I've been making it a point during the three weeks that I don't have to grade for class to make some significant progress on my dissertation proposal. So far that's going really well. I went home yesterday, took a nap and read for 6 hours. Today was kind of the same deal, but I'm having a lot of trouble keeping focused now. Sigh. So many things to think about!
In reading yesterday, I figured out yet another component that I want to add to my project. I talked to DQ this morning about it and she was very supportive, and it sounds like it's going to work... I'm just getting really tired of reading. I want to write. I have 1.5 papers left to read that I printed out for myself, and tomorrow I was going to type up all of the notes that I made from my readings and finally get down to writing the proposal. But sometimes late at night I get really anxious, and I'm not sure why. There are several possibilities/probabilities:
- Wedding is 88 days away. Commence mental rundown of checklist and stress over what hasn't been dealt with yet.
- Proposal needs to be written by April 1st. At least a draft of it.
- Need to study for qualifying exams. I'm still not sure when these are going to be held. Or what it is that I need to study. But once I get going on the proposal I can get into studying.
- Still need to see my dress and make sure the necessary alterations have been made and it's not completely screwed up.
- The never ending pile of grading that I will have to do.
- I hate being alone during the week. It sucks. But it's also great because I can get a lot of reading done.
- I replaced the catalytic converter in my car a couple weeks ago (read: I spent about $1000 on my car a couple weeks ago) and the check engine light came on AGAIN this morning. I'm really hoping that it's not something horribly wrong... My little car ate all of my tax refund :(
- I'm switching to the dark side. All this week I've needed to have a cup of coffee instead of tea to get started and keep myself awake at least until 2 pm. It's still too bitter for me but I think the Vanilla Bean blend from World Market is nice with some whipped cream :) Makes it drinkable. You know you're getting in deep when you have to up the daily caffeine dosage.
So that's the window into my head at the moment. Some good things have happened this week though:
- "Poop, while grim;" student dropped my class yesterday. It was the best decision for both of us. He met with the other TA, myself, and DQ and it was apparent that he just had no clue what was going on in the class. So now he doesn't fail anymore and I don't have to spend hours and hours fixing everything that's wrong with his reports.
- George has been getting several job offers! It's nice that he's such a hot commodity and that we'll be financially taken care of after he graduates. I got me a sugar daddy and it's NICE. We can finally comfortably plan a honeymoon (need to figure out where to...) and maybe move to a nicer apartment. Oh, and make some substantial payments on my student loans, but details, details.
- I submitted my first grant application last week! It would be absolutely amazing if I get it, and would be a significant weight off of my chest, but I won't find out until May if I'm accepted or rejected. Fingers crossed!
- I know that I need to work out more, and that I need to make time for it. I'm never really sure where to go or what to do, but it occurred to me this evening that I could swim laps before leaving school during the week. It's an interesting idea, and I think it will give me the activity I need, since I'm either at my desk or on the couch all day if I'm not teaching.
Woooooooooooooooooooooooo.
Showing posts with label grading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grading. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
That just happened??
This semester is proving to be very interesting indeed. I finished grading the second set of lab reports for the semester and sent out emails to the students containing their reports with my comments and their final grade. Lo and behold, I get a nasty gram from "Poop, while grim;" whom had earned a 47.
The following is the exchange we had via email:
Dear Allyson,
I feel your grading is a bit harsh and irrational and there are things that must be addressed. My sole intention is to clarify these issues, ask you to be more concise in what you are looking for, and ultimately to email me back on what I can do to improve further reports.
I do recall you specifically saying our incubation time was till one, which you announced around twelve. If not, then we did did not have an incubation time told to us. I also do not recall what DO stood for, so that was obviously my mistake and should have asked. You also just told us it was at a boat basin, how am I supposed to describe a boat basin to you? I was not there when the sample was collected. I was not quite sure what you were looking for in that part of the report. If you can help with some tips on future reports I would be forever grateful or should I just read your comments and go from there? Thank you.
-K
Allyson
The following is the exchange we had via email:
------
Lab Report 2 graded. Please read over the comments and use them to help write your Lab Report 3.
------
Dear Allyson,
I feel your grading is a bit harsh and irrational and there are things that must be addressed. My sole intention is to clarify these issues, ask you to be more concise in what you are looking for, and ultimately to email me back on what I can do to improve further reports.
I do recall you specifically saying our incubation time was till one, which you announced around twelve. If not, then we did did not have an incubation time told to us. I also do not recall what DO stood for, so that was obviously my mistake and should have asked. You also just told us it was at a boat basin, how am I supposed to describe a boat basin to you? I was not there when the sample was collected. I was not quite sure what you were looking for in that part of the report. If you can help with some tips on future reports I would be forever grateful or should I just read your comments and go from there? Thank you.
