Nope, monster pretty much covered it right before me. thanks for asking though.

I'm glad you are going to do your homework from now on. From the begging of the read through the posts on this thread, I've been thinking...GO TO A CONCERT. The TA even gave you some suggestions.

You blew off the assignment, because you thought the consequences would be different. You found out the consequences and threw a fit, rather then sucking it up, and going to one of the concerts. You are very lucky the Prof didn't back the TA.


Glad things worked out for you. Very lucky if you ask me.

Sure.

you don't take criticism well do you fresh? ;)

I know I'd have talked to my professor. Academics are important, I wouldn't want a "rules or die" TA ruining my GPA. It IS a dog eat dog world, so why not have some comfort of knowing you won't have a failed course on the resume? I'd ensure my passing grade without a whim.

I'm pretty sure no one here has suggested he shouldn't have asked the question. Just that maybe the TA did have point and maybe fresh should have managed his time better, and then it wouldn't have been an issue. As was rightly pointed out, there's not too many bosses out there who would allow you to get away with not doing something because you didn't have time. Most bosses would simply find someone to do the job who does have the time.

That being said, and having been a uni student before, there are some items of assessment which do seem totally pointless or unreasonable and it is different at uni than in the real world.

I'd say being held accountable for things that are pointless or unreasonable is one of the ways in which university life is MOST like the real world!

Maybe. I suppose it works both ways. I personally don't like uni. I don't think the course i was doing had a lot of relevant information at all. I did learn some interesting stuff though. It just didn't have a whole lot to do with teaching kids english.

Having worked at several universities, including yours, fresh, I have to say that I would have been a hard ass and failed you. Accountability is just one of those things that as a TA you have to do. You have to stick to your guns and not let any student slide for any reason. That's how the real world works... it sucks, but you're better for it in the end.

U of I has such a good School of Music - I know you would have had no trouble finding a concert to attend.

It's not fair!!! Waaaaaah!!!

They gave you your options now just go do it.

Fresh- In the real world that I hope they are preparing you for, repeating "but this isn't fair", isn't going to work. Enjoy it now. You are going to have real trouble after college if you can't do such an easy assignment without pitching a fit.

It doesn't say that in the syllabus. It doesn't say that in the syllabus...I think you need to get hit in the head with one. You aren't thinking straight.
:)

You were clearly trying to get out of a homework assignment and are clearly trying to manipulate everyone involved (pitching a baby fit)........Everyone but you can see this clearly as evidenced by your e-mails. I bet they mentioned the manditory assignment during a class you missed or some such nonsense. You don't want to start getting out of everything on the account of a small technicality...That is what death row inmates rely on.

Oh and pointing out that you were too busy doing other things to do their assignment is never a good arguement. (I still try that one but I include the fact that it is their things I am busy with)

I keep reminding my students that they chose one of the few disciplines where the ink on the degree isn't worth a damn. Their 4 years here are a sprint through a hardware store, and all that matters are the tools they grab on the way through. Once you hit the industry, nobody cares, even a little bit, what grade you got in a freshman "Concert Music" course.