Do you teach a late sophomore or early junior level introduction to literary genres in a language other than English? This is the course in which you learn to scan poetry. You learn to do close readings of four genres. You learn to formulate an analytical thesis statement. You learn all sorts of rhetorical terms. … More An Academic Thursday: The Introduction to Literature
1 A friend says her problem is not only the lack of resources, conditions, and funding for research, it is the lack of a research culture. She says she needs a research culture, and she clearly does not consider this need to be a personal failing. She believes it is normal. As we know, I … More Academic Mondays: Research Culture II
I do not enjoy painting or carpentry. I had dinner with a friend who discussed the lack of research culture here, the poor holdings at the library, the fact that so many faculty do not appear to come from a research culture themselves, and the lack of funding for research. She is attempting to adjust … More Academic Mondays: Research Culture I
Did students use to say, “I need you to pass me because I am graduating next semester and do not have space in my schedule to repeat this course?” [Emphasis added] Axé.
I would of course prefer never to think about beginning foreign languages at all, but I must. These are my questions today. How many semesters is your basic language sequence? Why? How many days a week does it meet? Why? What book do you use? Why? After the basic sequence is over, do you have … More Academic Mondays: Beginning to Intermediate FL
What not to do: – Think about it – Talk to vicarious drama kings and queens who would like to help you think about it – Take up nervous habits – Open thread! Alternatives, if you are nervous and must do something: – Think, in a positive way, about alternative careers – Think, in a … More Academic Mondays: Things To Do While Waiting For Your Tenure Decision: Open Thread
It is the weekend, and we are definitely singing. Ridwan has a picture of Edward Said on his blog with the quotation “I have been unable to live an uncommitted or suspended life.” I think that was what Reeducation wanted — something very bland and Protestant somehow. I also tried to do this, but I … More Edward Said
You cannot win an argument with, and you should not waste time trying to bring to reason or cure irrationality, I have often been told. It took me a long time to actually learn this although I finally did recently. In the intervening decades I listened politely to and tried to translate to reason the … More Prolegomena to a Memo (Tentatively Entitled “Dear University Student, Memo #101”)
“EVEN THOUGH the Superbowl is in the EVENING February 7 and in MIAMI, papers are still due IN PERSON, February 9 at 4! I can drive here from Miami in that time, and so can you!” Axé.
Why, a reader asks, are students and faculty alike expected to work so much? Ze says: What strikes me as really weird is how incredibly much work everyone is expected to do. Students, faculty, everyone. We’re all so busy that we collapse into puddles of stress at the end of the semester and every single … More Academic Mondays: On Overwork
coldhearted scientist وداد 