<p>Out of curiosity, I'd like to know if anyone else gets a bit nervous while writing papers for their classes? </p>
<p>Here's why I want to know: </p>
<p>I'm very strong in writing research papers and analyses, and I've been praised for my writing, ability to argue, and for my research that I've conducted by numerous professors that I've had. I love research and I absolutely enjoy analyzing and interpreting sources. I had one bad experience, however, two years ago in an art history course. I wrote an analysis of a mid-eighteenth century genre painting and the professor of that course absolutely hated it. Although I received a B on the paper, it wasn't the grade that I received that has negatively impacted me since then, it was the professor's comments that she made to me about my writing. She has been the only professor that I've had who has argued against my writing style and she basically told me that I had no idea nor understanding of what I was even trying to argue about in my paper. For being very much interested in art history at the time, I was so embarrassed. While I know in retrospect that the paper could have very possibly had its flaws, her criticism did upset me and has impacted me ever since. </p>
<p>Since then, I get extremely nervous when writing papers for any subject. I'm alright when I do the research, but writing it is another story. The odd thing is, is that I've received an A on every single paper that I've written since then in my other courses. I even recently presented one of those research papers at my first academic conference last month. While writing an analysis of Simone De Beauvoir's "Second Sex," last night, I found myself freaking out over the possibility of getting a bad grade on the paper and doing poorly in the course, even though I'm currently doing well in it. Hence, I spent nearly all night trying to do everything I could to avoid this type of situation again, and only slept for three hours before heading off to class. </p>
<p>I know it might sound silly to dwell on this one particular incident with an art history professor that I'll never see again, since even a friend at the time received a C- on the paper for the same course -- and like me, she's not one to slack off (she's currently going to UCLA!). I always worry that my professors will not like anything that I submit to them (especially if I've never had him/her before for a course). Fortunately, all of my professors have truly appreciated and enjoyed my work that I've submitted since this incident happened. I mentioned this incident to one of my professors last semester and she even gave me a hug and told me "You did fine!" </p>
<p>So, my question is: Who else has gone through a similar situation? How have you learned to move on from it? A bit of advice would be very much appreciated!</p>
<p>Coincidentally, my Art History professor too gave me a low essay grade–at least by my standards (93%). My English professor, who formerly taught at Oxford, in his “Rhetoric and Writing” upper-division course routinely praises my work.</p>
<p>In short, Art History professors suck. Don’t let the man get you down.</p>
<p>"I hate to break it to you, but there’s more to a paper than rhetoric. Like content, for example. "</p>
<p>Yeah, which is why he also lauded my writing in both his British Literature and Classical Literature courses (not sure if you’re aware what “upper-division” means), and offered similar compliments to essays/short stories/poems published independent of my assigned work.</p>
<p>Seriously, you know what they say about assumptions.</p>
<p>Writing papers is a massive waste of time anyway. Grading is arbitrary, completely subjective, and vulnerable to bias. I can’t take any qualitative class seriously.</p>
<p>I just had a professor give me some very specific feedback on my first paper, and I followed it exactly for my second paper and I not only got nailed on the grading (which was unusual because I’ve been taking this professor for a year and a half and usually do well), but the professor seemed personally offended by some sort of perceived lack of effort on my part. I was a little gun-shy for a couple papers after that but it didn’t really last beyond that. I know I don’t really have anything to worry about.</p>
<p>I don’t see the connection between British history & creative writing on one side and art history on the other. Are you implying that competency in one automatically translates to competency in the other?</p>
<p>Nervousness doesn’t affect me when writing papers, but waiting however long it takes to have them graded and returned (or any graded assignment in general) does cause me a bit of anxiety. I wish I could just find out how well I did as soon as I turn an assignment in!</p>
<p>But yeah - don’t worry about criticism from one person. There will always be people who will disagree with you. Understanding how to deal with this in an important part of life!</p>
<p>Many Professors don’t know much about the real world. As long as it’s just one or two, take their opinion lightly. Hopefully you understand what you are capable of.</p>
<p>“I don’t see the connection between British history & creative writing on one side and art history on the other. Are you implying that competency in one automatically translates to competency in the other?”</p>
<p>I’m implying that the ability to process and translate information into lucid prose has widespread applicability. Some students, although their numbers are few, can actually think independent of their area of specialization. That is the entire point of a comprehensive education: through fostering of the student’s ability to critically think–on a fundamental level–ability of discernment improves and intellectual prowess increases. Do you really want me to write an essay for you on the intrinsic relationship of Math and English, Science and History, or “British history & creative writing…and art history” (which you misquoted). </p>
<p>To quote a University of Chicago Rhodes Scholar, “…synthetic chemistry bears similarities to jazz improvisation…Like jazz solos, the best syntheses are those that take universal chemical principles and apply them in a clever, unforeseen way to a specific molecule.”</p>
<p>This is a man who actually utilizes the gift of reason and embraces true intellectual values over myopic scholarship.</p>
<p>I was about to talk about the experiences of one of my close friends, but that was when I thought this was a serious problem and wanted the OP to know they’re not the only one…But this is ridiculous.</p>
<p>augustus1, that sounds like a lot of rhetoric with very little content. I challenged your mastery of art history. You responded with a treatise on “intellectual prowess” and “ability of discernment.” Let me translate that into plain language: you think you deserve straight As because you are smart. I don’t think that’s how it works. </p>
<p>And yes, I would very much like to read that essay about the intrinsic relationship between mathematics and English. I would honestly be surprised if you had some awareness of the nature of mathematics (math, not arithmetic) and even more surprised if your interdisciplinary training in the humanities prepared you to produce a single page of meaningful mathematics.</p>
<p>LOL, when I saw this thread yesterday, I made the correct assumption that it would be hijacked and devolve into a bitter and pretentious argument about math vs. humanities.</p>
<p>"Nervousness doesn’t affect me when writing papers, but waiting however long it takes to have them graded and returned (or any graded assignment in general) does cause me a bit of anxiety. I wish I could just find out how well I did as soon as I turn an assignment in! "</p>
<p>I personally think this is one of the most annoying things about humanities majors and GPA whores who take easy classes for the grade instead of learning. Many of the humanities majors waste half the class time wanting to be spoon fed knowledge instead of the discovering for themselves. </p>
<p>Instead of asking about the material to get deeper insight many ask “is this going to be on the test”, “do we need to know this”, and “when are we getting our papers back”. There is no reason to worry about grades if one is sincerely trying and actually write a good research paper or study for a test instead of leaving it to the night before. I wouldn’t care if I didn’t get my papers or tests back until after the course was over. The only reason to worry is out of guilt for not performing to ones potential and writing BS filler instead of substance.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say I feel guilty at all. I absolutely love my humanities courses, and I’m even a history student myself. Trust
me, it also completely irritates me when other students don’t bother to truly take advantage of their education or appreciate the courses that they’re taking, beyond the obnoxious question of “when am I going to use this in my actual life?”</p>
<p>I do have an anxiety disorder, so I’m sure that doesn’t help me too much, especially being a total perfectionist.</p>
