On the course homepage open the "Bad Kharma" link.
COMMENT: the first 5 students to comments will earn extra credit (will be excused if you skip a blog comment in the future.)
You can be humorous, serious, severe, silly. Anything as long as you do your work well (I will delete below-standard fluff.)
Blog comments do not need to be long. Your AUDIENCE is your classmates. Short but incisive is better. Rely on short sentences.
Use a login ID that clearly shows your name. No nick names. This is how you will get to know the other people in the class.
Avoid being banal, predictable, unoriginal. No boilerplate fillers.
You want your ideas, your perspective, your Weltanschauung to come through.
You don't know what Weltanschauung means? Look it up. (Required)
And while you are at it (Wikipedia OK) check out the difference with IDEOLOGY. (Required)
REPLY: wait until at least 10 students posted their comments.
Choose ONE of those comments and REPLY to it.
DO NOT START WITH "I agree" or "I disagree".
Say something meaningful, like: "Your comment made me think that......" "It's interesting how you look at this issue...." "I will be a teacher, and I think....." "Unfortunately I was in one of those situations...."
SAVE YOUR COMMENTS: Create a file (FILENAME: yourlastname.blog format: docx, doc or rtf). Copy and save ALL YOUR COMMENTS (COMMENTS ONLY - NOT YOUR REPLIES).
You will turn it in at the end of the semester.
Wow, it seems as though this class either brings very bad luck or people are very creative in coming up with excuses. Some of the emails don't seem to be true because they failed to bring in proof. Hopefully there is no "bad kharma" this semester and students do their work.
ReplyDeleteI hope this class brings no bad luck for us! Some of the people were probably making excuses but I wish the best for anyone that was telling the truth.
DeleteThis reading Bad Karma was an interesting reading piece to open up the semester. Some students try to take advantage and think their professors are gullible but yet professors know all the tricks and lies students tell. Some students really do have bad luck and do provide proof of absence but others usually make excuses up and are unable to provide proof of absence. My mother always told me when I skip class to be honest with my teacher because if I was to say I was sick and I was lying karma would come around and I would be sick the next week. Students should also always tell a teacher ahead of time that they are going to be absent. Bad karma comes around to those who lie but try their hardest to convince themselves and everyone around them that their lie is really the truth.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% with everything you've said. My mother also said similar things to me about karma. I definitely believe in good and bad karma. Do good and good things happen to you. Do bad and karma will catch your behind. (Doesn't necessarily have to be right away, karma could happen later in life)
DeleteI take my karma pills every day. My doctor says I have very good karma as a result. Hopefully it is up to the challenge that these previous students has set. Furthermore I am thankful that my family members are all in good health. So a "death in family" seems unlikely. While the subject is something to not joke about there seems to have possibly, maybe, been a miscommunication in regards to, "lying" about it.
ReplyDeleteHopefully we all have good Karma moving forward. As kindness begets kindness working towards good karma is building strong and positive relationships. Even to those forged in the data streams of cyber space.
I'm sure we all have been in instances where we were unable to make it to class due to a real emergency. That's where that karma thing comes into play.
DeleteThe first bad kharma reminded me where I want to take this class during winter 2016 but I decided not to take it. Because I was traveling at the time and I know I can't do things on time. Anyhow, I am not going anywhere this summer, and hope do well in this class.
ReplyDeletewhere were you traveling? I have traveled and worked on online classes it is a lot of work. I hope the best for everyone and their excuses this semester !
DeleteThat one post about the student who couldn't handle the workload because she's going through a divorce seemed really silly to me. So she is 24 years old, and if you are enrolled in college then you better be ready to put your education first.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, reading through these, I guess the class is the common denominator for all these sudden "emergencies" and "deaths" and child abuse too, apparently.
Here's hoping for a smooth summer course, good health to all!
I mentioned in my post that people may just be asking for sympathy and leniency, not necessarily excusing themselves. In the post concerning the divorce, it says "She is making no excuses," which I would assume means that she feels she has to explain herself.
DeleteI hope for a smooth summer course too (though the fact that it's online might make things a little easier (because there's no class to (not) show up to)).
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ReplyDeleteThis is my first online course and I've been having trouble following the online format. I was clicking on all the links from the professor's original email and trying to organize and structure my work load. This blog post and comment aspect of the course was hilarious and couldn't have come at a better time (after a stressful and full-on Spring semester!). My summer classes last year were rigorous and intense and the syllabus of this class also felt very intimidating. It's refreshing to have a lighter element of the class mixed in. I honestly can't imagine anyone using those excuses but I'm sure as a Professor you hear every excuse imaginable over the years. The ironic piece of this post is that the student's seem too lazy to even write out or carry out a well written and delivered excuse or even bother to use spell check.
