Concealed Carry Essay: Rebuttal from Teacher

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Good paper, but you answered criticism with opinion rather than verifiable fact
-R. Valedez
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Reynaldo,

Thank you for your thoughtful and in-depth response to my term paper. When I have a few spare moments I will, of course, read it.

In the meantime, could you please briefly point out where I did not adequately quote facts to support my hypotheses? I didn't see any spelling or grammatical corrections in my paper, yet I received an 84 so I'm a bit confused on this point.

I look forward to your prompt reply.

-DH
 
For those that keep pointing out that the grade was fair for the paper according to the grammar and structure... HE KNOWS. The point is that professor d-bag graded by his opinion rather than grading the paper like he's supposed to. He's supposed to detail errors and possibly note ways that it could be improved other than "change your opinion to what mine is".
 
This teacher has told the class numerous times that he's not grading on grammar and he lets paragraph structure slide. He wants the content, since he believes that is the most important thing.
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They get to charge tuition for that?
I haven't read it, but I'm sure it's a good paper. - send me a check too.
 
Thanks Fedaykin.

I sent a copy of it as well as my works cited to one of the higher-ups in the college of English. I told them that I wanted input on it and I only slightly mentioned the rebuttal (nothing about it). I did not include my instructor's name or the content of the paper. I asked to do it for me since I'll be working in the student writing center next semester and needed the input.

We'll see how it goes.
 
This is like watching a movie where the antagonist beats his beautiful wife. I just want to get in there and (in this case, verbally) kick some ass. I would have written it differently, and it would have taken me HOURS, but damn it would be good.

You did a good job nonetheless. You are much more mature than your teacher, and perhaps that is a good thing. Between you two, I'd much rather have you carrying a gun.

This got my blood boiling a bit. I'm gonna go take a shower... :)
 
You check out the students for concealed carry website. There are useful FACTS on there. I didn't read the whole thing, but there were numerous passages that relied on opinion. Use facts and figures. It shouldn't take more than 30min to find all of the info you need to reinforce your point. That data is out there.
 
While I cannot comment on the professor himself- he has a different opinion than you, one that I would think as well as yourself was wrong- if you didn't back up your assertions with anything other than opinions (As far, far, far too many pro-gun college and highschool papers do) then you deserved to lose points.

Honestly, I can pretty much picture your paper... because one gets posted on here about every week. The paper receives all sorts of accolades from your peers on THR, but that doesn't make it a good paper. That just means we agree with the sentiment.

Unless you're calling the shots, there is a nice rule with paper writing- assume nothing. Never jump to a conclusion without concrete facts that are supported by reputable sources. You cannot simply conclude that "A+B=C" without more evidence than most pro gun writers use.

For all the people taking abrasion at the way that the professor wrote back, he sounds like the sort of guy you might disagree with, but an all around decent person. "Bad ass" and "Big ass" are not exactly rare words in this day and age, and without knowing the professor we have no way of knowing exactly how he may have meant them; or what image that the OP has presented to the professor of himself.

Worst comes to worst, invite the Prof shooting.

An 85 is no big deal, anyway. As a straight-A sort of person myself, I think you're just looking for an excuse as to why you didn't get the grade you wanted.
 
Funny, I have written similar pro-gun papers when I took a class on the holocaust. I got an A in that class even though it was made clear in grading one of my papers that they disagreed with some of my views. Yet, I have never received a two page rebuttal from a professor, ever.

Writing a paper requires: Having reputable sources, using logical, objective, non-emotional arguments. Another thing to do is address any other counter-arguments the other side may have.

Funny thing about your professor. Can't comment on your grade, but given the quotes, I think he lacks any sort of professionalism. And his "rebuttal" was emotion based based "what if" type of arguments, just like Paul Helmke.

At the end of the day, I'm not here to be a big ass hero. I'm not here to protect everyone else. I'm here to protect MY life. Me stopping a shooter from killing others is only a side benefit. If someone doesn't feel the need to defend themselves then so be it.

