The Bored Pupil: A Short Story

944 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Role of the teachers

The Bored Pupil

'I hate writing', William thought as he slouched at his desk, his finger tracing the well worn letters, H...E...L...P carved into his desk; a desperate plea by a past pupil who may have actually died of boredom. William was your typical boy, brown hair tousled hair, brown eyes, average height, average weight, average in every way except for his, above average distaste for being bored. "Everybody hates writing," he muttered under his breath.

Glancing around at his classmates, they were all were exhibiting varying degrees of disinterest--Except for the girls, of course. They all sat up nice and straight, especially Sara, she had her hands clasped politely together on her desk, her pigtails aligned perfectly, showing off her …show more content…

She wore a plain dark gray flannel dress that would make drab seem festive, and a white, starched, high buttoned blouse. Her black, silver streaked hair was pulled back from her face, lifted and spun into her signature, extra tight bun. Miss Burns handed back the essays as she went from desk to desk.

Sensing a steely gaze boring through the back of his head, William sat up straight, as Miss Burn’s shadow crept across his desk. Peering over her spectacles she said, "William," pausing to emphasize the gravity of the situation, "this," dangling his paper between her thumb and forefinger, "is not good," she added, dropping the essay on his desk as if it were toxic waste. William quickly scanned the paper and saw a large 'F' with a minus after it. What the... but... how can you even get an F minus?, he thought.

Miss Burns, a step ahead of him, proceeded to tell him exactly how you can get an F minus. "William, you cite zero references, also, you fail to name even half of our past presidents, and you couldn't even name our current one...President James Buchanan!" She added, "So tell me William, have any ideas how you could have earned an F …show more content…

"I love it", she added, handing his paper back. "Very well, William, this is the quality of work and effort I now expect from you."

As William walked back down the aisle toward his desk, his classmates leaned out, craning their necks trying get a look at his miraculous paper. Passing by Sara — Whom he would one day marry — she offered a generous smile and gave a subtle nod of approval that seemed to say, 'welcome to the

Show More
Related

  • Fun While Writing? by Rex Runciman

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    What about writing and the writing process makes it so disliked and, in some cases, even feared? “Fun?” by Lex Runciman, an English teacher at the Linfield College in Oregon, is an insightful article that explores why many people don’t enjoy writing. He is a very credible author because he has taught college English classes for many years and has written and published several books. His main claim throughout the article is that many people dislike writing and feel that it is frustrating because it is not perceived as or made out to be fun, enjoyable, or rewarding. Runciman wrote this article because, at the time, he felt that there was not enough being done to reverse the negative image that surrounds writing. He wants his readers to realize through his article that writing and the writing process can actually be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Runciman uses evidence, assumptions, and language and tone as a basis for his argument.

    Read More

  • Writing for Myself, by Russell Baker

    328 Words  | 1 Pages

    The point the author, Russell Baker, is making in his essay, “Writing for Myself,” is quite evident. When Mr. Fleagle, Baker’s English teacher, assigned an informal essay to be completed as homework, Baker immediately became baffled by the daunting task. Though reluctant to start, Baker knew that it he had to swallow his animosity toward writing and select a topic to write on.

    Read More

  • Louise Halfe

    1005 Words  | 3 Pages

    “I write because I love. I write for the survival of self, my children, my family, my community and for the Earth. I write to help keep our stories, our truths, our language alive”. (qtd. in Anthology 396.)

    Read More

  • Is It A Chocolate Sale...Or A Chocolate War..??

    1391 Words  | 3 Pages

    out to the students in his class. The reasons of these F’s are usually something that is

    Read More

  • Stephen King's Guidebook: On Writing

    1413 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...s educational system on traditionalism that focuses on fluency, appreciation, and comprehension. King states, “no one can be as intellectually slothful as a really smart person” (138). As a whole we are “creatures of habit”, thus resisting changes in the traditional sphere of academics. King uses his spin on popular culture to engage future readers and inspire the next generation of writers. “Some of this book—perhaps too much—has been about how I learned to do it. Much of it has been about how you can do it better. The rest of it—and perhaps the best of it—is a permission slip: you can, you should, and if you're brave enough to start, you will.” (King 269-270). “On Writing” is a poignant, educated, and inspiring book, a book that is sure to help hundreds of struggling writers and will motivate others who may pick up the book not for inspiration, but mere curiosity.

    Read More

  • Language as a Tool in Maya Angelou's "graduation"

    679 Words  | 2 Pages

    Another emotion portrayed through the narrators language is disappointment. The center of the work is where the story takes a deep turn downward - and the black cloud presents itself. Mr. DonLeavy's presence was insult enough, but to say he was "glad to be here to see the work going on just as it was in the other schools" (838)...

