The class is thoroughly under way
and I am reluctant
to admit new students.
You have already
missed the first three lectures
and two in-class writing assignments.
The course carries an extremely heavy reading load.
To begin the course at a disadvantage
would be, in my estimation, unwise.
If, however, you are committed to enrolling,
you may take a seat on Tuesday
(you’ll find a blue book on the desk;
bring a black ballpoint)
having read all of The Brothers Karamazov
and be prepared to write an essay,
which will be graded,
comparing this novel to three other works
including Zulieka Dobson
and Dune.
The other work may be
of your own choosing.
A wise choice always matters.
Please let me know if you decide to take the course.
Perhaps another semester?
3 Responses to The Class Is Thoroughly Under Way
jffoster - March 22, 2010 at 9:34 am
Cute. And a propos. Students tend to course-shop for a week or two and I have been amazed at how many students wanted to get into a Linguistics class up to two weeks after the QUARTER (ten weeks of class!) had begun. I made it very clear they were doing it at their own risk and had a passage in the Course Plan (I don’t do Syllaba / Syllabi.) that all students had to do ALL the work of the course, regardless of when they entered.
jmg06005 - March 23, 2010 at 11:16 am
I always mean to ask my professors how they feel when students who miss class ask “Did I miss anything important?” Probably something like this guy: http://www.library.utoronto.ca/canpoetry/wayman/poem5.htm
jmg06005 - March 23, 2010 at 11:17 am
DID I MISS ANYTHING?Tom WaymanFrom: The Astonishing Weight of the Dead. Vancouver: Polestar, 1994. Question frequently asked by students after missing a classNothing. When we realized you weren’t herewe sat with our hands folded on our desksin silence, for the full two hours Everything. I gave an exam worth 40 per cent of the grade for this term and assigned some reading due today on which I’m about to hand out a quiz worth 50 per centNothing. None of the content of this coursehas value or meaningTake as many days off as you like:any activities we undertake as a classI assure you will not matter either to you or meand are without purpose Everything. A few minutes after we began last time a shaft of light descended and an angel or other heavenly being appeared and revealed to us what each woman or man must do to attain divine wisdom in this life and the hereafter This is the last time the class will meet before we disperse to bring this good news to all people on earthNothing. When you are not presenthow could something significant occur? Everything. Contained in this classroom is a microcosm of human existence assembled for you to query and examine and ponder This is not the only place such an opportunity has been gathered but it was one place And you weren’t here