<p>Do you think it will work?</p>
<p>Isn't purposely writing bad papers somehow breaking the honor code?</p>
<p>No...
and how can they prove that you purposely wrote it badly?</p>
<p>It would "work" if a) you are a good writer, and b) you get a really annoying writing seminar instructor who doesn't know a good paper when he sees one and relies on "changes from the draft" for grades. Actually, a) might be optional. Again, this is not "recommended" per se; use your judgement.</p>
<p>No, I don't think it breaks the Honor Code, though again, judgement is needed.</p>
<p>This point is rather overworked; it's quite trivial, really.</p>
<p>Incidentally, I don't remember ever putting the Honor Code statement for papers. I didn't remember at first, and none of my professors thought it necessary.</p>
<p>I guess I'm just getting slightly offended that it seems that people feel that they absolutely can't improve their writing - ANY improvement is improvement and personally I think the teachers understand that. Then again, I'm a crappy writer in general so I'm not worried, and I probably /would/ worry if I were in a different situation, but seriously, I don't think we need to worry about how to trick the professors into giving us good grades. If we're doing that already, we're all going to completely melt down in a month!</p>
<p>I would like to warn you guys again that Writing Seminars are incredibly arbitrary. The only evidence I can offer you is anecdotal, but my roommate's girlfriend was in a writing seminar where one girl got an A+ on her first paper, which is totally unheard of -- it never happens. Talking with some people who had seen the paper -- I have yet to see it myself -- I heard that it was not very impressive at all. </p>
<p>I think that the Writing Program is seriously broken + if I were in charge of things, I would completely get rid of it. I'm not speaking from sour grapes, either -- I did well in my seminar, like writing, and took the HUM sequence, so I'm no stranger to writing for demanding standards. I can elaborate later.</p>
<p>Don't be offended. Even if it does nothing else, I think for most people the practice is good. Once you've done your research paper, your definition of "a long paper" goes up quite a bit, and 8 pages seem like a doddle. I remember someone saying that the writing seminar took apart your writing and put it back again - if there are no improvements, then at least you've had an oil change. The person I was talking about has actually had a book of poems and plays published, and a little fun at the expense of the reputation of the writing seminar is never out of place.</p>
<p>I think part of the problem is that they recruit writing seminar instructors like a blue whale feeds - open up wide and see what you get. I don't think there's a permanent faculty, just post-docs and maybe the occasional faculty member. They have something like 1 or 2 orientation sessions in the summer for new instructors, and they're off. I suppose the faculty members are fine, and I happen to have had a very good post-doc for writing seminar instructor, but you've got to wonder how much a writing sample and letters of recommendation can tell the writing program about someone's ability to teach.
Also, the offices are way way down Prospect, past all the clubs, so when we had conferences in the spring I always died on pollen on the way there, and again on the way back.</p>
<p>Did anyone actually try that hard on these essays? I wrote 1/2 page for each essay and they're not the best essays I've ever written.</p>
<p>I think you mean freshman seminars? Wrong thread. :)
But no, I didn't try at all on those...</p>
<p>Yeah, i know it was the wrong thread, but i couldn't find the freshman seminar thread and I didn't wanna post in the P/D/F thread.</p>
<p>Thanks. Anyone else?</p>
<p>I sort of tried for my #1 pick. #2 is only half-a-page, and I dunno if I feel like expanding on it. Bummish? But of course! :cool:</p>
<p>Well if everyone doesn't try then we all still have a good chance of getting our #1 :p</p>
<p>Though of course...there are going to be overachievers. </p>
<p>The thing is, I don't know anything about my #1, that's why I want to take the class...so I wrote about how much I didn't know about it haha</p>
<p>haha I didn't write anything at all :p</p>
<p>haha, that's not a bad idea zantedeschia. that will be distinctive at least.</p>
<p>oh bleh that sounded so college admissions-y. someone smack me!</p>
<p>oh and, fall writing seminar here too.</p>
<p>Ha but I'm not so sure if the profs will be impressed with my cluelessness. Sucharita, did you submit your app with no essays? How brave!</p>
<p>No I didn't submit it at all - I like the Fall seminars but I'm just too lazy to apply :(</p>
<p>I did consider submitting it without writing the essays but I'm a coward :p</p>
<p>It doesn't look like my habits are changing from high school - I'll probably end up beginning my essays at 5 pm on August 11 (they're bue by 6 pm for me, btw :().</p>
<p>started my essays today and i really dunno what to write...
got about 1/2 a page for #1 and less than that for #2.
August 11 6pm?!? thought it was August 12th.</p>
<p>yeah but it'll be august 12th from my time zone lol</p>
<p>For those who have been assigned to a fall writing seminar, which ones are you interested in taking?</p>
<p>Personally I'm hoping for Shakespeare on Love or The Artistry of Ballet - the former because I think I'd do well in it, the latter because I know nothing about it.</p>