My pile of marking consists not of essays but of the answers to "close reading" questions which ask candidates to analyse and evaluate the style of a passage. To answer one of the questions, they might reasonably discuss the metaphor "the wind is beginning to come out of the sails" - as a description of the dwindling success of one of Britain's cities. This is an easy option to choose and most candidates get some marks.But not the two unfortunates (from different schools) who slightly misread the text and spent some time trying to explain the concept of the wind having come out of the snails. They were quite ingenious in their interpretations but... no.
Back to work.
At least that's amusing. One of my students, in his analysis of a political cartoon, described one of the characters as not looking "too pissed off." Sigh.
ReplyDeleteHahaha. They'll be kicking themselves for misreading the question!
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing farts came into the discussion?
ReplyDeleteThe poor windless snails...
ReplyDeleteI just cannot imagine...
ReplyDeleteexam nerves are a killer...
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahHAHAHA!
ReplyDeleteJust keep seeing large inflatable snails in my minds eye - like those hot air balloons made to look like animals. Bet those students were in panic when they spoke to friends afterwards!
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame, shows the importance of reading a question more than once.
ReplyDeleteLoved that. At a conference once saw someone taking notes decide "bit of a damp squid" was what he'd heard. Still makes me giggle.
ReplyDeleteJan
Flatulent snails...surely they deserve some marks just for attempting to explain that one?
ReplyDeleteYes! I'm howling here!
ReplyDelete