This is what one of my professor’s did today–not with any ill intent, but with potentially catastrophic results!這是我的一位教授的沒有今日未與任何不良意圖,但與潛在的災難性的結果!

Step 1: Assign a 20 page long research paper, worth 70% of the course grade. 第1步:指派一個20頁長的研究論文,價值70 %的課程等級。 Have it be due May 5th.它是由於5月5日。

Step 2: On April 22nd, send out this e-mail (names changed): 第2步:對4月22日,發送這個電子郵件(名稱變更) :

Dear [course] students,親愛的[課程]學生,

In response to queries:在回應查詢:

The paper is due this Thursday.該文件是由於這個星期四。 You may bring it to class, or if need be, bring it by 5 pm to room # of [building].你可能會帶來它上課,或如果有需要,使其由下午五時至室# [建設] 。 Give it to [name] at the main desk, or, if she is not there, anyone else in the office.給它以[姓名]在主服務台,或者,如果她不存在,任何人在辦公室裡。

The papers will be graded and returned to [name] by May 11, and will be there in the fall if you don’t get them this spring.該論文將分級和返回[姓名] ,由5月11日,將有將在今年秋季如果您沒有收到他們的這個春天。

Also — don’t forget!也-不要忘記! — in addition I want an electronic copy. -此外,我希望有一個電子版副本。

Best,最好的,

[Professor] [教授]

Step 3: Success! 第3步:取得圓滿成功! Fewer papers to grade because, imagining themselves to have only 2 days to complete their probably unstarted 20 page papers, the students’ heads have all exploded.少了文件級,因為,想像自己只有2天的時間來完成他們可能unstarted 20頁的文件,學生的元首,都發生爆炸。

Step 4: For plausible deniability, send out another e-mail, a little bit later, acknowledging your mix-up: 第4步:為合理deniability ,發送一封電子郵件,一點點後,確認您的混合:

Dear [class] Class:親愛的[階級]班級:

Big mistake on my part!鑄成大錯,我的一部分! i confounded our due date with that of my other class. i混淆了我們應有的日期與我的其他階層。 The real due date is May 5, with the same procedures to be followed as in the last e-mail.真正的截止日期是5月5日,與上年應遵循的程序,因為在過去的電子郵件。 Don’t forget the electronic version.不要忘記,該圖的電子版。

Sorry!對不起!

[Professor] [教授]

Aiee!!! aiee ! In all fairness, this was just a simple mixup between two classes’ final paper due dates, and not some ingenious attempt to drive part of the class insane, but it certainly caused me a fair amount of moral trauma!在所有的公平,這是只是一個簡單的mixup之間的兩班'最後文件,到期日,而不是一些巧妙的企圖驅動器的一部分,階級瘋狂,但它肯定令我相當數量的道德創傷! I read of the message just before going to a meeting with another professor to discuss topics for a separate 18 page paper, and was somewhat visibly shaken… : ( Still, the “oops” e-mail did come only 15 minutes afterwards, so that limited the time in which any drastic actions could have been taken.我讀到的訊息,只是之前去開會,與另一教授,討論議題為一個單獨的18頁的文件,是有點明顯動搖… : (還有, “哎呀”電子郵件來只有15分鐘之後,使有限的時間,在任何激烈行動,可能已採取。

Still, a message to all professors around finals time: be careful, please!還有一條消息,所有的教授靠近決賽時間:小心,請! For the sake of your students.為您的學生。 : ) : )