Handwriting (2 Viewers)

[historykidd]

Hey guys,

I've stumbled across a problem when applying for units. I've noticed in almost every unit i'm applying for, exams and written participation accounts for a considerable chunk of the degree. Personally, my handwriting is so absymal that I had to apply for a laptop during the HSC.

My question is, do specific concessions exist within university (specifically, USYD arts) which would allow me to perhaps use a computer during exams? Or is there an alternate means to undertake exams?

Any help would be great.

 

[~ari]

In many cases, if you have a legitimate reason you are able to use computers for exams. Not sure about the specifics for Arts at USYD though. Just cry discrimination if they don't let you

 

[xeuyrawp]

Hey guys,

I've stumbled across a problem when applying for units. I've noticed in almost every unit i'm applying for, exams and written participation accounts for a considerable chunk of the degree. Personally, my handwriting is so absymal that I had to apply for a laptop during the HSC.

My question is, do specific concessions exist within university (specifically, USYD arts) which would allow me to perhaps use a computer during exams? Or is there an alternate means to undertake exams?

Any help would be great.

What about improving your handwriting? Unless you've got some sort of condition, I don't see why that's not a solution.

 

[~ari]

What about improving your handwriting? Unless you've got some sort of condition, I don't see why that's not a solution.

No, but this is the user historykidd. The habitual bos bitch. It's not his fault he's too lazy to write neatly, it's the worlds fault.

 

[sambeatty]

Actually I'm in a similar predicament, my handwriting is terrible and I cramp up after about 10 minutes of writing due to a hand eye coordination problem. I can actually never improve my writing ability and I have professional reports stating this too.

My only concern is that the only alternative they'll offer me will be a scribe, and honestly the idea of having to construct my essays vocally, and even worse, to have someone present when I am under exam conditions is my idea of hell

 

[Jezzi]

All written assignments (i.e the stuff you do from home) has to typed. When it comes to written exams, sometimes lectures won't even bother looking at it or marking it if they can't read it. So you really should work on improving your handwriting. If all else fails, you could possibly apply for special consideration and have a writer for your written exams. I don't think they would let you type out your exam on the computer at university.

 

[~ari]

I don't think they would let you type out your exam on the computer at university.

Ignore the fact that they do, that I know people who do and that I stated that they do. Thanks for your great opinion. I expect to see many more great informative and well researched posts from you.

Actually I'm in a similar predicament, my handwriting is terrible and I cramp up after about 10 minutes of writing due to a hand eye coordination problem. I can actually never improve my writing ability and I have professional reports stating this too.

My only concern is that the only alternative they'll offer me will be a scribe, and honestly the idea of having to construct my essays vocally, and even worse, to have someone present when I am under exam conditions is my idea of hell

I know someone who has this problem. He gets to do his exams on computers, has breaks allocated during the time etc. Hopefully he'll see this thread and post more specifics.

I agree with you about scribes being hard to work with. Putting your thoughts to paper (a keyboard) is much simpler than vocalising them.

EDIT: DO NOT MISS MALFOY'S POST BELOW MINE.

 

[Jezzi]

Ignore the fact that they do, that I know people who do and that I stated that they do. Thanks for your great opinion. I expect to see many more great informative and well researched posts from you.

Well forgive my ignorance. I don't go to USYD, but I think its pretty logical to think they would not let you type an exam out, e.g cheating.
And personally I've never heard of anyone using a computer to type out exams. University learning units pay people to be writers for students. There are too many advantages when using computers-i.e generally people can type much faster than they can write.

 

[Evilo]

most assignments are typed, exams are hand written. Contact your "special services" centre @ uni for handwriting help
PS - learn to write properly - i did.

 

[historykidd]

No, but this is the user historykidd. The habitual bos bitch. It's not his fault he's too lazy to write neatly, it's the worlds fault.

Thank you to all, including BOS's habitual AriEl Sharon and / or UWS academic superstar.

I'll guess i'll just take a crack at improving my handwriting

 

[~ari]

Thank you to all, including BOS's habitual AriEl Sharon and / or UWS academic superstar.

I'll guess i'll just take a crack at improving my handwriting

You also forgot to mention that I'm well hung

Best of luck with it. My handwriting is pretty shit and like an hour into the exam I start to forget that and start going fast and it becomes a massive mess. Pretty shit when some exams are 3 hours of straight essays.