-K
------
Dear K,
As you know, this is a writing intensive course with the objective of instructing you on how to become a better author of scientific material. The grade and comments that you received were reflective of your work and given to help you improve.
As for what I’m looking for when grading, I grade with the rubric, which you have. You should use the rubric as a checklist to make sure that you have addressed everything in your report. If you are unsure of how to write a scientific lab report, there is a folder on eLearning with tips, in addition to the section in the lab manual about scientific writing and the Writing Center in CLB. During the incubation period in this week’s lab I will be going over some comments, tips and suggestions for writing lab reports.
As for the comments you have above: It is not my responsibility to provide the exact incubation time, though it was written in the methods of the lab manual. It is your responsibility as a student to pay attention to the details of your experiment. I announced that the water was taken from the small boat basin. If you were/are unclear about the study site, you should ask. Scientific papers are precise in their description of their study site, i.e. environmental conditions (temperature, weather, salinity if possible) and location of sampling (for example, in the report it would be Texas A&M University at Galveston small boat basin in Galveston, TX).
In reading your report, it appears to DQ and me that you did not understand the experiment or the processes behind it. If by the end of the lab session you are unsure of anything regarding the experiments, please ask, preferably before the report is due.
If you would like additional recommendations or comments I am happy to provide them. If you would like to neglect my advice your grades will reflect that.
Regards,
Dear K,
As you know, this is a writing intensive course with the objective of instructing you on how to become a better author of scientific material. The grade and comments that you received were reflective of your work and given to help you improve.
As for what I’m looking for when grading, I grade with the rubric, which you have. You should use the rubric as a checklist to make sure that you have addressed everything in your report. If you are unsure of how to write a scientific lab report, there is a folder on eLearning with tips, in addition to the section in the lab manual about scientific writing and the Writing Center in CLB. During the incubation period in this week’s lab I will be going over some comments, tips and suggestions for writing lab reports.
As for the comments you have above: It is not my responsibility to provide the exact incubation time, though it was written in the methods of the lab manual. It is your responsibility as a student to pay attention to the details of your experiment. I announced that the water was taken from the small boat basin. If you were/are unclear about the study site, you should ask. Scientific papers are precise in their description of their study site, i.e. environmental conditions (temperature, weather, salinity if possible) and location of sampling (for example, in the report it would be Texas A&M University at Galveston small boat basin in Galveston, TX).
In reading your report, it appears to DQ and me that you did not understand the experiment or the processes behind it. If by the end of the lab session you are unsure of anything regarding the experiments, please ask, preferably before the report is due.
If you would like additional recommendations or comments I am happy to provide them. If you would like to neglect my advice your grades will reflect that.
Regards,
Allyson
-------
Thank you. I try my best. And I will keep trying my best, hopefully you and DQ will see that.
End.----
End.----
Okay. I'm sorry but I would NEVER, EVER have talked like that to my TA. Who the hell does this kid think he is? Does he think I don't talk to the prof that teaches the class (and is also my advisor for crying out loud?!)?? I showed DQ his report with my comments on it, and while reading it she repeatedly gasped "What?!" It was very clear that he didn't understand the experiment, what was happening during the experiment, or the basic processes of photosynthesis and respiration. Which I don't understand because this is a SENIOR. LEVEL. CLASS. for which introductory biology and marine biology are prerequisites.
But the kid has balls, I'll give him that.
Sorry dude, I can't give you a grade for effort. If I could, it would probably be lower than what you got the first time.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Quick Update.
We went to the Linkin Park concert in Houston last week before the craziness of studying for exams settled in for me. It was an awesome show, and we left feeling a bit deaf, but it was a price I was willing to pay. The Toyota Center in Houston is designed with special rafters that reflect sound back down on the audience so the bass was RIDICULOUS despite sitting as far away from the stage as one possibly can be.
Despite hearing the songs over and over again (thanks G) for weeks leading up to the concert, I still wasn't familiar with the new album, A Thousand Suns. It's a lot different from their previous albums, but it grows on you every time you listen to it. Seeing a majority of the album performed live, along with a bunch of oldies that I'm well acquainted with, was truly an amazing experience. I'm glad we went, and I'm happy that we can scratch them off our list of bands to see in concert.
Who we've seen so far:
- Linkin Park
- Green Day (also in the Toyota Center)
- Franz Ferdinand
- Puddle of Mudd
- Sevendust
- 10 Years
- Three Days Grace
- Buckcherry
Still need to see:
- My Chemical Romance
- Breaking Benjamin
Exam Stuff:
Geological oceanography exam was yesterday. Prof said to use the objectives heading each lecture as a guide for studying. So I did. For three days I did almost nothing else. Felt pretty confident that I understood the concepts outlined in the objectives. Get to the test. Stare at it.
