Thursday, August 24, 2006

I'm a student - it's official!

My books are here! I have 4 textbooks for 2 classes sitting here on my desk. It was well worth the $10 to have them shipped to me instead of driving an hour each way to wait in a long line with 5 children. (since the bookstore is only open from 9am - 4pm right now). So here's what I've got for books.

English 105
Writing Prose - Techniques and Purposes
Thinking it Through: A practical Guide to Academic Essay Writing

POSC 110
Canadian Politics concise Third Edition (is there another 3rd edition that's not concise?)
Crosscurrents: Contemporary Political Issues 5th edition

I looked at the books - The political science should be interesting - though maybe more work for me as I've never studied Canadian history and it seems to assume a certain level of knowledge.

But I'm scared of the English class. I don't like writing essays esp ones using different literary devices. Then the books is full of those dreaded questions "What do you think is the authors purpose?", "analyze the "tone" and how does the "tone" make you feel?

It's about enough to trigger nightmares from high school English classes. For the record - I got straight A's in high school English and hated every minute of it!

3 comments:

Qwerty said...

You realize that this is a record year, right? This is the first time we've ever been in the same level of education. And I'm sorry that you have to take another English class. You have my sympathies. I know you can do it. And maybe hating it will make you attack all fiercely and do even better. Maybe?

Cheryl said...

I hadn't thought of it that way - but you are right! Of course you will pass me quickly since I'm going very part-time and you are going for your Masters.

LarryandJean said...

Analyze tone. Let's see...A bit flat on the high note, perhaps? Or "It sounds like he tried to eat a depressed donkey and couldn't decide whether to 'honk it up' or simply be blue..."

I think that we ALL agree with you that those type of questions seem idiotic and as Frost demonstrated often have little relevance to what the author was REALLY feeling and thinking!

Let us know if we can commiserate with you when those lessons hit - because you will have plenty of company in that line!

The Canadian politics could be downright facinating if it doesn't go too heavy on dates and picky details. That one could depend on the instructor's approach, perhaps.

OC