I just hope your professor has no insurance of any kind. I mean what kind of person needs insurance when they aren't worried about anything going wrong? :D


P.S. In Minnesota about one/two years ago a graduate student went out to Lakestreet to have dinner with his mother. After dinner while walking back to their car, they were mugged by two individuals. They gave up their belongings. Was that the end of it? Nope, the son got shot twice in the head. Since he made specific mention of being mugged, here's a real life example of what happens even when you do comply.

http://wcco.com/topstories/Michael.Zebuhr.Uptown.2.356591.html
 
Deer Hunter said:
I just wanted something more than “your opinion is wrong!” to explain the grade.
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Your citations were very weak. This is probably something of what he meant by “you answered criticism with opinion rather than verifiable fact.” However, he also said it that was a good paper and gave you a decent grade.

~G. Fink
 
As a 42 Y/O returning to the classroom after 25 years ,I am truly amazed at the academic level of my fellow students. They don't know basic grammar, they don't know geography ( I go to a small private college in Colorado Springs). In one class during a discussion of current events we had two students that DID NOT KNOW that A. Colorado even had a capitol city & B. were unaware that it was Denver. Those who live in the Springs should be familiar W/ "The Scar". It's an old strip mining claim west of the city that is slowly being reclaimed

I was sitting in class one morning when an evironmental science teacher informed us that A. The Scar was waaaay above the timberline B. An old coal mine. and that C. It was beyond hope that it anything would ever grow there again.

In front of the whole class I opened the blinds on a west facing window, pointed out that the whole scar was green , that there were trees along the top of it & that it was mostly red granite ( not coal) . The professor looked out the window said I didn't know what I was talking about & continued his lecture.
That's when I decide it wasn't worth my time to argue.

Back on topic it was a B (at best) paper anyway you grade it. FIDO
 
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This is exactly what you should expect from college professors. I don't know how they manage to get all those fancy degrees without ever studying history or civics. They are all idiot savants, they poses knowledge or skill to an extraordinary degree at one specific thing, but are quite helpless and hopeless at all else in the real world.
 
I stopped reading when you called him a nerd. I don't think you are going to win this one, with tactics like that.
 
I explained that part ealier. It's an in-class thing. He'll openly admit to it and we have our laugh. That part was a joke for him, because one day we spent the entire class period discussing why Batman was better than Superman.

And for the last time, the grade doesn't matter anymore. I hope I'll still have an A, but if not, well I still have a chance at med school either way.
 
They are all idiot savants, they poses knowledge or skill to an extraordinary degree at one specific thing, but are quite helpless and hopeless at all else in the real world.
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Well, some of us idiot savants "possess" quite a bit of knowledge/skills in a wide variety of areas...

An oui kin spel two.
 
How old is this professor? "Big-**s hero" isn't a professional way of speaking to a student. And I find it ironic that he proceeds to rebut your opinion with one of his own, and absolutely ZERO sources. I'd point that out to him for certain.

I didn't read your original paper - although IIRC I read some of it the first time you posted - but I see that you did cite a number of items. Certainly more than he did. Depending on the paper's requirements, 85 isn't too bad - a B, right? I'm not sure I'd push for an A or anything, but asking him to point out specific issues wouldn't be out of line.

You being the nerd you are I would have hoped you could have seen that.
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Edited - never mind, the comment was explained...

And yeah, college students and teachers can be remarkably uninformed and illogical. Not that I'm a bastion of knowledge, but sometimes it's amazing.
 
From what you've posted of his writing I can say that I'd never turn in work that poor as an undergrad. I'd have expected better from a professor.

Honestly, I can pretty much picture your paper... because one gets posted on here about every week. The paper receives all sorts of accolades from your peers on THR, but that doesn't make it a good paper. That just means we agree with the sentiment.
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We're ovbiously biased but as the guy's english instructor his first job is to teach his students to be better writers. The time he spent writing a paper preaching his own views to his student would have been much better spent marking the student's paper up to point out errors.
 
