<p>In the summer, I took an english class and I had to write an argument paper so I picked to write about the Health Care Act and how it is effecting people just like you and me. My paper was looked at by a tutor and my paper was well sourced and documented by doctors and others who studied political science and knew what they were talking about. Throughout my paper my professors writes "That's a lie" in the supportive paragraphs, well what does he know he's an engish professor with a major in english. Why do professors feel the need to do this. I got a D plus on the paper and failed his class. There should be no politics in the class room ever. Mind you, I attend a Catholic Franciscian college and there is a left wing nut just criticizing my paper when he's not even qualified to give his opinion. What should I do, can I go to the Dean and try and get him fired? Parents I want your thoughts on this subject</p>
<p>Don’t pick a political topic for papers in your English class. </p>
<p>Though I personally don’t understand what value doctors and political scientists could provide. Why didn’t you source economists? Though I guess I don’t know what they said, it might have made sense.</p>
<p>I tried to pick a different subject but they all had some type of political side to it so it was hard to pick an argument to write about.</p>
<p>If you failed the class with just one D+, I’d quit worrying about politics in the classroom and start studying English.
You want no politics, but you picked a political topic. I don’t get it.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Such an English professor probably knows a heck of a lot more than you about it, and probably has good judgement about the quality of your sources.</p>
<p>Back on the days when dinosaurs roamed the lamd and I was a student, I found the best professors and instructors for political science and history classes to not have a discernable political viewpoint.</p>
<p>Op, you mention on other threads that your cumulative GPA in college is 1.7gpa.
Perhaps the lack of preparation for college work has more to do with your lack of success in your English class than your perception of your profs politics.</p>
<p>“my paper was well sourced and documented by doctors and others who studied political science and knew what they were talking about.”</p>
<p>It sounds like you tried to mix it up. I would think if you wrote from a single doctor’s viewpoint and how the Act impacted her/him, you would have gotten a better grade. </p>
<p>"…well what does he know he’s an engish professor with a major in english."</p>
<p>This does not bode well for your education. When you start looking for faults in others why you got a poor grade,then you’re not going to learn from your own actions/mistakes</p>
<p>Students sometimes use opinions as facts in supporting arguments. If someone uses facts that can be substantiated, it’s unlikely that a prof would state that the fact is untrue. My guess is that your paper was “supported” by opinions of people who were not happy with what they see as potential problems once the act is implemented. Most of it has not been implemented, so there is a lot of speculation as to what will occur.
Check your facts. If you have credible sources and not just people’s opinions where he has taken issue, present them to him. That way you might get some valuable feedback.</p>
<p>If this assignment garnered a D+, you had other failing coursework as well. What feedback did you receive during the semester? It seems your grade was not going to be a surprise. After the grade, did you meet with the professor to discuss what happened? </p>
<p>Again, this seems emblematic with collegiate career. Have you met with academic counselors to address the issues that seem to be re-appearing class after class?</p>
<p>There are professors and teachers out there who simply want students to regurgitate back their own point of view. If this is truly your case, the best advice is to talk with other students and avoid their classes.</p>
<p>There are quite a few doctors who simply don’t understand the ACA. Citing a doctor’s opinion is likely not a good source UNLESS that was the topic of your paper (ie, how doctors perceive the ACA, etc). </p>
<p>IMO, your English teacher is a much better position to judge your resources than you are if you’re failing English. </p>
<p>Politics should be left out of grading, but quality of sources should not. If something was indeed a flatout lie (and many, MANY are floating around about the ACA) then it’s quite appropriate to call it out IMO.</p>
<p>As Agent said, there are profs that want you to repeat what they say. </p>
<p>Some students lack the understanding of what makes a good paper. Is there a writing center you can go to on campus to help you improve your style? One bad grade on a paper does not generally denote failure in a course. There is more at work, here.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yes, any political topic can be filled with untrue sources (that can be easily verified to be untrue), since there is a strong motivation for the sources to stretch or lie, or ignore the implausibility of claims when they fit their ideology. Tread carefully.</p>
<p>If your English teacher didn’t discuss the Healthcare Act in class, it’s hard to argue he or she just wanted his or her own opinions parroted back. </p>
<p>Look, it’s very common for writing students to use improper sources (newspapers instead of peer reviewed, for example) and then claim the teacher has bias. </p>
<p>No, you cannot get a professor fired for giving you a bad grade.</p>
<p>Part of education is learning how to play the game. If your prof is a leftie, then your papers should keep that in mind.</p>
<p>The trouble may have been that your topic, while political, is largely conjecture at this point. </p>
<p>If it said ACA is affecting part time labor, in that employers are still unsure anout implementation, so the labor force is dealing with an uncertain future in hours or insurance, that is one thing. </p>
<p>But until it happens and is fully rolled out, we do not really know what will happen. Will young, healthy people participate? Will the exchanges work as advertised? Will insurance companies raise their rates even more? Will fewer insurance companies be open to the exchange than anticipated? </p>
<p>The problem with this topic, as articulated by the OP, is that is is largely based on anecdotes and opinion, instead of fact. Easier to write a paper on ACA as “fact” a few years down the road, when verifiable and points that can be argued are more apparent.</p>
<p>“Part of education is learning how to play the game. If your prof is a leftie, then your papers should keep that in mind.”</p>
<p>I am a professor. I am a leftie. I teach English. I can read papers and determine whether or not they are adequately researched EVEN if I do not agree with the position. It is pretty insulting that people think that an opposing opinion would get a bad grade. I would much rather read a strong argument against what I think than something that is poorly argued that I agree with.</p>
<p>If your college GPA is 1.7, this English class isn’t the ONLY class in which you did poorly. In addition, a D on this paper does not equal an F overall (simple arithmetic). Long before this final paper, you were already failing this English course.</p>
<p>Start looking for ways to improve your skills.</p>
<p>Hmmmmm… I missed the point when the OP said he/she wanted to get the instructor fired. A 1.7 college GPA — and a serious case of denial.</p>
<p>Very bad combination. rvent, please see your school’s academic counselor.</p>