Advice wanted about uni problem.

MORPH3US

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You really shouldn't need "pointers" on using independent study facilities when you're working at this level, I'm afraid.

What the heck? Everyone has got to learn sometime.... or are we supposed to know everything like you seem to?

Its better to ask for help than just not bother and fail your course. If we were talking post graduate then I might agree with you that you should already know, but if we are talking under grad...

You still haven't told us all how you know everything there is to know about the University system. Are you sure you aren't an academic? Did you get sacked for not doing your job and now you have a vendetta against all students :rotfl:

I suppose next you'll say that people shouldn't ask lecturers to check drafts of assignments because lecturers are far too busy and important to bother checking work for lowly undergrads.... People should just do their assignments and hand them in and if they get a bad mark then tough :rolleyes:

bestpud

MORPH3US wrote: »

What the heck? Everyone has got to learn sometime.... or are we supposed to know everything like you seem to?

Its better to ask for help than just not bother and fail your course. If we were talking post graduate then I might agree with you that you should already know, but if we are talking under grad...

You still haven't told us all how you know everything there is to know about the University system. Are you sure you aren't an academic? Did you get sacked for not doing your job and now you have a vendetta against all students :rotfl:

I suppose next you'll say that people shouldn't ask lecturers to check drafts of assignments because lecturers are far too busy and important to bother checking work for lowly undergrads.... People should just do their assignments and hand them in and if they get a bad mark then tough :rolleyes:

Your persistence with this point is quite amusing!

Can you see the irony?

Oldernotwiser

MORPH3US wrote: »

I suppose next you'll say that people shouldn't ask lecturers to check drafts of assignments because lecturers are far too busy and important to bother checking work for lowly undergrads.... People should just do their assignments and hand them in and if they get a bad mark then tough :rolleyes:

Well you got one thing about me half right. I certainly don't think that lecturers should check drafts of assignments, not because they're too busy or important but because it seems to me that this is cheating. To be honest, I don't think that this should be done at A level or GCSE level either!

At whatever level, students should get the mark for the work they have done themselves, not for the help they've got from their tutors, their parents, their friends or the internet. Now, there's a novel thought for you - students actually being graded on their own unaided work!

The_One_Who

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Well you got one thing about me half right. I certainly don't think that lecturers should check drafts of assignments, not because they're too busy or important but because it seems to me that this is cheating. To be honest, I don't think that this should be done at A level or GCSE level either!

At whatever level, students should get the mark for the work they have done themselves, not for the help they've got from their tutors, their parents, their friends or the internet. Now, there's a novel thought for you - students actually being graded on their own unaided work!

Totally agree with you ONW! I'm all for asking lecturers or tutors for help if there is something you don't understand, like how to reference something properly or to clarify some points. But I'd try to figure it out for myself first, and if it's still not clear then go see them. I have never even considered getting someone other than a friend to look over my assignments. Personally, I think it defeats the purpose. I'll have my dissertation proof-read, but that's in a different league to a bog-standard essay or report.

mellymeep

I don't understand. So I'm supposed to just float through university entirely on my own, hand in pieces of work that are sub-standard because I've no clue what I'm supposed to be writing about and ultimately graduate with a terrible mark just because lecturers have a more 'important' job to do? That's absolutely ridiculous in my opinion. I think you seem to think I'm asking my tutors to write my essays for me? When it's anything but the sort.. all I want is a few pointers here and there because the information provided to me during timetabled sessions just isn't enough, and I have never bothered them with anything as massive as proof reading.

Oldernotwiser

mellymeep wrote: »

I don't understand. So I'm supposed to just float through university entirely on my own, hand in pieces of work that are sub-standard because I've no clue what I'm supposed to be writing about and ultimately graduate with a terrible mark just because lecturers have a more 'important' job to do? That's absolutely ridiculous in my opinion. I think you seem to think I'm asking my tutors to write my essays for me? When it's anything but the sort.. all I want is a few pointers here and there because the information provided to me during timetabled sessions just isn't enough, and I have never bothered them with anything as massive as proof reading.