    Read More

  • Joan Didion On Keeping A Notebook Analysis

    281 Words  | 1 Pages

    Writing is a form of communication that can be expressed in various ways. The short story “On Keeping a Notebook” written by Joan Didion guides the reader through her thinking process as she tries to answer why and what it means to write in her notebook. Although, it can be difficult to follow and understand her thinking it fascinates me to see her thinking process come to a full circle. I felt a personal connection with her when she writes “We are brought up in the ethic that others, any others, all others, are by definition more interesting that ourselves; taught to be diffident, just that this side of self-effacing.” Didion’s statement made me realized the experiences one has can affect one’s perspective as one writes and reads despite how

    Read More

  • Russell Baker Learning To Write Analysis

    326 Words  | 1 Pages

    Literature and writing can be shown as hidden talents to people who are not aware of their capabilities. In the story “Learning to Write”, Russell Baker embellished a story that can relate to high school students. His teacher, Mr. Fleagle assigning an informal essay to the students, and Russell struggling and procrastinating his work, is relatable to many students that go through the same conflicts as him. The memory of when Russell and his family ate spaghetti was the topic that he felt that he should write and reminiscence on for himself. With the lack of time that Russell had, he decided to turn in his story of “The Art of Eating Spaghetti.” Turning in his paper to Mr. Fleagle, he felt uneasy because he did not receive his paper like everyone

    Read More

  • Laurie Halse Anderson Analysis

    538 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Dad: [Bangs table, silverware jumps] ‘Cut the crap. She knows what’s up. The interim reports came today. Listen to me, young lady. I’m only going to say this once. You get those grades up or your name is mud. Hear me? Get them up!’ [Attacks baked potato.] Mom: [annoyed at being upstaged] ‘I’ll handle this. Melinda. [She smiles. Audience shudders] We’re not asking for much, dear. We just want you to do your best. And we know your best is much better than this. You tested so well, dear. Look at me when I talk to you.’” Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson

    Read More

  • My Experience With English 1301

    1090 Words  | 3 Pages

    My analysis over the development of my writing throughout this semester. I will assess many aspects of my experiences with English 1301 up to this point in the semester. I will explain the ways by which I have blossomed as a writer during this time. I will provide brief examples of my work to show what I am basing the evaluation of my writing on. What my conceptions of writing were, at the start of, the semester and compare it to what they are now. I will clarify how my work this semester reflects the concepts of writing and reading we have been working on and studying in class. I will tell about what and how particular reading assignments have been influential in my growth of creative ideas. Lastly, my interpretation of what it means to be a writer, and how my experiences this semester has influenced my opinion on writing.

    Read More

  • How Does Holden Caulfield Character Sketch

    650 Words  | 2 Pages

    ” I was flunking four subjects and not applying myself and all. They gave me frequent warning to start applying myself--especially around midterms, when my parents came up for a conference with old Thurmer--but I didn't do it”[page 6]

    Read More

  • My Narrative Writing: My Journey Of My Literacy

    883 Words  | 2 Pages

    When trying to think of a positive writing experience I have had in my lifetime, particularly as a small child, I could not think of any. So I began to ask myself why is it that I do not like writing, what happened in my life for me to have such animosity towards the act. I was finally able to think of an event and realized that it had all begun in the 3rd grade. One day, as a punishment for talking during class, I was kept inside during recess and was forced to write Wise Old Owls until my hands began to cramp. For 45 minutes, I was only allowed to write the same old phrase over and over again; “The wise old owl sat on an oak, the more he heard, the less he spoke, the less he spoke the more he heard, why can’t I be like that wise old bird”. To this day I can still remember that little rhyme and to this day I can remember that same feeling I felt as a elementary school student. From that point on I have always had an aversion for writing, it always seemed like a punishment. I still do not understand how people can journal. I don’t see how someone can sit down and write an entry or a novel just for the hell of it. It seems unnatural to me, but I guess that all of these feelings are just because I see writing as a punishment, an

    Read More

  • Analysis Of An Argument Against Abolishing Christianity By Jonathan Swift

    475 Words  | 1 Pages

    To conclude, I learned something very important thanks to this task. In order for a writer to portray something that he despises, he does not have to use a dark and angry tone to convey the message. He can simply use humor which will allow the reader to get entertained and also understand exactly what the author is trying to

    Read More

  • W. Stanley's Letter To Be Perfect

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    It was an obsession, and addiction even; making sure each letter was absolute. Each “T” proportionate, every “I’s” dots, a perfect ellipse, each “O” accurate to the 3.1416, and every “X’s” interception perpendicular. I’d spent more than an hour on, what my classmates would probably describe as a rather simple task of writing the alphabet, but to me, it was the mission of fitting twenty seven impartial letters in to the margins of (manuscript) paper. Everyone else enjoying recess, while I sat there alone in Ms. Booth’s first grade classroom, concentrated and ruler in hand, you would have sworn I was creating an intricate architectural structure. I knew how frustrated my teacher got with me because of how long it took me to complete an assignment,

    Read More

  • Classification Essay - Three Types of Cheaters

    1464 Words  | 3 Pages

    Up north at Chico State University, a young man confessed to his friends that he sends his rough-draft essays to his mother for "proof-reading." His mother essentially woul...

    Read More

More about The Bored Pupil: A Short Story

Open Document