Essay advice? - Writers Forum

krazyklassykat · 01-03-2007, 12:50 PM

I wanted to ask about this here, so I don't get flamed for putting it somewhere else.
Is it okay, somewhere on this forum, to ask for help on a writing assignment that I will be graded on? I'm not asking for someone to write the essay for me; the kind of help I have in mind is proofreading, helping me understand the views of literary critics, or giving me advice on how to better state my own views.
I personally don't see a problem with this, but I've known people on forums to overreact when I ask for advice on a wide range of subjects... I am not attempting to use anyone. I just happen to trust the judgement and experience of most of the people on this forum, and I feel that your contribution could help me learn to improve my writing as much as - if not more than - my teacher's feedback.

So, let me know...
Thanks.

Jolly McJollyson · 01-03-2007, 02:26 PM

That's absolutely fine. Having an assignment proofread is diligent scholarship, not disagreeable plagiarism.

EDIT: http://www.writingforums.com/showthread.php?t=69378

There's an example of what an A- to A range essay should look like in college.

krazyklassykat · 01-03-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolly McJollyson

That's absolutely fine. Having an assignment proofread is diligent scholarship, not disagreeable plagiarism.

EDIT: http://www.writingforums.com/showthread.php?t=69378

There's an example of what an A- to A range essay should look like in college.

Oh dear. Well, I'm glad I'm still a junior in high school then. 0_0

Jolly McJollyson · 01-03-2007, 02:39 PM

Haha, sorry, I meant in an ADVANCED English class in College. Don't worry, your freshman comp papers won't have to look like that. That paper's for a 400-level course on Samuel Beckett. I think only a Joyce or a Proust class could possibly prove more difficult, so you're ok.

krazyklassykat · 01-03-2007, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolly McJollyson

Haha, sorry, I meant in an ADVANCED English class in College. Don't worry, your freshman comp papers won't have to look like that. That paper's for a 400-level course on Samuel Beckett. I think only a Joyce or a Proust class could possibly prove more difficult, so you're ok.

Oooh. Well, I do plan on taking some advanced English classes in college. But I still have a few years to get there...

Hodge · 01-03-2007, 02:45 PM

Pshh. Easy-peasy. I nabbed a damn good grade on an essay on pirates. Pirates. My title was "Arrrr!"

High school essays are really easy. I remember having the most trouble with the damn MLA style, but now I have it down pat. Changing from bibliographies to works cited pages was a bitch and a half, too, especially since I didn't do any of it in high school.

Posting an essay here is fine. Just as long as you don't demand anything from critiquers like a certain someone did recently.

Jolly McJollyson · 01-03-2007, 02:49 PM

Heh, Arrr. I titled all my papers for a 300 level British Romanticism class with funny titles because, come on, Romanticism? Transcendence-happy.

A couple examples:

Virtuousity and the Castrati in Shelley's The Cenci: Quit Breaking my Balls

Missionary Position: British Treatment of Catholicism During the Romantic Period

krazyklassykat · 01-03-2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hodge

Pshh. Easy-peasy. I nabbed a damn good grade on an essay on pirates. Pirates. My title was "Arrrr!"

High school essays are really easy. I remember having the most trouble with the damn MLA style, but now I have it down pat. Changing from bibliographies to works cited pages was a bitch and a half, too, especially since I didn't do any of it in high school.

Posting an essay here is fine. Just as long as you don't demand anything from critiquers like a certain someone did recently.

You know, I think I should be doing better in my English classes... I don't mean to sound conceited, but I honestly think my teachers grade me on a higher set of standards because they know I hold myself to a higher set of standards. Otherwise, I personally feel I should get 100% on every English writing assignment. It disturbs me to see how awful most high school students are at reading and writing. I think I read better than most of my junior classmates when I was in sixth grade.
The state of this world.... *sigh*

teenwriter · 01-03-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krazyklassykat

You know, I think I should be doing better in my English classes... I don't mean to sound conceited, but I honestly think my teachers grade me on a higher set of standards because they know I hold myself to a higher set of standards. Otherwise, I personally feel I should get 100% on every English writing assignment. It disturbs me to see how awful most high school students are at reading and writing. I think I read better than most of my junior classmates when I was in sixth grade.
The state of this world.... *sigh*

Since I personally set myself on a higher level too, I would be offended if my teachers didn't keep that in mind. If I want to become better, then I must have a challenge. If I did recieve a 100 on every paper this year, my writing skills would be no better the last day of the semester than the first. Besides, since I'm in advanced classes I don't mind recieving A- or B on a paper.

seawings · 01-04-2007, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krazyklassykat

It disturbs me to see how awful most high school students are at reading and writing. The state of this world.... *sigh*

I am new to the forum and new to writing. What impresses me is the number of young writers on this forum. I do believe that it is better to imagine and write about “anything” then to let TV fill your brain with “someone else’s” imagination. My congratulations to all young writers (six to sixty) who dare to imagine and write.