Grading

What makes an academic tick? What can really spur productivity? Where do we muster the energy, the drive, the determination to finish articles, to plough through archives, to review manuscripts, to talk to journalists, to attend meetings, to do all the things that fill a productive scholar's day?

Some will tell you that it is our love of knowledge.

Others will point to our political bias.

For some, no doubt, it is the hope of tenure.

But only those on the inside can tell you the truth. The single greatest spur to productivity is this: grading.

Nothing can make finishing an article, reviewing a manuscript, letters of recommendation, or even - god help us - committee work more attractive than a large pile of student papers on your desk. How enticing that long-neglected article suddenly looks! How brilliant that flashing insight about a new research methodology appears!

What a powerful spur to creativity! Anything to avoid that pile! Even.. blogging.

But alas, at some point reality sets in. And thus the burst of productivity and creativity must end, unconsummated. With grading a harsh reality, with papers needing to be returned imminently, we torment ourselves with what we could have accomplished, if only we had the time. How sure we are that we could finish our book, if only - if only! - there were no grading to distract us. But the grading is real, it can't be avoided. Unless you can pawn it off on grad students, but that's another issue entirely.

Or, I suppose, you could write time consuming but ultimately pointless blog entries and neither be productive nor grade. But who would conceivably make that choice?

UPDATE: or, here's a thought: instead, you could get yourself laid low by a horrific stomach bug and spend the whole day either in bed or throwing up! Doesn't that sound like an attractive alternative to grading?

Comments

[Gary Sauer-Thompson]

I hated grading. It was a central reason why I left academia for a political life.I could not accept the tacit policy of grade inflation for trashy work.

[Another Damned Medievalist]

Saturday -- cleaned house and took dog for 4 mile run/walk

Sunday -- mowed lawn, trimmed all edges, hoed, planted fern, took dog to park

yesterday -- taught all day

today -- still have term papers to grade.

Oh well -- at least it's a really bright class... but perhaps I should stop blogmenting and get to them.