What The Professor Really Means
                     -------------------------------

                         By J. Timothy Petersik
                 from the Chronicle of Higher Education

You'll be using one of the leading        I used it as a grad student.
textbooks in the field.



If you follow these few simple rules,     If you don't need any sleep,
you'll do fine in the course.             you'll do fine in the course.



The gist of what the author is saying     I don't understand the details either.
is what's most important.



Various authorities agree that...         My hunch is that...



The answer to your question is beyond     I don't know.
the scope of this class.


You'll have to see me during my office    I don't know.
hours for a thorough answer to your
question.


In answer to your question, you must      I really don't know.
recognize that there are several
disparate points of view.



Today we are going to discuss a most      Today we are going to discuss my
important topic.                          dissertation.



We can continue this discussion outside   1.  I'm tired of this - let's quit.
of class.                                 2.  You're winning the argument -
                                              let's quit


Today we'll let a member of the class     I stayed out too late last night
lead the discussion. It will be a         and didn't have time to prepare a
good educational experience.              lecture.



Any questions?                            I'm ready to let you go.


The implications of this study are       I don't know what it means either,
clear.                                   but there'll be a question about it
                                         on the test.


The test scores were generally good.     Some of you managed a C+.



Before we begin the lecture for          Has anyone opened the book yet?
today, are there any questions about
previous material?



According to my sources...               According to the guy who taught
                                         this class last year...



It's been very rewarding to teach        I hope they find someone else to
this class.                              teach you next year.