America's future

[Axecleaver]

A friend of mine is a college English professor in NYC. From time to time, he sends me these crimes against humanity that his students turn in as papers...

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Horror Story:  Most of these students will be teaching "English" in NYC public schools within one year.  The student who wrote the last few will not
be passing my class.  Bear in mind that these were taken from 15+ page "thesis" papers in a senior-level seminar.

"In The Sun Also Rises the characters have generally lost their minds both
psychologically and morally."

"Ernest Hemingway's books are not often read today and he is almost a faded
memory."

"Within Earnest Hemmingway's novel The Sun Also Rises; love, masculinity,
and spirituality are theories of experiences of commitment in which each
character undergoes differently from one another."

"In order for love to arise within a person one has to in some way be
affectively touched by a certain object or presence held within the giver."

"Lady Brett Ashley, an older Englishwoman who also loves Jake Barnes, but
can't consummate their love because he was wounded in his genitals."

"Some say that Romero is the answer to the rush of American civilians and
youth in the rise of the death in Europe after World War I."

"Among the sexist characteristics that Hemingway has he is a very talented
writer, and has written some very meaningful novels, that involve themes
that stand true today.  His content varies from book to book."  (and later)
"Hemingway's writing will never be boring because he changes the topics
every time he writes."

"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place mostly has the psychology of the individual
theme because of what the story mainly pertains to."

*************(all of the rest are by the same student)

"Many Arthur's have many different styles of writing that either makes or
breaks the story.  As long as the Arthur's carries out some of the few
elements of style whether or not if he makes mistake or writes something
wrong their story will succeed in being published."

"One Arthur who's style of writing has become an American outstanding most
read books are written by Ernest Hemingway."

"In which because his style is unique and different the dialogue really
mattered and but also didn't matter because any of the characters, except
for maybe Jake, could have been carrying on those conversation."

"As at one point above I mentioned a few time that his writing and the
circumstances he uses in both books are for people to relate and
understand."

"The best part about being an Arthur is that if you wish to elaborate on the
stories to either make your style of writing complete, concise, interesting
and respected you may do so."

"Therefore, Many would argue that he was and wasn't the greatest American
writer, and even creator of the best American book."

[Reinn]

Critical thinking has a place but it seems it has replaced creativity and uniqueness.  Where are the individuals that don't give a damn what the prevailing political correctness is?  Are we turning into a nation of policially correct critical thinkers where every thought results with the same conclusion and is blown away by the the slightest whirlwind.  The rock that this nation was built upon is slowly being eroded away by the constant dripping of critical thinkers.  They are here today but gone tomorrow and no one remembers them but the damage has been done. Like an unsuspecting  trout we rise to the surface to swallow the fisherman's fly and when hooked we jump in the his hands.

(Edited by Reinn at 7:39 am on July 9, 2002)

[PerfectDrug]

I haven't seen this great of writting since uhh.....9th grade??  uhh  yah.

[Rosslyn]

Those are classic.  As someone who has been characterized at times as a "walking red pen" by friends and family, it was almost physically painful to read that stuff.

Reinn, I think I agree with the core of your statement.  One of the more frustrating things a professor can do is to grade someone on the content and conclusion of their argument, rather than the argument's formation and/or inherent logic and defensibility.  Basically, if you don't make the point the prof agrees with, you automatically get a worse grade.  This type of activity encourages people to be sheep rather than thinkers.  

[Tydd]

baahhh

[Gueuze]

Reminds of a book I found once called "The Best of Bad Hemingway" which was a compilation of people attempting to write in the Hemingway style...full of prose like:

Scott stared at the street light.  A man in a long coat turned towards him.  Scott ignored the man and lit another cigarette.  The man said, "Let's go in for a beer.  The beer is good here.  Let's have a beer."