the dean of liberal arts at my school. Although, I don't know if I want to go that high on my first move.
Thanks for reading
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I wouldn't confront her during class but maybe sometime on her business hours. Or you can drop the class (if your in the okay to drop part of the semester) and just pick another class in the meantime. Also if you go on to ratemyprofessor.com you can learn about teachers in your area and how students liked them or not.
hmm... I would go up to her during her office hours and ask that while you don't mind the class being centered around civil rights, you feel as if your writing abilities are not being challenged enough and would like to incorporate more writing assignments and review into the class.
I would definately ask a neutral question like 'why is the class lectures always about civil rights and if you will be moving on to another subject with in this course'. I know that in my english classes they have always been sectioned and controversy makes for good writting. Depending on what is said and how to conversation goes, go from there. If it seems like it might back fire go to the first person over her head, the department head maybe. Also confide in another teacher from around there that is familiar with this instructor first because your perspective might be scewed and you dont want to provide a wrong impression.
Good luck
all truths are easy to understand once discovered; the point is to discover them ~galileo
thank you for that helpful tidbit... It sounds like a really good idea. I just do not want to present myself as unprofessional and go in with no excellent form of a plan
---Mike Schilling---
sounds like a lesson in research to me...have a plan ;)
all truths are easy to understand once discovered; the point is to discover them ~galileo
of all diferent back grounds who hold the same sentiments as you and tell the teacher that although you guys(the class) loves these sort of controversial topics, you need to learn the basics of how to write a paper so the money you paid for the class won't go to waste and that in English Class, that should be the main goal
right> I think if you approach it in a very disarming and non confrontational manner
it might go smoothly
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
that sounds well planned out. and i like to thank you for your advice.
---Mike Schilling---
i have experience in this sort of things because
well I am from philly and it is a city that is predominanlty black and i myself am a minority but the schools that I have attended have always been really diverse so sometimes all of us (students) have come across these types of teachers
"Pride is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right."
that my english professor is not a history or political science professor... I think that would suit her more. Because unfortunatley she sounds like she is mixing personal issues with her professional environment. I have no grudge against her. I just want to make sure I'm learning what I payed for. So far it was only the first day, that I felt was based in english. After that it seemed like she was going on rants on white men and their slaves, instead of helping us figure out where we should get our information from.. What sources are credible and which ones are not.
---Mike Schilling---
Today in class she actually was teaching the points of distinguishing between facts and opinions in your research... I am slowly accepting her as an English teacher now.
---Mike Schilling---
Oh good i am glad. Thank you for keeping us posted and have fun in your class.
all truths are easy to understand once discovered; the point is to discover them ~galileo
Yeah, I dislike when profs get off topic to often (or a lot in your case) maybe you should talk to the higher uppers and tell them about it (head of the department maybe maybe?).
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"You're asking me to *read*?! I'm not even in class...and just to think I had to put on pants for this."
~npsm18
Best video evar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD8qubsp39M
http://www.progressiveu.org/090204-dont-miss-this-chance
I had a math teacher last year that was worse. talk about off topic. all he did ALL YEAR was stand by the white board and draw pictures about his childhood and his fears of spiders. administrators would check and see if we learned anything by looking at test scores. yeah, he gave us the answers to all of them.
DISCLAIMER: I am not being rude. I'm stating my opinion. No personal attacks are meant. Please give some leniency on how you take my words. imagine me saying them with a smile. ^__^
While I was still taking classes at my college, I took Introduction to College Writing II and I had an instructor that wasn't a good one because most of the time in that class, he talked about current issues and what was going on in the news. Therefore, I understand what you're saying because if that instructor wants to talk about current issues and what's going on in the news today, then he should teach a current issues class, instead of an English class.
http://www.progressiveu.org/090204-dont-miss-this-chance
I wouldn't do anything before I considered a few things. I have one question: what color/race is she? Thats all.
but if you read a later reply I posted on here, she actually slowing is starting to get to the English. Which I am thankful for. I don't have to do anything. I finally got what I wanted... My english class.
---Mike Schilling---
http://www.progressiveu.org/090204-dont-miss-this-chance
yeah, at first I didn't like the teachers I had but they were great when given the chance, over time.
DISCLAIMER: I am not being rude. I'm stating my opinion. No personal attacks are meant. Please give some leniency on how you take my words. imagine me saying them with a smile. ^__^
Something a lot of the students at Clarkson do is a little bit of pre-research on professors before they sign up for classes. Here, when you choose your section you can see who teaches it, so if you know the professor's reputation or teaching methods beforehand you'll know what you're in for.
Maybe this will help you in the future.