ReplyDeleteThis is not the typical online course that I am use to. Usually the work is all structured in one place and you rarely need to send an email. This will definitely take some getting use to!
DeleteAs I read bad karma, I actually started believing some of these people until I read your comment stating there was any proof. Evidence is the key to every situation. Innocent until proving guilty, if these things really happen to these people they would have no trouble bringing the right documents. Hopefully there is good karma for you this semester professor. Good Luck Everyone ! I wish everyone the best !
ReplyDeleteAs I read bad karma, I actually started believing some of these people until I read your comment stating there was any proof. Evidence is the key to every situation. Innocent until proving guilty, if these things really happen to these people they would have no trouble bringing the right documents. Hopefully there is good karma for you this semester professor. Good Luck Everyone ! I wish everyone the best !
ReplyDeleteEvidence really is necessary with these types of excuses. A person can't say they went to the emergency room without some type of proof. I'm sure the hospital would not have a problem giving a note or something that will prove they really did have that emergency. I also hope we get good karma this semester!
DeleteYour attention please: I will delete comments that are off topic or that show a perfunctory approach to your work.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Bad Kharma I did not know whether to laugh or be concerned. A family emergency is definitely not something to joke about or be used as an excuse for missing a class. Some of these students think that these emails they sent are believable (which is the reason for my concern). Not only are they crazy excuses, they have no proof attached to it. In the past I know whenever I have an excused absence, it is only excused if there is actual proof. I had a death in the family this semester and providing proof was not easy. However, I went to my professors' offices and spoke with each one about my situation. A vacation is definitely not an excused absence and this is stressed by almost all professors. Some of the excuses written by these students did sound believable, like the student with the leg surgery. Although, I believe she should've done more than just communicate by email to discuss her situation. I don't know what these students were thinking when writing these emails. If any of them are true I wish them the best.
ReplyDeleteSomething terrible happened to my brother during the spring semester and I literally had to excuse myself from class and drive to DC to be with my family, but I had a really close relationship with most of my professors, so I forwarded them the emails about his situation, and they were so supportive, but if the situations were true, I hope all worked out for those students, but people really need to prioritize better- like the student at the end with the family vacation... Plan ahead of time, and not around crucial things.
DeleteWhen I started reading the bad kharma emails I bursts into laughter as I sent the professor an email today (5/31) telling him my class was dropped the same day (5/31) and that I registered for this one today and couldn't find the material on Blackboard. I didn't want him to think I was one of "those" students haha
ReplyDeleteI took summer classes last year, and I was actually really impressed with some of the.... *excuses* my classmates would come up with. But it's funny, because it was time for tests and finals grades, they would go insane.
My mother always said that when you speak something into the universe, you get what you ask for, so I try my best to keep it honest if I miss a class because it's just not right to use family as a crutch if it's not true....
Nonetheless, I really like that this class is fully online, but there is A LOT to take in.
Yes! I totally agree with what you mean by "those" students. After reading it myself I was thinking something very similar, like how easy it is for a real situation that could happen to a student be something another student just fakes to get off the hook. They kind of ruin it for the people who unfortunately have bad things happen to them, regardless of what it is, whether it's family related, or something like you said, like enrolling into a class late in the semester.
DeleteI laughed quite a bit reading some of the excuses people put. Especially the May 10th post about the bug issues. Things do happen to students but some tell the truth and some lie. Students procrastinate a lot to where they are doing the work hours before it is due. When the work is not finished then the excuse usually comes in. It makes it hard for teachers to believe the students that are telling the truth because of the all the questionable stories they get year round. Provided proof to your absence is the best way.
ReplyDeleteYes, students definitely do procrastinate and to be honest I sometimes procrastinate myself. Your response had specific details about the bug issues and I did find that funny and a crazy excuse to skip class. I had almost the same thought as I was writing my response in the aspect of teachers eventually not believing students.
DeleteThe bug issue was definitely something I never heard used as an excuse before. Some students are very creative in their excuses to skip class. I generally hate missing class because I don't like missing the class work and plus we are paying for these classes so why not attend.
DeleteWhen I started reading the bad kharma emails I bursts into laughter as I sent the professor an email today (5/31) telling him my class was dropped the same day (5/31) and that I registered for this one today and couldn't find the material on Blackboard. I didn't want him to think I was one of "those" students haha
ReplyDeleteI took summer classes last year, and I was actually really impressed with some of the.... *excuses* my classmates would come up with. But it's funny, because it was time for tests and finals grades, they would go insane.
My mother always said that when you speak something into the universe, you get what you ask for, so I try my best to keep it honest if I miss a class because it's just not right to use family as a crutch if it's not true....
