(no subject)

I just woke up in the middle of the night to write the most exhausting scene in this entire twenty-five-chapter-plus WiP AU epic.

It's one of those bits that must be done in the middle of the night. All four of the people I've discussed it with -- my betas and idea-bouncers -- have shouted at me not to do it, and I've frankly hated myself for doing it, but it must be done. My only consolation is that at least I'm not killing anyone off, especially for no reason. *cough*jkrisahack*cough*

Besides, Snape gets to save the day, and much as I hate his hair canon persona, I find that I really, really enjoy writing him. I think this is because 1. I have Inner Bitter and he is my katharsis, and 2. it's a challenge to make him act like a caring person while still being an actual bastard, and I like challenges.

(no subject)

Our essay prompt is quite simple. It asks that, after seeing a play, the students write a simple statement of theme and then the body of the essay on how design illustrates it. I just had to write this on a paper:

Maggie: I have several issues with your paper. At first I thought you had misread the prompt, but your lack of detail in discussing the design elements and your major errors when you do suggests to me that you did not see the play, and spent the majority of your paper on theme discussion in order to conceal this fact. I am giving you this grade conditionally; if you can meet with me and prove to my satisfaction that you did attend the play, I can re-grade your paper, though it will still be marked down for not addressing the prompt.

She recieved (parentheticals not included):
Format: 5/10 (not written on a paper bag in crayon)
Grammar: 8/10 (well-written other than spelling corpse "Corps")
Detail: 2/10 (knew the plot)
Prompt: 5/10 (she did address both parts, just disproportionally)
Style: 0/10 (Cos, you know. Lying to a TA. Not so cool.)

(no subject)

This is the best Gem ever:

All is nadness.

BAHAHAHA. < / five year old moment >

Also: The honours students are all working on Hamlet specifically, and we are "fortunate" to have a community theatre producing it nearby. So bear in mind this is an HONOURS STUDENT who wrote this:

Hamlet is always changing his mind and being indecisive which is why the play is as long as it is.

(no subject)

For the cost of the fast-food meal I passed up, I got:

1/2 gallon orange juice (nearly a meal in itself)
1 bottle San Pellegrino mineral water (less sodium than cola)
1 wedge on-sale brie (mmmmmmmmmbrie.)

Somebody pat me on the head and tell me what a good puppy I am.

Off to grade last twenty papers.

(no subject)

Four! Four of them!

In all of last semester, I only had one student I know for certain did not see a play that he wrote a paper on, and even then his paper was so convincing that I couldn't nail him for it (he was later nailed for plagiarism; remember Brian? Yeah. He's on academic probation now).

In this batch of papers alone I've found four people who clearly didn't see the play. I'm not angered so much as insulted; that they would assume I am either too stupid or too lazy to notice their lack of competence is astounding. None of them bothered to acquire tickets they could attach to their paper; only one of them appeared to have asked anyone else for details of the play.

It bothers me that they assume I won't do my job. It also bothers me that they are wasting my time, the time and money of everyone helping to pay their tuition, and their own opportunity to learn something about the craft I have devoted my life to.

These people need to be grounded and have their cookies taken away and not be allowed their Playstation II for a month.