Smashed!! (4 Viewers)

[Lord Ac]

(No longer) Smashed!!

Gave my first draft to teacher today. First time she seen it/heard of it (new teacher).

She apsolutely murdered it!! Everything is bad/wrong/stuffed ... and I thought I had done a good job

Ac

 

[anti]

Don't throw it away...

If the teacher doesn't understand where you're coming from, they mightn't understand the concepts behind it. Not to mention it's a work in progress anyway, you might have made those changes later.

It's probably best to talk to her about it and explain what you're doing and why you did those things. Don't , teachers always win

Oh, and you wanna keep your teacher on your good side. They're the ones who mark you, after all.. and due to the subjective nature of EEX2 it's probably best to be friends with 'er

 

[Lord Ac]

I agree with you on all points there anti

She *does* know what she is doing. Thats why its not very enouraging when she didnt like any of it

Ac

 

[anti]

well then, does she know what YOU'RE doing?

were her comments helpful or were they just critical? if it's the latter then talk to her to figure out what she thinks.. but don't always try to please her, just do the changes you both agree on.

Sometimes the way people mark things isn't necessarily the way that other people will read it.. for short stories that's grammar and structure, ditto poetry.. what are you doing, anyway? If you really want to know how it'll go down with other people, give it to your friends and even other teachers to get a bit of a broader idea. Tell 'em to read it critically, not just say 'ooh this is really good'

That sort of feedback is really good for filling up space in your journal/diary thingy, too.....

 

[Lord Ac]

Thanks I have been giving to to friends, but they ask a few questions and then agree its "good". (I need to put stuff in my diary ... ive got nothing to put in it of late).

My techer and I are having an "official" discussion/meeting next week. Cause our discussion before was during our 2unit class and a bit into lunch ...

She really doesnt know what Im doing, cause she has only started as my teacher this year. So, I will have to explain it to her next week. Also, she is yet to look at/mark the Proposals ...

Ac

 

[timmii]

AC don't give up!

"slaughtering" is not a rejection of it and it doesn't mean she doesn't *like* it. I would be so proud of my draft, hand it to my teacher, and have it returned dripping in the blood of red corrective pen. Yes it is disheartening, but ultimately its there to help you improve your piece. You don't have to take all the suggestions on board - it is *yours* afterall - but by thinking about them, you may be able to consider alternatives that reflect better your intentions for the piece. Keep an open mind, and maintain faith in yourself and ur work! (what are you writing btw???)

 

[Lord Ac]

Thanks Im writing a short story with a bunch of changing PoVs and memory flash-backs mingled with present events. Its hard to manage ...

Today I had another 40 minute, one-on-one meeting with her. It went much better. Instead of pointing out its crap-ness, we deliberated over making it good.

I no longer feel smashed

*cheers*

Ac

 

[anti]

Good to hear, Lord Ac. G'luck with it again!

 

[MiuMiu]

You shouldn't get too attatched to your work, because its bound to get torn apart by several people. But having said that, its your work, your mark, not you're teachers. If you're taking this course you've obviously had decent marks in creative writing before, and if you haven't changed your style, than nothing much should have changed. Just keep in mind that 'good' won't cut it. You're up against 100's of the state's best writers, so it has to have something special.
If you don't agree with your teacher, don't be scared to ask others (friends, family and other teachers) to take a look at it and give you CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.
Also remember, when you're teacher tears it apart, its not personal (even though it might feel that way). She is there to help you get the best mark possible.
SMILE and enjoy yourself!!

 

[ladypenelope85]

hehe, did you get the point of view thing from the preliminary course?! i'm doing that too - and the memory flashbacks as well! oh well at least we're doing different formats - i'm doing a radio drama script...

it's really scary handing in that first draft - i think it also depends on ur teacher and how they fit into the audience your aiming for! i'm lucky, my teacher fits right into the audience/age bracket i want to write for, but another guy in our ext group is writing something a bit more alternative, and we get huge contrasts in the way she marks it.. u've just gotta show the draft to lots of different ppl i think. and take the english teachers comments just as they are - english teachers comments!!!!!!!

 

[snakeoils]

yes, teachers can be very biased... well most of them can be anyway... it can be really frustrating when its clearly obvious that their personal viewpoints on a subject interfere with the marking process... i think it really makes it hard to push any boundaries because even though im fully into creating controversy, i dont want my HSC to suffer because of it...

 

[MiuMiu]

yeah I hate prikky teachers who are biased when they mark (unless its good bias of course)

 

[Lord Ac]

Exactly true. My "target age group" are English teachers, cheifly, those marking 4-unit HSC major works ...

Ac

 

[snakeoils]

haha, i wish i'd thought to put that in my proposal(s)...

 

[bookboy18]

Don't worry Ac, we're both in the same boat. She's really REALLY disappointed in mine and I quote:

"Subtlety is not your forte is it (LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH)"

(Cold shudder)

No I can't do it anymore (breaks down and cries)

Oh, I'm over it.

 

[Lord Ac]

Shoulda put that pic in your sig. in your proposal Bookboy ... makes things interetsing.

And for those curious, we both failed our proposals

Ac

 

[bookboy18]

I put much better picks in my proposal.

And yes. We both failed. Its not that bad. I'm rather used to it now.

 

[braindrainedAsh]

It is soooo hard handing first drafts...... you just don't know what people are going to think, or if they are going to "get it"..... my teacher looked at some of my first drafts this week, and gave me lots of constructive criticism which was good..... I knew that what I had written was pretty dodgy anyway, so it wasn't crushing or anything, just helpful.

Also, everyone has different opinions.... don't be afraid to disagree.... listen to other's ideas/criticisms but it is your work, don't change it just to please someone else if you don't think it needs to be changed in the way they are suggesting.

 

[babydoll_]

Dear god... I havent even started my first draft

I'm more worried about my viva voce, which is this wednesday... my maths test and my chem assignment are on wednesday too O.O

 

[snakeoils]

wow, u have ur viva voce already?? ours isnt til the beginning of term 3! and no one in our class has written a first draft yet... we are a great class in theory, but when it comes to doing work we leave a lot to be desired! but last minute major works are sure to be half the fun of the HSC!!