You haven't seen me for a while.

[adelynne]

...And you probably won't much after this entry, either.

I'm kind of stuck mid-stream, fighting the current to stay afloat at the moment. I'm TAing a general biology lab, doing full time research, and taking a class. It's come to a full-on collision tonight, where I'm sitting and watching the Red Sox when I should be either (a) finishing my homework or (b) grading 24 lab report re-writes. Neither option is very appealing.

I think I finished Night Watch a month or so back, but other than that I've not read a single short story, book, or summary paragraph that wasn't tied to science. I'm ready to go bonkers, because I miss it, but I don't have the energy to juggle one more thing.

Needless to say, my own writing has gone the way of the dodo. Maybe during my annual New Years vacation I'll get something, but my next group meeting is the week after. It just sucks.

I am having a great time teaching, by the way. And just looking at the vast improvements in the re-writes I got today, I have the feeling I'm making a difference and at least some of these kids are learning something.

I took rosefox's advice and told them that just because they want to be scientists or doctors doesn't mean they don't need to know how to write well. And then I gave them a list of the 5 most common grammatical errors I saw and told them if they happen in the next version they hand in, it's an automatic 0 for grammar points.)

But yeah, if you don't see me around a lot, that's why. I do miss being able to keep up, though.

Comments

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

*hugs* I miss you but am glad you are being so productive my dear.

[adelynne.livejournal.com]

I actually wish I could get a break. ;)

[lodessa.livejournal.com]

That I can definitely understand.

[maarjaala.livejournal.com]

f they happen in the next version they hand in, it's an automatic 0 for grammar points.

What if the next time there are DIFFERENT grammatical errors?...

[adelynne.livejournal.com]

Then those errors are graded differently. These ones are a specific subset of things that drive me up the wall. "Data" as a singular noun, "affect" vs. "effect," stuff like that.

[maarjaala.livejournal.com]

Data" as a singular noun

not unless it's preceded by "Mr." :)

[adelynne.livejournal.com]

You laugh, but I'm pretty sure Star Trek ruined the grammar of undergrads everywhere. ;)

[hamsterwoman]

Good to hear from you! (I'm still interested to hear your thoughts on Nochnoi Dozor, when you have some time/energy/desire to talk about it. If you're interested, mine are here.)

just because they want to be scientists or doctors doesn't mean they don't need to know how to write well.

Yup. I know there's the stereotype that engineers can't write, and I saw quite a bit of that attitude in the Technical Communication class I TA'd for, but I have to say, the engineers I've worked with so far have been by and large quite good at writing (discounting thos who lack near-native fluency in English). And most of the people in my department are really anal about grammar (beyond the general warping wrought by bulletized everything and corporate-speak).

[adelynne.livejournal.com]

I do have thoughts, but they're so far away, I mostly can't remember them aside from agreeing with Svetlana a lot. If you want to chat, which I would love, the best way of doing so is finding me on g-chat, or AIM (ladyjourou).

So far, everyone has scored higher on their rewrites, even though the grading is harsher.

[zayichik.livejournal.com]

Grading lab reports. Licking lead paint. I wouldn't know what to choose. What are some of the grammatical errors, out of curiosity? Any of the particularly hilarious?