I have never seen such a disjuncture between what we talked about in lecture and what was asked of us on the exam. I did my best, but honestly, I don't feel that I passed at all. The only other time I've felt an utter crippling of my self esteem because of a test was in Biochem II. This was torture. And what made it worse was all of the geo ocean majors were all "that was so fuckin easy, omg." STFU GEO OCEAN MAJORS. I HATE YOU ALL RIGHT NOW.
I talked to other students (who aren't geo majors or have geo backgrounds) and they reassured me that that's just how the class is. The prof rarely gives out less than a B unless you really just don't do anything in the class. So why am I still freaking out? Because you never know. I like to do well. I like to have solid ground when it comes to my grade. I don't like to count on a curve or generosity for trying.
I'm still angsting about it even after talking at length with Alicia, who had a similar encounter with her test yesterday. Drowning our sorrows in margaritas and mexican last night was wonderful.
I had even been up since 5 am because A) I couldn't sleep for worry that the test was going to be awful. I was right in thinking so. And B) G was talking and laughing in his sleep, and stealing the covers. I honestly don't remember what he said. I think it was combining with my half dreams about geology and resulted in my hearing complete nonsense.
Tomorrow's bio ocean exam (I will get my revenge, geo majors. I WILL GET MY REVENGE.) and then I plan to go home and crash on the couch with a glass of wine and my netflix queue.
I haven't been grading data forms lately because I've been busy doing homework and keeping up with my own classes. And today a student noticed and sent me an email asking me why I haven't graded her make up yet.
Students. I, like you, have other shit to do. The difference? I need to keep my GPR up for financial aid, and not fail out of grad school. On top of taking 3 graduate courses, two of which have exams this week and one of those assigns annoyingly tedious homework assignments that take up A LOT of time, I have to teach 3 classes. And grade. SIXTY DATA FORMS AND SIXTY QUIZZES EVERY WEEK.
Granted, that was my choice. However, sometimes, my own shit comes first. Deal with it.
Despite hearing the songs over and over again (thanks G) for weeks leading up to the concert, I still wasn't familiar with the new album, A Thousand Suns. It's a lot different from their previous albums, but it grows on you every time you listen to it. Seeing a majority of the album performed live, along with a bunch of oldies that I'm well acquainted with, was truly an amazing experience. I'm glad we went, and I'm happy that we can scratch them off our list of bands to see in concert.
Who we've seen so far:
- Linkin Park
- Green Day (also in the Toyota Center)
- Franz Ferdinand
- Puddle of Mudd
- Sevendust
- 10 Years
- Three Days Grace
- Buckcherry
Still need to see:
- My Chemical Romance
- Breaking Benjamin
Exam Stuff:
Geological oceanography exam was yesterday. Prof said to use the objectives heading each lecture as a guide for studying. So I did. For three days I did almost nothing else. Felt pretty confident that I understood the concepts outlined in the objectives. Get to the test. Stare at it.
I have never seen such a disjuncture between what we talked about in lecture and what was asked of us on the exam. I did my best, but honestly, I don't feel that I passed at all. The only other time I've felt an utter crippling of my self esteem because of a test was in Biochem II. This was torture. And what made it worse was all of the geo ocean majors were all "that was so fuckin easy, omg." STFU GEO OCEAN MAJORS. I HATE YOU ALL RIGHT NOW.
I talked to other students (who aren't geo majors or have geo backgrounds) and they reassured me that that's just how the class is. The prof rarely gives out less than a B unless you really just don't do anything in the class. So why am I still freaking out? Because you never know. I like to do well. I like to have solid ground when it comes to my grade. I don't like to count on a curve or generosity for trying.
I'm still angsting about it even after talking at length with Alicia, who had a similar encounter with her test yesterday. Drowning our sorrows in margaritas and mexican last night was wonderful.
I had even been up since 5 am because A) I couldn't sleep for worry that the test was going to be awful. I was right in thinking so. And B) G was talking and laughing in his sleep, and stealing the covers. I honestly don't remember what he said. I think it was combining with my half dreams about geology and resulted in my hearing complete nonsense.
Tomorrow's bio ocean exam (I will get my revenge, geo majors. I WILL GET MY REVENGE.) and then I plan to go home and crash on the couch with a glass of wine and my netflix queue.
I haven't been grading data forms lately because I've been busy doing homework and keeping up with my own classes. And today a student noticed and sent me an email asking me why I haven't graded her make up yet.
Students. I, like you, have other shit to do. The difference? I need to keep my GPR up for financial aid, and not fail out of grad school. On top of taking 3 graduate courses, two of which have exams this week and one of those assigns annoyingly tedious homework assignments that take up A LOT of time, I have to teach 3 classes. And grade. SIXTY DATA FORMS AND SIXTY QUIZZES EVERY WEEK.
Granted, that was my choice. However, sometimes, my own shit comes first. Deal with it.
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