u/confusedinseminary

This is a general ed freshman seminar class.

They truly lack the basic skills of analysis. Sure, they know know what an intro, body paragraphs, and their conclusion does. But majority just seemed like they were throwing words together and hoping it makes a sentence.

And this was an open book exam. They were supposed to quote from the chapters assigned. Some wrote on random stuff I never assigned. Obviously some forgot their books and just came up with something vague. Even if they wrote on what was assigned (which we read in class and I had them answer brief questions on a notecard), some of their writing showed they barely understood what they quoted. Some choosing the most random quotes that have nothing to do with their argument.

I mean I don’t expect top quality prose from an in class exam but most could hardly even follow directions. And if they did, they could only barely regurgitate the most general observations.

I took a break grading because for one class, the highest grade I could give in good faith was an 80. Most were C, D, or Fs.

I could offer makeup exams for extra credit but I’m not sure how to do that without assigning it out of class. Or rescheduling to have a makeup exam day in class?

For those who have switched to in-class essays, how are you dealing with the horrific state of college freshman writing abilities?

Strangers as in… their classmates?? The people you see for an hour 3x a week? Whose personal writing you’ve read?

I understand wanting more independent writing but complaining you have to discuss in a discussion based class but criticizing ME for saying it’s more beneficial to just stay to yourself exclusively instead of interacting with your peers is wild.

It’s one thing to have social anxiety or be shy, I get it. I was chronically shy in college and I still am for the most part.

But my god, how do these kids think they’ll get through the real world if they see their peers as strangers to avoid?