This is final exams week, and today I gave my first final exam. And (woooo hooooo) I already have this section of exams graded.
I also returned research papers that I had spent too many days grading. In one of those research papers, I found an entirely NEW homophone error. A student had written about "soap Oprahs." I sat there scratching my head and puzzling. What on earth. . .and THEN it hit me: the student meant soap OPERAS. I just had to laugh. I can't imagine what absurd mistake I will encounter next.
Also in those research papers, I uncovered two instances of plagiarism. So, after the exam was over, as I was returning research papers, I had to confront these students. As soon as I pointed out the purloined paragraph in the one student's paper--he immediately said--oh, I just forgot to put in the quotation marks. (Yeah, right!) Then he said, when I asked where the source was listed (it wasn't)--oh, I must have had that on the OTHER piece of paper. Really?
And, the final insult came when I returned to my office. The phone rang--it was a student who was to have been in that exam. He missed it--and so when he called he said--there's no point in me taking the final exam, is there? Well, I pointed out, you MISSED the exam, so your question is moot. Huh, he said. I am not sure if he didn't know what "moot" meant, or if he just didn't catch my sarcasm.
Well, at any rate, one down, one to go.
9 comments:
Actually, I think you should give him/her credit for "soap Oprah." I think it works well. :)
Good grief. And someone is PAYING for them to go to school.
The future is looking scary. I'm off to make Isabelle study harder.
: )
Soap Oprah . . . cracks me up.
Yours is not an easy task. I commend you. I remember the same joke going around when Bush was asked if he enjoyed Opera...and he replied that he "watched the black lady whenever he could get to it."
LOL! Soap Oprah! We're all laughing about that one.
Oh darn. I'm so jealous. I miss terribly the privelege of correcting essay exams. And, of course, the spelling and gramatical errors. Oh well......
It amazes me that the students don't seem to know that you have heard every one of their lame excuses a dozen times before.
I found an extra 10 or so essays I'd forgotten about -- in independent studies I had been overseeing. But they are still a lot more fun than the ones you're doing. At least, I'm still enjoying them. As the thermometer dips lower and lower (minus 30 celsius tonight), I huddle over my papers to keep warm!
I always enjoy hearing about your English students, Donna. You make me laugh! I'm sure he didn't know what "moot" meant. I just find it hard to comprehend taking a course for an entire semester and not showing up for an exam. I guess this happens often.
I tried to comment on your meme post but blogger would not let me (or my computer here at work would not...), so let's hear all about #89. What a great way to come up with posting ideas!
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