It's certainly not your tutor's role to proof read your assignments; do you seriously think it is?

I don't understand what you mean by " I'm supposed to just float through university entirely on my own,"? Presumably you have lectures, classes and a library; if that isn't enough for you to complete your course successfully, then I would really question whether you're suited to studying at this level.

Of course, everyone gets a bit stuck occasionally and a helpful tutor should enable you to clarify your problem and progress, but as to running to them regularly for extra help and considering that you can only succeed if you get this, it really isn't what degree level study is about.

Edit: Perhaps if you actually attended when you're supposed to you might have fewer difficulties? "Depsite being stupid and not going to hardly any of the sessions of the module " 22.12

The_One_Who

mellymeep wrote: »

I don't understand. So I'm supposed to just float through university entirely on my own, hand in pieces of work that are sub-standard because I've no clue what I'm supposed to be writing about and ultimately graduate with a terrible mark just because lecturers have a more 'important' job to do? That's absolutely ridiculous in my opinion. I think you seem to think I'm asking my tutors to write my essays for me? When it's anything but the sort.. all I want is a few pointers here and there because the information provided to me during timetabled sessions just isn't enough, and I have never bothered them with anything as massive as proof reading.

You should get feedback on your assignments and that should tell you where you are going wrong or what you can improve on. If there isn't any feedback then ask after you have received the assignment back, not before you hand it in.

Oldernotwiser

The_One_Who wrote: »

You should get feedback on your assignments and that should tell you where you are going wrong or what you can improve on. If there isn't any feedback then ask after you have received the assignment back, not before you hand it in.

I think that this is a very sensible point; lots of people don't understand that they learn through doing the assignments and that their purpose isn't only for purposes of grading.

mellymeep

But then that means if I get a rubbish mark I have to re-do it and that's extra stress because I'll most likely have other assignments to do on top of it, and then I'll have to be bothering my lecturers even more. I can't believe how dismissive your being. If lecturers don't want to be helping their students then why take up the job in the first place for god sake? Sure they've got other duties but surely the main focus on becoming a lecturer is lecturing? something I'm not receiving very much.

And oldernotwiser, that module leader was the one I've had most problems with. I didn't turn up because I simply didn't see the point. All that would happen was we'd get given a handout, the lecturer would read through it and then we'd be dismissed. I understand university is all about independant study, but how am I supposed to study when I haven't actually got a clue what direction I'm going in? I was rather proud of myself for even passing that assignment, nevermind getting a low 2:1

The_One_Who

mellymeep wrote: »

But then that means if I get a rubbish mark I have to re-do it and that's extra stress because I'll most likely have other assignments to do on top of it, and then I'll have to be bothering my lecturers even more. I can't believe how dismissive your being. If lecturers don't want to be helping their students then why take up the job in the first place for god sake? Sure they've got other duties but surely the main focus on becoming a lecturer is lecturing? something I'm not receiving very much.

And oldernotwiser, that module leader was the one I've had most problems with. I didn't turn up because I simply didn't see the point. All that would happen was we'd get given a handout, the lecturer would read through it and then we'd be dismissed. I understand university is all about independant study, but how am I supposed to study when I haven't actually got a clue what direction I'm going in? I was rather proud of myself for even passing that assignment, nevermind getting a low 2:1

At my university you hand in an assessment, get it back and move on to the next one. There is no re-doing or re-handing in required. You take on board the feedback from one essay or report and try to implement it into the next one.

Lecturing is just part of the job, and for most it is not the part that they enjoy. They are employed by a university to research, since that is what the university is there for in the first place. Teaching is just something that they have to do. Most lecturers or tutors will have 'office hours' where they will be in their office or a room and have an hour or so free to talk to students about whatever. If they don't, then e-mail and ask if there is a possibility of meeting up with them at some point. You need to be flexible to them, not the other way around.

Some departments monitor attendance, some don't. You say you don't go to lectures, but then complain that the lecturer isn't any good? We get given some questions, we choose one and we answer it however we see fit. There is no 'direction' for us to go in. We can write what we want as long as it is relevant and backed up with current literature.