Nonetheless, I really like that this class is fully online, but there is A LOT to take in.
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ReplyDeleteAs I began to read the emails you get as excuses I was a little curious as to why this was one of our first assignments. But after reading other comments in this section I guess it is a good way to lighten up the class and for you as a professor to show us that every class we take is important and should be treated seriously. I will not be emailing you to see if alumni day at my pervious school is a valid excuse for missing class.
ReplyDeleteHopefully no emails explaining any late assignments will be coming from me! Looking forward to a great summer session.
This reading really opened my eyes to all the different excuses that people come up with. I know some things actually do happen but some just seen a little silly. Like the one about not going to class because of the play and rehearsals. If you're in a school play you should keep in mind that other school work will be due during the time of the play and it's that persons responsibility to keep up with work and also participate in the extra activities they like.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with this, but as a Vocal Performance major in the Conservatory of Music here, my performances are part of my major requirements. This past semester, I was a lead in one of the operas and we were required to attend the orchestra rehearsals which had to be at 4pm. Unfortunately, I had a class from 3.30-5.20, but for that week, it didn't matter. When you're a major, most of the time the music professors will contact your academic teachers, but only if a professor requires proof. So, it happens!
DeleteWow, talk about bad karma! I'm sure there are some of these situations that are truthful, but is really sad to see how they seem so dishonest and insincere when so many show up in one semester! I had a close friend pass away this year and I fully admit, I missed a few days of class just trying to cope with it. I feel terrible that it might've come across as a lie to my professors! I can't imagine making up a lie about someone being ill or even passing away to get out of a class or assignment. I've always been taught that words have power! Don't put something out into the atmosphere that you don't want there. Besides, I'm sure professors would prefer a candid "I pressed snooze" or "I drank too much last night" to a "My dog ate my homework" or "My grandma died. Again." Breath of fresh air I'm sure. :)
ReplyDeleteHere's to all the honesty and good karma in your courses from here on out!
Ciao!
It must be difficult to have to read all these excuses. There's a degree of humor seeing it all as a huge compilation, but I'm sure some of them were being honest, and it has to be hard to take them case by case.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I finished a really rough semester, with mold, bedbugs, and the ending of a 6 year relationship. I don't think that any of these events necessarily excuses me from anything, but I found myself using them as excuses. I believe it is totally up to the professor's discretion what they decide to do with excuses, but I can only hope that they would want to lift some of the burden; depending on whether they think all students are telling the truth or if they're all inherently lying.
Wow, I can't imagine having all those things conspire at once. Super awesome to hear you finished it though, and hope the issues left with it as well.
DeleteMan, is it bad that I am laughing? It was really funny. I know I skipped class a few times to do a paper for another class but wow. I wonder if any of these students really suffered with a death in the family, if so that's really bad. I also understand that people do suffer with anxiety attacks and other mental health issues and sometimes you dont feel like saying what it was because people will say you're faking. I think it is important to ask students if they are okay or if there is anything going on in their lives, not to say it excuses them from work but it will help students relax every now and then. As I look at these excuses I dont know if I feel bad for laughing or want to analyze what is going on. My morals, oh my morals it is at battle with my logic.
ReplyDeleteMan, is it bad that I am laughing? It was really funny. I know I skipped class a few times to do a paper for another class but wow. I wonder if any of these students really suffered with a death in the family, if so that's really bad. I also understand that people do suffer with anxiety attacks and other mental health issues and sometimes you dont feel like saying what it was because people will say you're faking. I think it is important to ask students if they are okay or if there is anything going on in their lives, not to say it excuses them from work but it will help students relax every now and then. As I look at these excuses I dont know if I feel bad for laughing or want to analyze what is going on. My morals, oh my morals it is at battle with my logic.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely a way to lighten up the first day of the course. It also seems like a way to warn students that the Professor has seen/heard of it all and they probably will not believe us unless we have sufficient evidence. As much this is a learning experience for us, I am shocked that Professor Carasi saved all those emails. On the contrary, I am a firm believe that some times unfortunate situations do happen to individuals at inconvenient times. For every one that seemed like a poor excuse, there may be one that was legitimate. Bad karma seems relevant but we truly do not know what is going on in someone else's home unless we are there.
ReplyDeleteThose karma pills will definitely take you a long way, not to mention they follow you. Do onto others as you want onto yourself. That is the key to life. When we think she isn't watching.. She is.
ReplyDeleteA lot of the excuses seemed beyond exaggerated (4-14), and as a professor I would get tired of hearing them. I must say in the real word unexpected events do happen, but, it is our responsibility as students and as adults to prioritize these occurrences and to kind of anticipate these delays.
ReplyDelete