Fear Itself

A teacher asked you why you failed? A teacher shouldn't have to ask that, either the lessons or the student are flawed.

Teaching isn't only about conveying knowledge, knowing the test and the questions they'll ask you are just as important. In fact, I have a whole elective in my diploma that is dedicated specifically to teaching students how to pass the international language tests. Knowing the format and the answers examiners are looking for is half the battle.

You said there were essays, what or who were they about specifically?
M.

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"I wouldn't say abrasive. I'd rather say you're a cool soothing groove with a hint of jazz..."

-Alpheez

Ah, right, I didn't say. We've been researching about 6 artists and designers. We've wrote out essays in class about a piece of their work with a biography about them. In the exam we were tasked with writing 4 essays, 2 on pictures/designs we've never seen before and 2 were comparison essays of two artists and two designers. Unfortunately none of the art teachers taught us how to write these sort of essays. That, and we've never been shown what the paper actually looks like. In fact, 3 days before the exam I phoned my teacher at school and she told me we only had to learn a single artist and designer, hence the reason I failed since they were actually comparison essays. My school's gone mad to put it short.

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Current favourite song: The River, Bruce Springsteen

I don't want to throw the cat amongst the pigeons, but those tasks don't sound particularly onerous. It also sounds like you've done similar tasks before so it's well within your ken... Furthermore, even though I don't know the first thing about art, I'm sure I could bs convincingly for a few hundred words at least.

I think you'd be doing yourself a great service to learn how to bullshit, it's what academia is made of Smile

One thing is for sure, practice writing essays on pictures you've never seen and memorize a few key phrases as well as the different styles and divert into serpentine comparisons and conclusions.

If it's pointy, it's phallic. If it's concave, it's vaginal... and all the characters are repressed sexually. etc,. You know, the usual "expert" bullshit.
M.

P.S.
Why don't you practice by writing an essay on the following picture? I'll be happy to guide you.

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"I wouldn't say abrasive. I'd rather say you're a cool soothing groove with a hint of jazz..."

-Alpheez

Well I've been pretty busy (the reason why I haven't replied sooner) with homework galore but if I get the time I'll be sure to write an essay on it.
But anyway, it wasn't so much the fact that I couldn't write an essay, it was the fact I wasn't prepared for two artists and two designers since, like I said, a couple of days before the exam my teacher told me there was no comparison essay in the exam. Good news is my teacher apoligised to me when I told her I was pissed at her which was nice since she admitted she made a mistake. Win. Laughing

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Current favourite song: The River, Bruce Springsteen

Well just so long as you feel like you're winning, it's not doing much for your test scores but at least you're making a stink about it, you're looking like you're interested.

Anyway, what I was getting at before was the fact that a good bullshit artist doesn't have to know anything about art. I happen to know a little bit about the one I posted last but in the end it all comes down to practice and prompting yourself with the right questions -- presented in the right phrases.

I know you know nothing about the picture, but it is a classic and I'm certain it's not the last time you'll see it. Once you know the story behind it, it's profoundly metaphoric (and has ties to FP, believe it or not Smile

)

Give it a go when you've got time.
M.

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"I wouldn't say abrasive. I'd rather say you're a cool soothing groove with a hint of jazz..."

-Alpheez