(no subject)

[labellementeuse]

How does one write an essay and cite the person who will be marking the essay? I mean, obviously I know *how*: MLA-style, just like everyone else. I'm just feeling a little, you know, uncomfortable. "Clarke quotes the Operational Standard for Ethics Committees to support his claim that ethics committees "review the ethics of research and innovative practice."" Well, yes, I'm pretty sure he knows that though, seeing as how he wrote the paper. *stabs self in the eye*

My whole paper isn't about his paper - uh, thank god. However, it is going to be pretty significant for a pretty significant paragraph or three. Urgh. Why am I writing about the decisionmaking processes of ethics committees, again? Answer: Because I'm kind of enjoying all the reading, not least Simon's article. This is a shame, because I would really like to disagree with him, partly because I'm contrary and partly because agreeing seems kind of... sycophantic. Like, you know how when you write a paper and there's always one writer you think is an asshole - Philip Pettit is my asshole this time round, ask me why (although he's actually not that bad and his article is enjoyable) - and one writer you adore, and both emotions really come across in your essay? - I haven't got an adore yet, but hideously Simon is the closest I'm coming because his article is about the stuff I'm quite interested. And it's not a really well-written-in field so it's not like I can just go out and find someone else. Anyway, I think there's something awkward about enjoying in-essay the work of someone who will be giving you a grade for same essay.

Comments

[kitsunerei88]

I think you'd just pretend that he's NOT marking it - isn't the idea of the essay to have it be readable to the general audience?

I have to write a philosophy paper this month - my university has breadth requirements that I have not yet fulfilled. I have no idea what I'm doing! It's going to be FANTASTIC.

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

Philosophy papers are awesome! And it's just like writing an ordinary paper, you'll do smashingly. ;)

Yes, I'd like to pretend that, but it's a struggle! I feel silly.

[kitsunerei88]

Wouldn't it make your prof laugh though? I'm silly all the time, because it makes people laugh . . . One time, I walked straight into a glass pane, and it was a complete accident involving me missing the door by something like 3 feet. It was awesome.

My philosophy paper is on Mathematics in China and India. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do! I feel like I should have done more essay courses now, rather than lab courses with professors who don't like to read more the necessary.

[persephone-kore.livejournal.com]

"Clarke quotes the Operational Standard for Ethics Committees to support his claim that ethics committees "review the ethics of research and innovative practice.""

*headtilts* What was somebody saying they do instead? I'd have guessed quoting the Operational Standard on their intended function would be more of a basic setup sort of thing; if it's a claim subject to dispute, this must get complicated faster than I ever guessed.

OK, leaving aside the actual topic, I think to a degree you need to do what kitsunerei88 said and write the essay the way you would if your marker weren't one of your sources, at least in the sense of not feeling silly about telling him stuff he already knows, or writing as if your reader already knows it. It might be a good idea, though, to consider... well, being a little more dispassionate than usual, and more definitely to make sure you're extra thorough about your grounds for agreeing or disagreeing with things. That way there's not any question of it looking like you agreed just to agree with him.

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

It's not really, which is why that sentence doesn't appear at all. The set-up for my essay was indeed talking about the operational standard. What I was really trying to pinpoint (which you can't guess without the rest of the paragraph) is the extent to which committees have a moral obligation to the subjects of the trial, and conflictingly a moral duty to see that research is done (i.e. not err on the side of caution too thoroughly lest research as a whole suffers - this isn't an issue in individual cases, but in committees habitually being extremely stringent as discouraging of research and of encouraging researchers to be dismissive of ethics committees.)

It might be a good idea, though, to consider... well, being a little more dispassionate than usual, and more definitely to make sure you're extra thorough about your grounds for agreeing or disagreeing with things. That way there's not any question of it looking like you agreed just to agree with him.

yes, I think this is the way to go. It doesn't help that my style is very much about in-text citations as far as possible (talking about "Clarke writes this" and "Clarke's position is that") which makes it a little obvious, but yeah, rigorous disagreement or agreement.

[semiramis.livejournal.com]

Funnily enough, I've actually heard professors have conversations about the same thing, except in the opposite direction.

Oftentimes it's something along the lines of "...and then a student quotes me on a paper, and I'm like, '....oh, well shit. That was actually published?'"

...but yes, agreeing with the "what kitsunerei88 said.

[semiramis.livejournal.com]

...also, pretend that last sentence made some kind of grammatical sense. Augh. xD

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

*sigh* your icon is pretty.

He actually emailed me the paper and we talked about it in class (which wasn;t taught by him), so he's not going to be *shocked*, I don't think. :PPP

lolzing at your grammar. *mocks*

[bens_dad]

Ah, so you miss out on the bonus marks for using a paper he hasn't shown you, or the double extra for a paper he hasn't seen :-(

[duskshadows.livejournal.com]

bah. i love quoting lecturers... just because it's fun to poke at them. but when you don't disagree, it is hard! XD

ugh. i just emailed off a history thing, and now i'm contemplating working on writing up some of the anth essay that was due LAST FRIDAY that i haven't got in yet (and i feel so weird for not having it in on time, but i was sick so it's his own fault and he knows it.), or going to the mall and shopping for clothes. i reall do not do summer well... >.<'

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

just because it's fun to poke at them. but when you don't disagree, it is hard! XD

Exactly!!

Yes, this was exactly one week late. He sort of snorted when I gave it to him (I had class right after I finished it, so I figured...). I don't know what that means. :P

[megaffe.livejournal.com]

wow, your citations for this essay read like a sub-plot "the ways in which NZ is so small, and so every one knows every one".

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

*sticks out tongue at you* Well, it is and they do, but really it's just that they both sent their things to me. :P

[ruby-vibrations.livejournal.com]

dont worry man, they LOVE when u use their shit...huge ego rub :p i always get super marks when i critique my supervisers essays hehe and its a really good chance to engage with the more structuredly, exterior academicness of ur lecturers. just roll with it and enjoy!

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

hahahaha I hope you're right because it's a week late!!!!

[rewihendrix.livejournal.com]

flattery gets you everywhere. everyone likes a little ego-stroking

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

ughhhh. that's really gross to me for some reason, I don't know, I'd HATE to think that he thought I was flattering, you know?

[sixth-light.livejournal.com]

Just be grateful you're not taking any of Dennis Dutton's classes, because I have it on good authority that it is very hard to get him to teach from articles he *didn't* write.