Monday, May 22, 2006
Post the Fourth
Wherein your Host is Amused by a Student
The introductory sentence of a paper I recently graded:
“Since the Founding, the United States has been through many challenges: wars, depressions, and different presidents.”
The introductory sentence of a paper I recently graded:
“Since the Founding, the United States has been through many challenges: wars, depressions, and different presidents.”
Labels: students
Post the Third
Wherein your Host Discusses His Occupation
Ye might ask: if our Host is not very good with numbers, then why is he be going to Math Camp?
The background story goes that, after graduating from Cal, like all good political science majors, your Host wanted to be a lawyer. Unfortunately I was poor and I graduated in the fall semester (3.5 years in college) so I had to get a job. Attempting to kill two birds with one stone, I worked as a paralegal in a lawfirm.
And I hated it.
I hated it so much that I quit within six months. Working in a law firm taught me one thing: I didn't want to be a lawyer. Learning this one thing, however, deprived me of the only reason I went to college (to be a lawyer). So I banged around for a bit (5 years) doing different jobs and eventually I decided that the NEW one-thing-I-really-wanted-to-do was school. I applied to graduate programs in political science (ending up at WW-DOP) and decided that I really liked the SCIENCE part.
That means I need to study more math. That means I need to go to Math Camp. That means I'm nervous.
Now you get it.
Ye might ask: if our Host is not very good with numbers, then why is he be going to Math Camp?
The background story goes that, after graduating from Cal, like all good political science majors, your Host wanted to be a lawyer. Unfortunately I was poor and I graduated in the fall semester (3.5 years in college) so I had to get a job. Attempting to kill two birds with one stone, I worked as a paralegal in a lawfirm.
And I hated it.
I hated it so much that I quit within six months. Working in a law firm taught me one thing: I didn't want to be a lawyer. Learning this one thing, however, deprived me of the only reason I went to college (to be a lawyer). So I banged around for a bit (5 years) doing different jobs and eventually I decided that the NEW one-thing-I-really-wanted-to-do was school. I applied to graduate programs in political science (ending up at WW-DOP) and decided that I really liked the SCIENCE part.
That means I need to study more math. That means I need to go to Math Camp. That means I'm nervous.
Now you get it.
Post the Second
Wherein your Host Discusses Math Camp
My math background is weak and so I find the prospect of Math Camp quite frightening.
A quick story from high school will let you know just how poor my math skillz are: once during a trig test, the teacher allowed us students "one page of notes." Rather than study, the 16-year-old-version-of-your-Host, who has always been creative in a pinch and terminally lazy, secured a giant piece of graph paper about 3' x 5' and transcribed the entire text book chapter upon it. When the test was about to start, I produced said 3' x 5' "one page of notes" to much mirth and amusement. The teacher rolled her eyes and said: "it won't help you anyway." It didn't.
The moral of the story is that future tests specified 'one 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper' and I didn't learn or care to learn much math as a young fellow. If only the 30 year-old me would have appeared to the 16 year-old me and ordered myself to study. I wonder what the Math Camp Instructors will do if I use 3' x 5' note paper in class?
My math background is weak and so I find the prospect of Math Camp quite frightening.
A quick story from high school will let you know just how poor my math skillz are: once during a trig test, the teacher allowed us students "one page of notes." Rather than study, the 16-year-old-version-of-your-Host, who has always been creative in a pinch and terminally lazy, secured a giant piece of graph paper about 3' x 5' and transcribed the entire text book chapter upon it. When the test was about to start, I produced said 3' x 5' "one page of notes" to much mirth and amusement. The teacher rolled her eyes and said: "it won't help you anyway." It didn't.
The moral of the story is that future tests specified 'one 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper' and I didn't learn or care to learn much math as a young fellow. If only the 30 year-old me would have appeared to the 16 year-old me and ordered myself to study. I wonder what the Math Camp Instructors will do if I use 3' x 5' note paper in class?
Post the First
Wherein your Host Starts a Blog
At the suggestion of some friends, I will start a blog to keep track of my exploits in Michigan at Math Camp in July. It is also true that I have never been very good at keeping in touch with family and friends and so I hope that those who have an inerest in my (mis)adventures might see the posts here and know that I am alive and well. Welcome all.
At the suggestion of some friends, I will start a blog to keep track of my exploits in Michigan at Math Camp in July. It is also true that I have never been very good at keeping in touch with family and friends and so I hope that those who have an inerest in my (mis)adventures might see the posts here and know that I am alive and well. Welcome all.
Labels: ICPSR
