PSCI TA's are all experiencing teaching for likely the very first time in these classes. The PSCI MA program (which you have to be in to be a TA in the Political Science dept.) is only one year, so they only really TA 2 classes and don't get much experience.
The burden really falls on the professors to guide their TA's through the process of TAing if they want some quality instruction. I'm not surprised that one of the Profs for PSCI 100 dropped the ball (MacFarlane), but I am REALLY surprised that Esselment hasn't done a better job, if what you say is in fact true.
The moment you stop blaming your profs and TAs for poor performance is the moment you grow up and start working for your own merits - successes and failures alike.
+1 This is correct 99.99% of the time. The few times you do get a crazy TA, simply ask the prof for a re-mark. But be prepared that they could lower the mark.
8d, of course it can be true. Doesn't mean it's their fault when you get a crappy grade though.
There will always be people evaluating you in your life who probably shouldn't be allowed to. You can either play the victim, and spend your life talking about how your failures are everybody else's fault, or you can learn to work with the system, and carve out a niche for yourself that you can be happy with on your own terms.
I understand where you're coming from. In terms of marking, psci is very subjective. In psci 100, a group of us compared our exams and had basically the same answers yet our marks ranged from 70 - 90 percent. It was pretty ridiculous. But, some students dont own to the fact that it may not be the TA that is the problem but poor study habits instead.
yeah, thats why I really don't get why they have like more than 2 TA's for a class, the fact that there's like 5 of them its the luck of the draw whose "easy" and whose "hard"
polisci TAs here in general are all fucking lazy and stupid. which sucks because a lot of the profs are fantastic
ReplyDeleteNo they aren't, you probably are just doing bad
ReplyDeleteMy TA is marks hard but is very good looking so they are forgiven
ReplyDeletePSCI TA's are all experiencing teaching for likely the very first time in these classes. The PSCI MA program (which you have to be in to be a TA in the Political Science dept.) is only one year, so they only really TA 2 classes and don't get much experience.
ReplyDeleteThe burden really falls on the professors to guide their TA's through the process of TAing if they want some quality instruction. I'm not surprised that one of the Profs for PSCI 100 dropped the ball (MacFarlane), but I am REALLY surprised that Esselment hasn't done a better job, if what you say is in fact true.
I have had numerous PSCI TAs and some are wonderful, some are awful, regardless of the prof.
ReplyDeleteMy PSCI TA is good.
ReplyDeleteI didnt know u had all six of them
ReplyDeleteThe moment you stop blaming your profs and TAs for poor performance is the moment you grow up and start working for your own merits - successes and failures alike.
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteThis is correct 99.99% of the time. The few times you do get a crazy TA, simply ask the prof for a re-mark. But be prepared that they could lower the mark.
8a, I was under the impression that there was a policy stating a re-mark could never result in a lower grade?
Delete8- but were the generation of entitlement, NOTHING IS EVER MY FAULT!
DeleteThis is normally true for other universities. But from what I've seen at UW... it can be true that either a prof or a TA is a complete moron.
Delete8d, of course it can be true. Doesn't mean it's their fault when you get a crappy grade though.
DeleteThere will always be people evaluating you in your life who probably shouldn't be allowed to. You can either play the victim, and spend your life talking about how your failures are everybody else's fault, or you can learn to work with the system, and carve out a niche for yourself that you can be happy with on your own terms.
Yes, thanks 8.e for the PSA.
DeleteI LOVE THE PSCI TAs...well I really like my TA. I think they grade fairly - if anything, they probably grade far more kindly than the prof would.
ReplyDeleteDont let anyone get you down, TAs. You da bes'
-whos your ta?
DeleteMy TA is so hot so were fine
ReplyDeleteI understand where you're coming from. In terms of marking, psci is very subjective. In psci 100, a group of us compared our exams and had basically the same answers yet our marks ranged from 70 - 90 percent. It was pretty ridiculous. But, some students dont own to the fact that it may not be the TA that is the problem but poor study habits instead.
ReplyDeleteyeah, thats why I really don't get why they have like more than 2 TA's for a class, the fact that there's like 5 of them its the luck of the draw whose "easy" and whose "hard"
Delete