I'm so tired, and I have a cold (actually, it might be the flu, I just checked my temp, and I'm working up a fever), and I really should get to bed, but I just have to bitch about this for a little bit. Today we had a key test in my Ichthyology course. It's not the kind of test you can cram for. Either you know how to use the key, or you don't. I would liken the key to a choose your own ending book. You have two cuplets, like "has 13 dorsal spines... go to 13" and "has 15 dorsal spines... go to 16". You choose the cuplet that best fits your fish until you reach the end, which is the genus species. So, I've been working on this all semester and I've keyed out over 100 fish using this book. I figured I would have no problem, especially since the TA kept saying that all the fish will key out "very nicely." Meaning that if the fish is supposed to have 13 rays, it'll have 13 obvious rays. And no overlapping cuplets like "19-20 rings on body...go to 1" and "20-21 rings on body, go to 2". What happens when you count 20 rings??? That very thing happened on a stupid pipe fish.
The point is, the test was supposed to help our grade and be easy if we've been doing the work in lab this semester. I have been spending an extra 6-8 hours a week in lab making sure that I keyed out the fish instead of just asking someone for the answer (in lab, we have 140 jars of fish with no name tags, and we have to use the key to figure out what kind of fish it is). I'm just so frustrated because my work didn't pay off. And I talked to two of my friends today, and they felt the same way. Lisa spent 6 hours working on the test, and she didn't feel any more confidant that I did! I hate that crap. I can't wait until I graduate and get away from professors who find pleasure in making tests impossible. I don't know what it is about biology professors, but 90% of my classes are that way. And it's frustrating because the grade on the test doesn't accurately reflect what I've learned.
I suppose that's enough bitching for tonight. Well, I was going to spread the love and post a picture of one of the dead fish I got to work with today, but my computer's being stupid. Could be because I have 9 programs running right now.
I'm keeping my hopes up for a better day tomorrow.
2 comments:
I'm hoping for a better day for you too! Spending hours looking at dead fish doesn't sound like my idea of fun - and then being tested by some bizarre key thing on top of it... Hope you're feeling better today.
Is that cold improving??
You have sure struggled with sickness this semester between you and the girls.
xoxox
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