Essay Conferences
On a different note, since I am asking everyone to give up some time to discuss your essays with me, I would like to hear your feedback. Are these conferences helpful? Do you have a better idea of what is expected of you? Is there anything else that would help you prepare for future essays? Keep in mind that it is okay to be honest, rather than merely say what you think I want to hear! And please don't suggest that I make the tests easier - that could have the wrong result....(not really, but you are in Honors, after all).
posted by Mr. Hess at 2/14/2006 10:54:00 AM
24 Comments:
I thought that the conferences were somewhat helpful. Now I do know what is expected, but I think that the first topic was really difficult to fully understand what we were supposed to do or to come up with ideas for our paragraphs. Looking at the next essay question, I am already coming up with more ideas. I realize that I did make some silly little mistakes, but in the future I feel that I could do better on the essay portion.
I liked being able to come in for these essay conferences. I now know what resources I have available to me for the next test essay.
I think that although the conferences were helpful, there might be new questions on the Africa test essay and the next essay question after that. I know that it personally helped me to talk to Mr. Hess before the test to discuss where I was going with the points in my paragraphs, so I recommend that instead of making conferences after the essays, it is better to require people to come in before the essay to discuss a thesis statement at least. This does not have to be for every essay, but I think that it will help people know which direction to go in. It could be just a 1-2 minute talk to tell Mr. Hess the thesis statement and get feedback on it to make sure we don't make the same mistakes of not making good connections in our essays.
I think that our questons will almost all be different depending on the essay. It did help for me to realize what I did wrong, but it remains to be seen if what we learn from this conference can be applied in a more general context.
I believe that the conferences may lead you in the right direction but if you did poorly on this first essay, it would have been more beneficial to come in for help before the actual test to get help on the prompt at hand, not the one you may have already messed up. If you can get the help you need before, you will come to the test more confident and that will result in a better grade. It's all about the attitude people.
The Essay conference before the first test was pretty helpful for me and it gave me an idea of what I should expect for future test essays and what Mr. Hess expects of us. I'm glad that we were allowed to come in and discuss what we were going to write about on the essay. It saved me a lot of "freaking out" time during the class on the test day.
I believe it would be more beneficial for a conference before the test to see if your ideas are what the question is asking. Although the conference after the essay was helpful because I got to learn why I was counted off all the points that I was but it would of been good if it could of been prevented by making a mandatory chat with Mr. Hess before the test date
Conferences for me were very beneficial. They helped me see the grading style, and what some of the things that were looked for on the test. The conferences also let the writer know whether or not they are on the right track or not. And if they are on the right track, how they can improve; or if they are coming up with “wrong” ideas the writer can learn to change their way of thinking to better suit what is expected.
In my opinion, the essay conference was quite beneficial in regards to my knowledge about what Mr. Hess requires of us as pertaining to our essays. Nevertheless, I find it hard that we must succumb to the requirements involved with our history essays and those of our English classes. To me, the tedious imperfections implicated by both embody aspects of both frustration and denial. Frustration because we are being forced by the immense pressure of the grading system to conform our writing the required form and denial because I do not always see eye to eye on the requirements stated therein. Having said that, I know that it is up to me to get things done and I, having no other choice or pathway to follow, will do my very best to meet those requirements.
I'm going to keep with the trend and say conferences were helpful. It's nice to have the one on one discussion about my writing in particular instead of listening to general mistakes most of the class made and broad tips to consider next time and other stuff that may or may not apply to me. Having specific things about my essay, good and bad, pointed out really helped it all to register.
I really enjoyed the confrences and I think that it was a really good idea to hold them, especially after the first test. By talking to you about my personal essay I got a better idea of what you were looking for and exactly where I missed points. I think the things that you said will be able to help me for the next essay. The only thing is maybe the confrences should be optional just for those that do not what to come...just a thought! Thanks :)
My conference with Mr. Hess was only semi-productive. I think it would have been more helpful to get our essays back, with comments and the rubric, before conferences. Talking with Mr. Hess would have been much more beneficial if i had re-read my essay before we met, because now, after our conference, I have questions to ask after re-reading my essay.
