Now that the 2012
fall semester is nearing its completion, the amount and significance of my
assignments has been increasing in each class. While this a very common thing,
I have noticed in several cases in which the amount of work that is being asked
is completely unreasonable because of the deadlines that have been set. I have
no problem writing a paper in the 10-page range, if the professor gives a heads
up to the students in advance. But on multiple occasions this year, I have been
notified about an assignment ahead of time, but not soon enough, putting
pressure on me to meet the deadline, which leads me to rush through parts of
the assignment, not stopping to even think about the significance of what I am
doing. The professor may think it is good to challenge students, but in cases
like this, the challenge actually takes away from learning as a whole.
Many times when I
have had my hands full with assignments, the assignments came from multiple classes,
which is understandable because a professor isn’t going to change the
assignments they hand out based on what you may have to do for other classes.
However, another problem I have had to deal with involves a questionable amount
of assignments for the same class being due around the same time. With smaller
assignments, I completely understand professors asking for multiple things in
one nights work. But if there is a major project due on a specific date,
assigning something smaller and less important gives the student less time to
focus on the major project, which could end up hurting it as a whole. I understand
that there are only so many classes per semester, but there are some cases
where there will be nothing due one day, and several things due the next. If
these issues are dealt with, students will end up learning more and thinking
critically about the work they are doing.
Pretty much every student is in a similar position at this point in the semester. It's frustrating, but at the same time we really can't expect professors to change their schedule; they make it this way for a reason. It's preparing us for the real world. At work, if we complain to our boss that we have too much work to do they'll tell us to suck it up or find another job.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. I have no problem with finishing my assignments. If a professor is going to have a research paper and a final for the class (which is a already a substanmcial amount of work to do in a few weeks) then I do not think it is fair for teachers to plague students with small assignments that do not add up to much in the big scheme of things. I think they should realize that we have a lot on our plate and should modify things accordingly. If that means having more small assignments in the beginning of the year than that is fine. The end of the semester is stressful enough and having to juggle things for different classes adds up. I believe students should try to be more understanding and not assign small assignments that take time away from studying or working on papers that are a significant portion of our grade for that class.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you guys,I had the same feeling and I am glad that I am not alone. I don't see anything bad by writing my paper all night by some professor wanted students to do the work with a high expectation while students did not seen yet or part of the subject. to me that situation put more pressure on students than professors and makes student's life miserable.
ReplyDeleteI agree it becomes a burden at this point of the semester where you're trying to push through one paper and after you finish you realize that you still have to revise couple more papers and study for a test. People say this is the most joyous time of the year. I disagree it is much more stressful.
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