tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post6803358346308138564..comments2024-03-14T04:16:20.472-07:00Comments on In Socrates' Wake: So for next time, read this fascinating article by Dr. Me!Michael Cholbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02012523929044363216noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-41789166372858786712009-09-28T05:43:01.131-07:002009-09-28T05:43:01.131-07:00Assigning the article under a pseudonym so student...Assigning the article under a pseudonym so students feel more comfortable criticizing it really isn't fair to them. After all, you are not super-human. There is a chance you will find students who are harsh with the article less impressive than those who like it. So you are withholding information from them that could affect the way you perceive and grade them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-33198005877045007312009-09-27T07:23:13.687-07:002009-09-27T07:23:13.687-07:00Why not give the students the benefit of being abl...Why not give the students the benefit of being able to see themselves as trusted fellow-investigators by introducing the piece as your own but in a skeptical way? E.g.: "This is a piece I wrote a while ago but I have some second thoughts about it because [give sketch of best reasons for doubt here]. I want to know whether I should now renounce this view in print, or stick to it. What do you think?"<br /><br />This strikes me as less ethically questionable than assigning your paper under a pseudonym, at least for many of us, since we generally do continue to wonder about the truth of what we've written.Simon Ripponhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14585282804517697006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-37387995054428932052009-09-24T12:05:59.642-07:002009-09-24T12:05:59.642-07:00In one class I have students read a paper I wrote....In one class I have students read a paper I wrote. It's a short paper, a one day discussion on a timely topic that they have a lot to say about.<br /><br />I don't assign it under a pseudonym, though I can understand the reasons for wanting to do this. I've never had any problem generating a ton of opposition to my thinking in that paper during class, and students don't seem to be bothered or intimidated by reading my own work and feeling free to say what they think. <br /><br />Part of that might stem from the fact that by the time we read it, we're 3/4 into the course, and they know me very well by that point. I'd like to think that they are aware that I'm about as far from discouraging alternative viewpoints than my own as you can get. So they are very comfortable with me in that respect by the time we read the piece. <br /><br />Still, thinking about it for a minute, if I assigned that paper in week two, I might feel differently about them knowing it was mine. <br /><br />I should also add that I don't include essay/test questions oriented around my paper, nor do I ask them to write any papers on its specific issue. I only use it to spark discussion. I think I might feel odd about using it in a way that had grade implications.Chris Panzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01656795570624714115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-50211535422940361112009-09-24T07:58:06.045-07:002009-09-24T07:58:06.045-07:00I have one reading by me that I give them under a ...I have one reading by me that I give them under a pseudoname. I do this since it deals with a "controversial" issue and I try to do what I can to lessen any possible sense that I am "forcing" them to believe something or whatever. Although they often ask my views on issues, I tend to tell them that although I know they all want to be just like me, I want them to think for themselves, so I don't want to influence them in the wrong ways: if they know what I think or do, they'll just think and do that but perhaps without good reasons!<br /><br />I am surprised, however, that no student has ever realized that this paper was written by me, especially since it's done in the exact style and methodology I present throughout the entire semester. <br /><br />It's amusing that in their papers about this paper they sometimes write things like, "The world renowned and much respected Professor _(pseudoname)___ argues that____". <br /><br />Anyway, pseudonyms are fine I think. Alastair Norcross at least used to give his students his puppies paper under a pseudoname and said they never figured out it was him either.Nathan Nobishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12287299803300142069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070355695530434450.post-30059837117583647502009-09-24T07:47:32.301-07:002009-09-24T07:47:32.301-07:00I see nothing wrong with giving the assignment und...I see nothing wrong with giving the assignment under a pseudonym. I don't think students care much what you contribute to "the city", and I think they're less likely to treat the assignment objectively (sucking up to the prof) and more likely to make personal judgements about you (as though this article were the extent of your contribution to life) if you make the assignment non-pseudonymously.Kevin Schuttehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04562007179161022792noreply@blogger.com