Also, it is frusterating to me that these essays seem to have "right" answers. In preparing for this essay, I was trying to think outside the box, but after talking with Mr. Hess it seems that there are certain connections he was looking for and anything else fell short.
Amanda Gossack 5
I think that the conferences gave me a sufficient guideline for following essays that I will be asked to write for this class. This essay is more helpful than even a rubric... because I can compare my writing and what Mr. Hess is looking for and what I will write in the future. GREAT!
I think that conferences were overall pretty helpful. I now understand what I did wrong, and it is pretty clear now what I need to do next. The only problem is that my essay was not fresh on my memory when we talked about it. It is beneficial to have a teacher explain certain things so that their expectations are clear.
I frankly think that the conference was helpful and at the same time they weren't. I worked my butt off on that paper and I got a low grade on it. That first of all upset me that I spent so much time on it just to get a bad grade. Second, I thought my points were ok and that it was unfair how you counted down and gave me almost no points on some of my points. I think that is unfair, if someone takes some time to at least prepare some points for an essay you should at least give them some points on that section. The good things about the conference were that I now know that I obiviously need to go talk to Hess about my points before time. Also, it told me that I am need to put more history in my essay than I did.
I think that the conference helped. I understand what I did incorrectly, and will be better prepared for the next test. I agree that the tests were graded harshly, but this is an honors class, so we should not get points for just making an attempt like in regular classes.
I thought that the conferences were somewhat helpful. However, it would have been more helpful if you had comments written on the essay itself. Also, it would be more helpful if you handed the essay back before the conferences so that we could take more time to look over our mistakes and come up with questions.
I agree with Simon, I didn't know what I did wrong when I was talking to you so it was impossible for me to ask questions and get the feedback that would have really been helpful. The idea of conferencing is a really good one I think. Especially after the first test. It gave us a chance to ask questions and get things cleared up with out having to ask in front of the whole class. But again, it would have been better if I had time to look over my essay, see what I had done wrong, and prepared questions that would have helped me personally.
I agree with Shelby. I think that the conference was definately helpful to improve for next time in the test essay. I learned better ways to prepare for the essay and I will try to do a better job next time. It would have been nice to have my essay before I went and talked with you, so I could see some of the comments and chages that you had made and I could understand more what you were saying, and where it was coming from. But it did work just fine to listen to you and go home and analyze it, also. I think it was great that you were taking time to go over the essays with us. Hopefully i will be more succesful next time!
Okay, I just realized that we are all talking about the conferences after the test, not before the test. Way to pay attention, again.
Anyways, I agree with the last three people that it would have been nice to see some personal comments on the essay, even if we did well on it so we could continue doing what we'd been doing. Otherwise, it's kind of hard to know what we personally need to do to continue or improve our writing/connection-making (?) Plus, I know that many people have tons of questions on their essay, even after going in to talk about it--it bothers me sometimes when I have questions that i can't remember, but then right when I walk out of class or the conference I remember them and it's too late to ask. Then later on, the questions come back to haunt me becuase I didn't get them answered. So overall, it was a good one-on-one process, but I would also like it if we could get our essays back in class, before the individual conference--I don't think students will care what other students got. I try to make the situation more of a self-improvement kind of thing.
I think that the essay conferences were helpful and made it easier to understand the expectations. I also think that if we could here an essay from previous sudents it would make it easier to understand the expectations.
The conference was something I really needed, and it helped a lot. I tend to need a lot of structure with my assignments so I know what I need to address and how to go about doing that. After the conference I now feel that I understand the expectations, and what I really need to work on in my writing to develop it more.
I think the conference was helpful but also very rushed, partly because I was in a rush to leave. I did understand the expectations more clearly and got many tips on how to make my work even better next time. To make conferences run more smoothly, I suggest giving our essays back in class but still requiring a conference.
I liked my conference, it was short, honest and to the point. I knew exactly what I needed to do to do better on the next essay. It did feel a little rushed though, but that was due to my timing.
It is nice not to have an essay early in the year so we can recover.
Post a Comment
<< Home