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Tetronian comments on A philosophy professor elicits college students' reactions to Less Wrong - Less Wrong Discussion

12 Post author: lukeprog 21 September 2011 01:28AM

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Comment author: [deleted] 21 September 2011 03:12:40PM *  3 points [-]

And yet, somehow, we seem to manage basic grammar, spelling and word choice on this blog, even though there's more anonymity and less incentive.

I think the karma system has a lot to do with this, along with the fact that good grammar and style are community norms here.

ETA: The most important thing, though, is the instructions the students were given--if the professor advised them not to worry about grammar, then that's what the students will do.

This is a fact about the map, not a fact about the territory. You just need to calibrate your expectations downward.

Agreed, and I have drastically adjusted my expectations since I started reading my peers' work. Upon reflection, what I really meant by "I'm shocked by how poorly some of my peers write" is "I used to be surprised at how poorly they write, and even though I have come to expect it, it still bothers me." Sorry if this was ambiguous or misleading.

Comment author: pedanterrific 21 September 2011 03:25:36PM *  4 points [-]

Grades aren't equivalent to the karma system? Good grammar and style aren't community norms in a college philosophy class? Edit: Well, maybe it's just me, but I'd be embarrassed to make such basic grammar errors in any situation, whether I was 'advised not to worry' or not.

Upon reflection, what I really meant by "I'm shocked by how poorly some of my peers write" is "I used to be surprised at how poorly they write, and even though I have come to expect it, it still bothers me."

Now this I agree with. I had the unfortunate experience of an entry-level English class that practiced peer review / cooperative editing; it can be effectively summed up as this repeated fifteen or so times over the course of a semester.

Comment author: [deleted] 21 September 2011 03:39:22PM *  2 points [-]

Well, maybe it's just me, but I'd be embarrassed to make such basic grammar errors in any situation, whether I was 'advised not to worry' or not.

Same here, but I've observed that this just isn't the case for a lot of other students. I took a philosophy class last year, and I quickly learned that some people just don't care.

Now this I agree with. I had the unfortunate experience of an entry-level English class that practiced peer review / cooperative editing; it can be effectively summed up as this repeated fifteen or so times over the course of a semester.

I strongly agree, and I've had a few similar experiences (though not as bad the one as you described).

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