Disappointment

Last week was midterms at St. John's. I dutifully gave a midterm to my writing students. This week, I will be dutifully reading them all--probably today. Then, I will spend extra time using a rubric I made (heavily inspired by Gail O'Connell) to try and explain to the students why they are getting the score they deserve. After that, I will enter their grades in the computer. All this and there is not even class this week. Which is very good because it is a lot of work without having to worry about the usual requirements.

Unfortunately, I think my extra work is going to waste.

Part of the students' grades is based on their effort. Their effort, as shown by their lack of blogging, seems to be fairly low. I suppose I could just go online right now, before I even read their papers and give failing marks for most and be justified in doing that. I did remind them by e-mail and in class last Tuesday that they were supposed to be blogging. It is not some random idea that I just pulled out of the air to have them do, but rather a time-honored technique of journal writing updated for the Internet age.

I'm disappointed. However, that does not mean I am not going read every paper completely and thoroughly, fill out the rubric and then enter the grades.