arrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh: coursework

[lilolilmanchester]

Sorry, feel better for that. Just trying to tie my yr 10 DS to his desk to finish some overdue Romeo & Juliet coursework and it is harder work than the rapid return sleep technique.

Good on yer for trying! Wish my year 10s' parents were as supportive .

Tell him he really, really doesn't want it still hanging over him like a bad smell in Year 11.

(Poor old Shakespeare. Bet he's positively gyrating in his grave at the way we've turned him into a painful & pointless ordeal).

what a bloody night. And he's written 3 lines. He's got 2 days left to do it (tho his teacher has been chasing him since Easter, apparently). DH has washed his hands of it. Not sure how long I can go on without giving up, but he's too bright for us to let him just throw it all away through apathy.

here we go again.........

I feel your pain.
just tell him that it is better to get it done, than to end up spending yr 11 catching up.

Has he barely started it?

If so, has he got a clear plan to work to? If you can break it down into sections & prod him to do one section a night it'll be less daunting.

What's the question?

how Shakespeare shows dramatic effect in Act 3 Scene 1 (I'd even found a sample answer on the net, told DS to use it to ensure he had all the major points but no plagerism)
I've been prodding him to break it down and do a section each night for ages. He submitted an outline, teacher advised what he needed to do to improve it. But he's missed the deadline to get any more help, this is the final submission apparently. He knows precisely what to do, it's not like he can't do it, just resisting getting started. Last night he wrote 3 lines. HOWEVER, I've had a break-through. Earlier this evening, I told him I was going to call his head of key stage, who he really adores (so do I if I'm honest, but for different reasons ) to tell him that DS just couldn't be bothered to do his coursework. And that we had done all we could and now it was up to him. Think the guy who is an awesome teacher, really caring about his kids, is a bit of a role model to DS. In last half hour or so, DS has written loads and planned out what he needs to do tomorrow to finish it off. "As long as you don't phone Mr X now..." RESULT! And, having fought over this for so long, I did say to DS "You do understand why I am on your case about this don't you? It's not just because I'm a miserable old bag (even though I know I am)" "Yes", said DS ( expecting him to say "because I need a good English GCSE for uni") but followed up with "to buy you and Dad a nice retirement home". Works for me. Bloody deserve it after this marathon!
Thanks for listening. Fingers crossed that this last minute focus continues tomorrow otherwise I'll be back to rant!

Just been through this with same cousework-and one on The Crucible as well. DS produced something after much moaning and evasive tactics. Doubt if it is anything like good enough! His teacher threatened keeping them in school last Friday until they produced something and that goaded him into action eventually!
Why can't they just get the bloody stuff done-he drives me to distraction. (and he is number 4 of 5 boys so I have been through all this 3 times already!)

Your work here is done, bet you a fiver.

Once they actually get cracking, it's in the bag.

If he's WPing it, he can cut & paste his quotes from an online text - ensures accuracy & speeds things up.

Nice question btw - we do the same one for Act1 scene 5.

good point re the quotes ravenAK, thanks. Blimey, wish we'd had WP at school/uni, would have made it all a lot easier. They don't know they're born this lot. Not that we had coursework, wish we'd had that too, I'm the opposite of DS (I was good at homework, crap in exams, typical girl i suppose!)

I feel his pain; I have to mark the stuff. Painful experience all round

So... the kids hate it, the class teachers hate it, the parents hate it, and the examiners hate it. That Shakespeare's got a lot to answer for ... On the other hand, having seen Jason Merrells in A Comedy of Errors, perhaps I'll let him off!

Also without Shakepeare there'd be no David Tennant in Hamlet, and that really would be a tragedy....

LoL RustyBear!

Tiggiwinkle, feel for you. Not sure I could go through this again

Just had a phone call from the school-apparently there is history coursework due in tomorrow too! Great-another night of moaning ahead! (Why don't they give parents a bit more notice-I mean one night?? Yes, I know DS has probably known about it for months, but when you ask them if there is anything outstanding and they say "No" you have to believe them until you are told otherwise!)

I wish they WOULD keep them in school and just do it there and then. Saves keeping on at home and also no-one can cheat by getting parents to do it (not me, on several counts). Also get very confused when the 'real' deadline is. Got a couple of years to go before youngest DC starts on the dreaded coursework. Am hoping will be banned by then. Apologies to all teachers, this ISN'T a rant to you, am sure you would be glad to see the back of it as well.

Sorry, just read Lilomanchester's post. Wasn't getting at you re. parents cheating, can sympathise hugely, I mean parents actually doing the damn thing.

I'd never do it for him and we're pretty hot on not letting him copy other people's work. But I am sure there are loads of parents who do the coursework for them, which makes a mockery of the whole thing.

One of my friend's DS did all his girlfriend's science coursework for her. She got an A. This goes on quite a lot I think. My DS1 could hardly manage to do his own (due to laziness) let alone do anyone else's as well...

ravenAK, you owe me a fiver...

oh balls! . Not been on for a few days.

Bagsforlife, personally, I'd be advocating open book, modular exams.

We teach the topic. They take all their notes etc into an exam hall & write an essay. It is then externally marked & graded(so we don't get students/parents/the Head on our backs asking us to inflate grades.)

Not the result you wanted? Re-sit.

Bagsforlife, it is changing very soon. For current y8's...minimal coursework, and some done in controlled conditions.

Hope this makes you happy

Great news fizzbuzz for all those with lazy DSs (sweeping statement), ravenAK's idea sounds good too, for all concerned.

It is to stop cheating or parents helping. Practical subjects like Art, DT and Drama are still keeping it (I think), but even some of that will be have to done in classroom...........

I have a lazy ds, it is coming too late for him, but I have guided him towrds subjects with minimal coursework for his options

Yes I will be doing the same, guiding towards non coursework subjects, but it's a shame we have to do this isn't it? My DS2 really wants to do Art but DS1 managed to fail Art (well got a D),just didn't do the coursework properly I think, because he is actually quite good at drawing etc, and so now I am loathe to let DS2 even do the subject!! (is at selective school where entry to the 6th form is done on points system, DS1 lost out on 6th form place due to his Art).