Wednesday, January 10, 2007

HIT THE BOOKS!

It's that wonderful time of year once again. :)

Honors Calculus is tough, but comforting. The teacher doesn't pull any punches--he expected us to be ready for a quiz this morning, over material he expected us to learn yesterday, which he had assigned for us to investigate on Monday.

And then, after the quiz, we covered it in class. Some find this rather traumatizing.

We have homework assignments from the book (NO MAPLETA!!). I'm on my own as far as getting them done. Prof. C. said something like this: "I'm assuming that after all the babying you got last semester, you are far more disciplined students this semester and you can handle this. Now, I realize this is a false assumption..."

Prof. C. teaches very thoroughly, asks lots of questions, and pulls no punches when someone gives an ignorant answer. After we turned in our quizzes, he leafed through them and made comments. In the midst of a spiel to one who forgot to write his name on the top of his paper: "Every morning before I leave to teach, my wife says 'Be nice to them!' But how can I be nice to you, when you forget to write your name on your quiz? Were you listening to a word I said?"

All said with a glint in his eye, a smile on his face, and a slightly ironical tone in his voice.

If you don't mind having your cage rattled, it's great! I find it to be a breath of fresh air. This may be the first time I actually understand math.

Greek class has moved to the dark, smelly, dank, and ancient depths of Gundersen Hall. We have a cinderblock room on the first floor, painted purple, gray, and forest green (in typical industrial fashion). However, it has rolling, rocking, revolving desk chairs and those posh conference-room desks. The room is bright and cheery, thanks to the window at the back of the classroom. We all have more than enough space, and are very comfy.

Violin lessons don't start until the second week of class. I was going to drop orchestra. The conductor just sent me a note, asking me if I couldn't take it a second semester. I'll have to break the painful news to him. (NO!)

Thanks to my One Honors Class, I am forced to meet with the Honors Advisor to discuss Any Questions that I Might Have, merely because I am a New Student. It should take no longer than five minutes, and it's on the fifth floor of the library, but it still bothers me. I really have nothing to say to my advisor! I hope she has something to say to me...

And that's all the news that's fit to print, folks!

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds like you have a wonderful semester ahead! The Calculus teacher sounds intimidating in Dr. E style--doesn't expect to take any nonsense from anyone but will help if you have genuine questions, I hope.

Have fun! :o)

January 11, 2007 5:28 AM  
Blogger Shadow said...

What is MAPLETA?

So you have Calculus (II?) and Greek? Hmm, I wish I could take Greek! As it is, I'm feeling a bit overloaded and I'm just taking classes I absolutely have to take this semester (save one which can be taken at any time). I did get a Greek book by Machen that I'm looking forward to examining in more detail soon.

Sounds fun!

January 11, 2007 4:02 PM  
Blogger Marigold said...

I hope you have good semester!

January 11, 2007 4:24 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Shadow: From what I saw on your blog, you look a bit overloaded. Was the economics class the one that could be taken at any time?

A Greek book by Machen--is it a text on how to translate Greek? I'm a bit confused by that phrase...

Mari: Thanks. :)

FB: It's much nicer than last semester, if I do say so myself.

January 12, 2007 6:02 AM  
Blogger Shadow said...

Yes, the Economics class was just dropped this morning and it was expendable.

The book by Machen is called "New Testament Greek for Beginners" which sounds like it would be right up my alley! It just goes over Koine and such, not too complicated for someone like myself.

January 12, 2007 7:09 AM  

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