Wendy:
We help students with outlines all the time.
I do, however, as an instructor in my own courses, insist that outlines be
outlines, not full blown reports with bullets put in front. I make the threat
that if I see an essay with every sentence a bullet, I will take away the
outline and leave the student to work with nothing. I've never had to follow
through on that threat, though I've had a few come close to the line.
I see a more insidious issue here: students are being shortchanged on the
process of having to think over the long haul about an essay or a report. In-
class writing, no matter how well managed, cannot replace the sustained thought
and research that goes into a well developed paper. Students who do not get
this training in their undergraduate career will not develop it, and our
society will be impoverished by the lack of ability for deeper thought. That
seems to me a far greater risk than plagiarism.
Rob Irish
U of Toronto
Quoting Wendy Kraglund-Gauthi <[log in to unmask]>:
> Hello all!
>
>
>
> Our Dean of Arts has ruled that we are not permitted to assist with
>
> take-home exams (I have no problem with that). However, she has just
>
> ruled that we at the StFX Writing Centre are not permitted to assist
>
> students with outlines for in-class essays either. I need your
>
> perspective on this one. I admit my perspective is coloured a little red
>
> with fury at the moment. Many of our faculty are moving towards in-class
>
> essays to combat plagiarism. My concern is that students are being
>
> short-changed of potential writing centre assistance - not to mention
>
> what this means for OUR position/value on this campus.
>
>
>
> Can someone tell me the difference between a traditional essay outline
>
> and an in-class essay outline?
>
>
>
> What is your writing centre's policy on helping students with preparing
>
> outlines for in-class essays?
>
>
>
> For professors out there, what is your take on this?
>
>
>
> I appreciate your time!
>
>
>
> Wendy
>
>
>
>
>
> Wendy L. Kraglund-Gauthier
>
> Academic Skills Instructor
>
> Camden Hall 113
>
> (902) 867-4530
>
> [log in to unmask] www.stfx.ca/people/wkraglun
>
>
>
> The Writing Centre, StFX University
>
> Antigonish, NS B2G 2W5
>
>
>
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