Is it possible for students to get an ‘A’ without doing the expected work?

Jeremy Balan, Sports Editor

Despite what PCC professors might make you think, students believe it is possible to B.S. a paper, a practice that normally involves minimal to no studying, while producing a paper worthy of a good grade. It is not a practice that should be relied on, but almost every student has resorted to it, some successfully.

A common viewpoint of professors is that papers of this type would be easy to identify and difficult to write.

“Its pretty clear you can’t B.S. a paper,” said Professor Manuel Perea. “Not if the professor is paying attention.”

“It is not possible to B.S. a paper,” Professor Krista Walker said. “[A writer] needs to be connected to a thought process with structure and organization to be effective.”

When talking to students, a different attitude is present.

“[The teacher’s] opinion of B.S. and the student’s is different,” History and Religious Studies Major Justin Junge said. “If you regurgitate their lecture you’re likely to pass.”

“I write a paper to what [the teacher] wants to hear,” said Deborah Tsao. “I also try to use words that are passionate; they like that.”

Tsao is majoring in English and took Walker for English 1C. “I didn’t really read much,” Tsao said about Walker’s class. “I listened to her lecture and tried to say similar things.”

In response to Walker’s thoughts on student’s ability to B.S. papers, Tsao disagreed. “That’s how I got through that class, and I got an A,” Tsao said.

Although some students can maintain these practices over a long period of time, it is not something teachers are inclined to recommend to their students. Walker doesn’t see the need to B.S. a paper if you learn how to write correctly.

“What you learn in a writing class is how to think out an argument,” Walker said. “Anyone can master it.”

Perea also emphasizes the importance of writing skills.

“If a student has control of language and the structure of writing they will succeed,” Perea said. “If a student can B.S. and be successful they have to have skill.”

Despite some student’s aptitude in producing impromptu B.S. papers, an inexperienced writer should not resort to such tactics, if looking for a good grade. Ultimately professors will probably be able to tell when a paper is hastily completed and will assess the proper grade.

“If a paper has no original ideas they will get an F,” Perea said.

If there is ever a doubt in the content, Walker’s best advice is to make sure the paper is interesting.

“A paper should be a pleasure to read,” Walker said. “The best way to do that is to find an interest in the topic.”