 

[historykidd]

You also forgot to mention that I'm well hung

Best of luck with it. My handwriting is pretty shit and like an hour into the exam I start to forget that and start going fast and it becomes a massive mess. Pretty shit when some exams are 3 hours of straight essays.

Yeah, i'm sorta dreading those three hour exams.

 

[Evilo]

re-read what he was saying - he was referring to "cheating" on a computer i.e. copy and paste. If you've got a working pair of hands then typing on a computer is much faster.

If you're missing fingers and/or a hand then a consideration is justified. Its just all the "freeloaders" who try and get special consideration for extra time etc because of some desperate attempt to gain an advantage over other students. Its rather pathetic.

 

[Evilo]

You're rather ignorant.

i remember 60 out of 250 boys from my old school used special consideration because of their bad handwriting. They just complained they had a sore hand after writing 10pages of essay in 1hr (and who doesnt?) and the docs handed them out like lottery tickets. That is why so many people here say "improve your writing" "harden up" etc - its because too many people take advantage of the system.

 

[~ari]

Many people with a legitimate reason to use a computer for an exam may be advantaged by it but what can you do about it? I guess unis would prefer to advantage someone as opposed to disadvantaging someone with a legitimate disability.

I wouldn't mind using a computer for exams though. 70+ WPM vs handwritting would be great

 

[Harry Flashman]

The thing is, a lot of people like myself who have handwriting difficulties, are also pretty slow typers (as this problem is frequently a result of co-ordination difficulties), in fact at my peak speed, I can write faster than type

 

[Harry Flashman]

But it is awful how people take advantage of these considerations, after a huge rigmarole I became the first student to use a laptop in my school for the HSC, and as soon as I did, other kids who I knew for a fact didn't need any special consideration were given it (one girl got extra time on her exam because she has a slight hearing difficulty in one ear, note that all her exams had NO oral or hearing component)

 

[Evilo]

That's why universities don't accept statements from the Board of Studies regarding special consideration. They require statements from specialists, generally speaking, and while generous if you've got a legitimate disability are rather more stringent than the Board of Studies. I know this is true particularly of the University of Sydney..

thankgod

Typing an exam out =/= cheating. Jezzi didn't mention anything about copying and pasting, so I don't know how you inferred that's what s/he was talking about.

Thats the way i read it anyway.

I'd be very curious to see what your definition of a "freeloader" is, though. .

Sure - i typed it up in the above posts

They just complained they had a sore hand after writing 10pages of essay in 1hr (and who doesnt?) and the docs handed them out like lottery tickets.

Fair call?

I'm on severely heavy medication for multiple psychiatric disabilities and as a result I've got really poor motor control to the point where my hands shake badly enough I have trouble holding a pen, and my writing is incredibly slow and/or almost illegible. And yes, writing is painful. In other words, short of using a computer, I'd not be physically able to complete exams. Is the fact I'm not missing fingers or a hand evidence of "freeloading"?

I never accused you of "freeloading" the system Malfoy. You are of a handful of people who has a genuine need for special consideration. Unfortunatly alot of students don't have "morals" and feel its their duty to cheat the system and try an get an unfair advantage. Fortunatly most of these people will fail at life.

Also please read the first post Malfoy

Personally, my handwriting is so absymal that I had to apply for a laptop during the HSC.

There is no mention of a physical disability or anything like that. Nor does he need to declare his on disability on a public (but you have been able to). The way i interpreted the post was that he had poor writing through no fault but his own and he needs a serious case of harden up. Perhaps im rash, but thats the way i interpreted it.

It's not so simple, which is why I get a little defensive when people suggest that anyone who receives special consideration is automatically trying to cheat the system.

Sure, fair statement. My italics statement applies here too

 

[Evilo]

i'm certainly glad to hear that.
Sorry if you got the wrong end of the stick with my comments.

 

[xeuyrawp]

I'll guess i'll just take a crack at improving my handwriting

I don't think anyone should lecture you about these things at this stage of your life, but you should really work on it.

I 'naturally' have terrible handwriting which only I seem to be able to read, although I can write very quickly. When I do exams, write notes to people, etc, I have to write reasonably slowly and carefully. It's unfortunate, but you just have to deal with it.

I actually know of someone who has the exact same problem as you, and also goes to USyd. I know that he found a solution, so if you have problems, let me know and I'll get him to contact you.