The non-answer answer

In response to a question on a quiz about how to determine whether to use quotation or paraphrase, as both can be used for evidence, a student provided this: "You would choose to quote instead of paraphrasing or vice versa because of how you plan to use it in your writing to help make your point and have readers understand your argument." Grammatically correct but note the skillful evasion of the question. I don't know whether the generalization applies to all undergraduates (especially freshmen) at all U.S. institutions, but I can say that here, students tend to be absolute masters of 1. Stating the manifestly obvious, 2. Evading specifics with impressive sounding bilge, and 3. Circular reasoning. It can be kind of amusing to notice the contortions they go through in order to say absolutely nothing whatsoever.

I'm not going to say very much about anything either; it's already much later than the departure time I intended, and I have miles to go (literally and figuratively) before I get home, never mind sleep. Good news: I got everything marked with time to spare for today's 101. Not so good news: I am nowhere near as far with the work for tomorrow's 101, and I have essentially zero time after my (brief) stint in Advisement. Ah well. So it goes.

My minutes for P&B have garnered some praise for clarity and comprehensiveness without including stuff that really shouldn't be in there. (I just have to remember to photocopy them before tomorrow's meeting.)

I only have one observation to conduct this semester: yippie!

A student I thought I might have lost has returned from jury duty (long story; don't ask).

The student who joined the class late seems--alas--to be on track to continue the "they never make it to the end" trend. I had hopes, but ... no. He's been to two classes (and was late to one of the two). He's missed the rest of the semester. Not such a great track record. I wrote to him today to suggest (strongly) that he withdraw.

All the students showed up for their conferences today--and one gets a triple gold star for being prepared and asking great questions, really making use of his time. Tomorrow (as previously noted), two students didn't submit essays (can make the conference pretty short--assuming they even show up for it); one wrote an essay that was pretty disastrous. The others: great.

I know I'm forgetting stuff. (Pearls clattering around, plates smashing to the floor.)

But I'm off. (I'm also leaving. Ha ha ha.)