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Subject:Re: teaching From:Romay Jean Sitze <rositze -at- NMSU -dot- EDU> Date:Fri, 18 Nov 1994 11:09:26 -0700
On Wed, 16 Nov 1994, Paula Steinhart wrote:
> i'd like to know what kinds of subject matter your students are dealing
> with on their papers. and do you pick the topics for them, or do they?
I always encourage students to pick their own subject. I find that when
students are encouraged to write about things they are interested in, they
are more likely to do the necessary research and invest the time needed to
produce a more interesting document. I do reserve the right to veto some
topics--especially those that tend to get overworked. Every year, for
instance, I get students who want to write about such things as legalizing
marijuana. I simply tell them that they are more likely to get a better
grade if they don't bore me with the same old things I've seen before.
This usually is sufficient without my having to give them a definite "no."
