Discussion Section Exposes Students to a Diversity of Incorrect Views
by Chai Karve
USC — At a Friday morning discussion section for a Law, Society & Culture GE, students have the opportunity to engage in a vague, poorly-led discussion of class material. Best of all, they have the privilege of hearing a range of completely incorrect points of view, each one uniquely wrong, offered by their world-class peers.
“I love that my opinion is valued,” noted junior Lauren Keogh. “I can say anything and it’ll be respected because I said it and I’m a member of this class.” Keogh’s notable contribution this week was a trite tirade about a large sociopolitical institution.
Most discussion section meetings accomplish or add very little to the class content, which is apparently an essential part of the general education curriculum. In fact, students feel inclined to participate regardless of preparation or perspective.
“I haven’t done a single reading. Not even the syllabus,” whispered senior Jeremy Tracey. “But that’s not going to stop me from putting in my two cents.” Tracey compensated for his lack of preparation with a vigorous defense of a position he read about in BuzzFeed News.
“My whole thing is communal learning,” explained sophomore Lexi Giuliana, whose recent in-class soliloquy included a sentence that contradicted itself thrice. “If we don’t dive deep into everyone’s equally valid and uninformed opinions then what’s the point?”
Although most of the high-brow Einsteins in class are eager to weigh in, several students repeat what others have said by using elementary words to restate even more basic points. Luckily, the skills students learn in class will carry into their adult lives because people’s ability to be opinionated and incorrect knows no bounds.
