RE: Multiple choice vs. essay

[H. Gelpi]

I’d like to respond to the comments below and suggest that as much as we’d like to, Beth is playing on the safer side by avoiding comments that could be construed as demeaning to the students and relying on the “miss manners” approach.   Not to disparage you Nancy, I absolutely have been there (frustrated!!!) with students and regrettably, have probably stated the obvious to them, as you say you do.  I haven’t suffered any repercussions from this but….   I don’t know about any of you out there, but our institution has specifically outlined verbal and written behavior that instructors cannot engage in when interacting with students (without risking some kind of punitive action – especially vulnerable are adjuncts!).   In fact, our handbook includes a clearly states that sarcasm of any kind is an example of such an offensive behavior.  So, we may internally roll our eyes, and want to say “Lets see, you ask why you got a D, F, etc., when you don’t turn in completed work, show up late/not at all, and sleep through class?  Duh!!! Ninny!!!”   Anyway, my conclusion here is that it’s risky to act on our frustration in a way that may clue the student to our exasperation via sarcasm or insulting speech and/or body language, as ultimately reflects poorly on us in the long run.  It seems like, at least at our college, this could result in a valid grievance on the part of the student.  Worse even, if the student can come up with witnesses to this!!!  So…. Just a thought… Anybody have similar employee guidelines or comments on this?   In a message dated 3/29/2001 7:44:44 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: <<I'd like to say, "Duh, could be because you failed the final, didn't hand in your paper and only came to class half the time."  But I'm a disciple of Miss Manners, so I don't.)>>   In a message dated  Thursday, March 29, 2001 10:55 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes <<Why not say it? If it is true, I do.  >>   Haydee Gelpi Project Officer DHHS/FOH Florida (954) 776-6500   -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 10:55 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Multiple choice vs. essay   In a message dated 3/29/2001 7:44:44 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Hello, And it's almost always a challenge from a student to whom I'd like to say, "Duh, could be because you failed the final, didn't hand in your paper and only came to class half the time."  But I'm a disciple of Miss Manners, so I don't.) Why not say it? If it is true, I do.  Fall Semester 2000 I had almost half of a class decide that the paper, shown as required on the syllabus, was optional.  So I gave a lot of low grades and failures. I had one student go to the ombudsman to complain about her grade. She decided to take the fourth exam (I only require three) instead of write the paper.  She misrepresented the issue and told them that I had given her that option. I had not and would never.  I said I would consider changing her grade if she wrote the required paper. I have received nothing from her. Anybody else feel that multiple choice questions have a bigger safety harbor? There is less room for complaining, but even an MC can be written poorly or unclearly.  At any rate, I am trying not to be intimidated and blackmailed out of teaching in the manner I think is best for all. I usually lose a few students at the beginning of each semester when they see the writing requirements of my classes. And I am coming to believe more and more that it is their loss, not mine. Nancy Melucci ELAC