This teacher has told the class numerous times that he's not grading on grammar and he lets paragraph structure slide. He wants the content, since he believes that is the most important thing.
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:uhoh: Run away, run away!

I hate it when teachers just say they want "content" without proper grammar. In elementary school, that's peachy, as long as they're still learning. But in COLLEGE?
 
This "teacher" keeps on accusing you of wanting to be a hero. People that are given the title "hero" are typically not looking for that status when they accomplish, whatever it is that they accomplish, it just happens that way, and the people that are looking to be "heros" are mostly seen as hypocrites and self promoters.

Oy, when I read stuff like this I just have to keep telling myself "remain calm, you can't help someone that doesn't want to be helped". :banghead:
 
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But really, are you there to protect me instead? If you hear gunshots in a neighboring classroom are you going to run into help me, to be a big-ass hero? Or should I carry a handgun in case one of my students go berserk?
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As soon as I read the bold part above, I knew this English teacher needed a career change. :banghead:
 
Well, I guess I lucked out. When I was back in school for a career change I took a course in World Literature. Read all the old stuff-Beowulf, Odyssey, Song of Roland, stuff like that. Found out my professor shot 3 position rifle and silhouette pistol, and on my last day we got deeply involved in a discussion on proper sling tension in prone after finals. We discussed combat theory and practice openly in class during discussions of several novels. We were both about the same age (mid 40's). The kids pretty much kept their mouths shut. Got an A in the course and he told me it was a pleasure to have me in the class.

That's in a college in the PRK. People are different everywhere. Just have to take them as they come.
 
Here are a couple of basic errors in your paper that Bogie did not mention. First, and most obviously incorrect, you switch tenses--from past to present. Second, you refer to the Chemistry major as "student" far too often.

There was a young chemistry major who attended (PAST TENSE) a major university in Texas, a university that enjoyed yelling immensely. This student, a sophomore, lived (PAST TENSE) in an off-campus apartment complex a quarter-mile from campus. Every Thursday, after eating an early dinner, this student would walk to a 6:00 P.M. chemistry lab. While walking to the lab one night, the student stopped (PAST TENSE) for traffic, hurriedly pressing the WALK button on the traffic-light post. A group of people, also students, waited (PAST TENSE) on the other side of the street, eagerly eyeing the red hand and waiting for their chance to traverse the street. The Chemistry student, while gingerly watching the red hand, did (PAST TENSE) not hear the stranger creeping up from behind. The student does not hear (NOW PRESENT TENSE)the metallic locking sound of a knife opening. However, the student does hear (PRESENT TENSE) the command that leaves the stranger’s lips. “Empty out your pockets!” the stranger says (PRESENT TENSE); these words chill (PRESENT TENSE) the student horridly. The student turns (PRESENT TENSE, ETC.) to see the knife and the face of the stranger, shrouded by a university-emblazoned hoodie. The student’s heart-rate drops, then takes off like a rocket. Sweat beads in the student’s armpits and across the student’s brow. The student takes a step back, looking toward the street that has just cleared of traffic as a greenish-white stick figure appears on the opposite light post. The stranger takes a step closer, pushing the knife towards the student’s turned face. The student’s peripheral vision catches a glimpse of the knife’s blade. The student begins to run, faster than the student had ever ran in the past. From across the street, the greenish-white stick figure has been joined by the crowd of students, all urging the student on. “Run! You can make it!” they cry
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Keeping him nameless and calling him "the student" is fine, but you passed up many opportunities to use pronouns (he, his, him) where you not only could have, but should have. Here is an example:

The student's heart-rate drops, then takes off like a rocket. Sweat beads in his armpits and across his brow. He takes a step back....
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Also, you could have substituted "Chemistry major" or "sophomore" for "student". If it were my paper and I was bent on calling him "student", I would have referred to the "group of people" as classmates not "students".
 
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