She asked for *advise* on the assignment. Johnson and
company. seem to have read a lot into her comments, which I for
one don't see. It may simply be her style of communication to
phrase the question the way she did. The alternative was to *give
the appearance she was completely knowlegeable about the
subject matter* -- an ailment incidentally that affects the majority of
professors today as well as individuals vying for academics
positions. Mind you, the question (from what I can see) wasn't
intended specifically for the list.
The more pertinent question, however, is why all the fuss?
Graduate students ask for direction on assignments all the time.
Although I'm not a grad. student myself, I'm around enough during
the year (I use my dad's office, which is in a graduate department
at my university) to know that asking for direction on assignments
is a big part of their learning experience.
I've even had grad. students ask me (an undergraduate student!)
for advise on academic matters. For example, two of my dad's
students (one a recent PHD graduate, the other a PHD candidate)
once asked for direction on teaching undergraduate courses
(materials to use, lecture style). What does that suggest about
their expertise other than perhaps they lack enough hands on
experience lecturing to undegraduate students to know the
expectations that students demand and therefore sought the advise
of a undergraduate student. Seems logical, no? In a similar way,
Homan is redirecting his mate's question to a list for academics
and activists interested in disability studies and related issues.
Where's the incongruity?
My dad, a distinguished prof in his field of research and close to
retirement, has also on occasions asked me advise on academic
related matters. One time was when he needed a form filled out for
a conference he was to attend the following week. I helped him
translate part of the form because it was in French and he doesn't
understand French very well, whereas I took French for most of my
elementary schooling. I wonder if that would qualify my Dad as
incompetent? The another time I was asked by my father to proof
read a manuscript he was intending to send to the editor ? Does
that make him incompetent?
If Homan's mate is doing her masters degree in disability studies,
it's obviously not because she bribed her way into the program.
That usually works with the sons and daughters of wealthy parents
whose parents have made a significant financial contribution to a
university, and only when applying for undergraduate entrance.
What's also interesting in this whole discussion is that with all the
fuss made over the phrasing of the question, except for myself
thank you! ) no one actually bothered to address one of her specific
queries:
I was hoping you could give me some advice on which one I would
have the best chance of finding information on>>>
How bout it, folks?
DOQ
Date sent: Thu, 13 May 2004 07:49:29 -0400
Send reply to: Johnson Cheu <[log in to unmask]>
From: Johnson Cheu <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Fw: In need of advice
To: [log in to unmask]
> John and all:
>
> At the risk of beating a dead horse, as we say in these parts, I wanted to
> say that I had pretty much the same reaction as the others and I think that
> was mostly because of the student asking you for your advice on which one
> she "could find the most info on and learn about" because well, at the
> Masters level, shouldn't the student have some idea what he or she wants to
> do because presumably these exam questions are course-related and didn't
> just arise out of thin air and shouldn't the student have some research
> skills at this point? It sounds as though this person hasn't even done any
> preliminary research to see what's out there, at least the way the request
> was written, and even my undergrads are savvy enough to google a topic on
> the internet before coming to my office hours. That being said, if it were
> me, I certainly wouldn't do the work for this person, (her Masters, not
> yours) though I may be willing to coffee with the person and ask leading
> questions about her initial reactions to the topics, if she has any ideas
> as to how she might respond, given what she's learned in the course that
> piqued her interest. These might help clarify her thinking and her ideas
> and settle her nervousness somewhat, though I'd argue that part of being in
> grad school is learning how to deal with the stress that large exams like
> your generals create on your own, as she goes about her work and research.
>
> Johnson
>
> At 06:00 PM 5/13/2004 +1000, you wrote:
> >Dear Claire,
> >
> >Your response is not much more helpful than that of m99.
> >
> >I believe it praiseworthy when a student will make the effort to want
> >broader info and opinion than the course tutor can provide. Incidentally,
> >Debbie's course tutor is about 800km away, and just a voice on the phone.
> >
> >rgds John
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Claire Wickham" <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 1:12 AM
> >Subject: Re: Fw: In need of advice
> >
> >
> > > Well I thought it was an amusing reply, and raised the a valid point about
> > > the quality of the course. The initial advice can surely only be "Discuss
> > > with your course tutor who set the assignment" who should already have
> > > addressed the issues that the m99m rely noted. To the enquirer: there is
> > > nothing wrong about seeking advice but your queries are (mainly) those
> >where
> > > course tutors should be providing support and guidance. (And is this one
> > > module/unit of your Masters' qualification?)
> > >
> > > Claire
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: The Disability-Research Discussion List
> > > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of John Homan
> > > Sent: 12 May 2004 04:10
> > > To:
> > > Subject: Re: Fw: In need of advice
> > >
> > >
> > > Thank you for going to the trouble of putting an email together. I think
> > > that the same amount of effort, or less, may have produced a message that
> >is
> > > more supportive than smart-alecky.
> > >
> > > rgds John
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "m99m" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 7:17 PM
> > > Subject: Re: Fw: In need of advice
> > >
> > >
> > > > .
> > > > Eh... You can get a Masters in Disability Studies (well, the passmark
> > > must
> > > > surely be below 60%) just by drinking coffee and writing one good essay
> >on
> > > > one of these topics, or getting a pal to compile it for you? -- and
> > > > obviously without needing to attend any boring lectures, working on a
> > > > prescribed reading list about DS, taking a course on how to find
> > > > information in the modern world, or any tiresome kinda
> >textually-fixated-
> > > > european-male suffering like that?
> > > > What brand of coffee is it, anyway?
> > > > m99m
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >Subject: In need of advice
> > > > > I was hoping you could give me some advice on which one I would have
> >the
> > > > best chance of finding information on and what would be beneficial for
> >me
> > > > to learn more about. I have to write 3500 words and it is worth 60% of
> >my
> > > > marks....this scares me a little! I have to choose one of these topics.
> > > > >
> > > > >1) 'A disability implies a non-problematic pathological condition
> > > > intrinsic to the individual; it fails to recognise that the concept of
> > > > disabilitiy is socially constructed'. Discuss this statement.
> > > > >
> > > > >2) Psychology has had an important impact on how we understand
> > > > disabilitiy. Indeed the psychological test has been used extensively to
> > > > identify problems and legitimate action. Discuss this statement,
> >locating
> > > > your response in a particular historical era.
> > > > >
> > > > >3) Policy documents are texts that are interpreted by school
> > > > administrators, teachers and parents. With direct reference to a
> > > particular
> > > > policy, discuss how it has been implemented in a particular educational
> > > > setting. What tactics and strategies have been used? In what ways have
> > > they
> > > > been enabling or disabling?
> > > > >
> > > > >Any advice you could give me would be very appreciated. Let me know if
> > > > you prefer to meet for a coffee and go over anything.
> > > > ______________________
> >
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