First off, I’ve read something like 8 or 9 essays written by fellow students in the fantasy/scifi class. Quite a number were written by folks with (probably) English as a second language. It’s hard to score these for form. I went with some hints on how to write more clearly and suggesting proof-reading by a peer. I scored in the middle if I was able to get most of the idea.
Then there were some pretty strange ones. One brought in the new testament in a non-supported kind of way. The other mentioned a specific character in a Hemingway novel. No idea how either of those are acceptable.
At least two started with a premise that was just not supported in the story being discussed. I have no idea what to say to these other than – I went to the book and looked it up and that’s not what the story says at all. I don’t have to agree with your argument or position but if you start with something not true…
My own essay was pretty weak. I didn’t have much of an idea and chose the two stories that made me think of part of the Mabinogian. While I did reference this, it wasn’t part of my argument. I summarized the similarities and drew some pretty general conclusions. Fine. Pretty darn weak. Fine. Next time I’ll do better.
Hit submit to send in my essay and then listened to the professor’s videos about how the Grimm brothers’ collecting and re-writing was all about proving the noble germanic race. Seriously?
Not at all what I was expecting to hear and having read all this stuff and chewed on it in solitude, it was more like the guy waking up in the corner of the bar and making comments about a conversation that happened hours ago.
OK. On to the next. Meanwhile, I’m stuck pondering this age-old question: does this quilt need some smattering of beading?
