介绍:
TPO 12
Conversation 1
Narrator
Listen to a conversation between a student and a professor.
Student
So Professor Tibbits, your notes said that you wanted to see me about my Hemingway paper. I have to say that grade wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought I’d done a pretty good job.
Professor
Oh, you did. But do you really want to settle for pretty good when you can do
something very good?
Student
You think it can be very good?
Professor
Absolutely!
Student
Would that mean you’d…I could get a better grade?
Professor
Oh, sorry! It’s not for your grade. It's…I think you could learn a lot by revising it.
Student
You mean, rewrite the whole thing? I’m really swamped. There’s deadlines wherever I turn and… and I don’t really know how much time I could give it.
Professor
Well, it is a busy time, with spring break coming up next week. It’s your call.
But I think that with a little extra effort, you can really turn this into a fine essay.
Student
No… yeah…I mean, after I read your comments, I...I can see how it tries to do
too much.
Professor
Yeah. It’s just too ambitious for the scope of the assignment.
Student
So I should cut out the historical part?
Professor
Yes. I would just stick to the topic. Anything unrelated to the use of nature imagery has no place in the paper. All that tangential material just distracts from the main argument.
Student
Yeah, I never know how much to include. You know…where to draw the line?
Professor
Tell me about it! All writers struggle with that one. But it’s something you can learn. That will become more clear with practice. But I think if you just cut out the…um…
Student
The stuff about the history, but if I cut out those sections, won’t it be too short?
Professor
Well, better a short well-structured paper than a long paper that’s poorly structured and wanders off topic.
Student
So all I have to do is delete those sections?
Professor
Well, not so fast. After you cut out those sections, you’ll have to go back and revise the rest, to see how it all fits together. And of course, you’ll have to revise the introduction too, to accurately describe what you do in the body of the paper. But that shouldn’t be too difficult. Just remember to keep the discussion focused. Do you think you can get it to me by noon tomorrow?
Student
Wow…um…I have so much…er…but I’ll try.
Professor
OK, good! Do try! But if you can’t, well, shoot for after spring break, OK?
