The Page Limits

Hi,

It's come to my attention that you guys are still struggling with the assignments.

More clarification:

RE: THE PAPERS

 I am asking for research in the sense that this is college, and one cannot write papers and make assertions without supporting them with evidence.  Therefore, if you are reacting to animal totems per se, your emotions and thoughts will feed into the reaction, absolutely.  But if/when you make conjectures, eg, "tattoos are historically used for..." or whatever you claim  it's fine to claim it, but you must prove that you are right.  That is where the research, or supporting research, comes in.  In other words, if we do not have evidence, then we are making Spectral Arguments, which means that you can have someone tortured for being a witch just because you CLAIMED that person was a witch.  A claim isn't enough, you must support it.

As for the 50 pages.  So many students seem to "need" page limits to understand what they are accomplishing.  So, foolishly perhaps, I tried to give you some page guidance.

BUT, that is wrong-headed thinking.  You know if you have put effort into a paper or project, and so as a teacher, i'm looking for the actual learning that has taken place.  That considered, if you turn in three pages of widely-margined rough-draft, i'm not going to be convinced that too much thinking has gone on, and you will not EARN an A.  

In other words, just do the work.  Do the work with your whole heart and head invested.  You're putting your name on that work.  Allow your name to have integrity.  And, if you feel my grading is unfairly meted out, then challenge me.  I'm open to any discussion as long as it's based in evidence.