Attendance is not optional

To go or not to go? That is the question, when it comes to quiz sections.

Within any given course an undergraduate student takes from among the 170-plus subjects offered at UW, there is approximately a one in four chance that a quiz section will be a requirement.

Unless a student has a very unique major, it is a near certainty that he or she will be enrolled in a quiz section at least once in his or her college career. Whether or not that student attends the quiz section, however, is more of an uncertainty.

A distinct mentality has developed in many students concerning sections over the years: "I don't have to go unless I want to. I'm not going."

Although I understand how this mentality came about, I find it an unfortunate attitude for a student to have.

The most common argument is that quiz sections aren"t worth going to because they are worth so little of one"s overall grade in the course, usually equaling no more than 10 percent. Another favorite argument is that teaching assistants and their contributions are poor substitutes for professors and their instruction.

I realize both of these arguments have merit, but it has been my overall experience that neither presents a consistent enough problem to warrant the blanket anti-section sentiment that so many students have.

Of course there are valid complaints against quiz sections. Some TAs are lazy, some discussions are boring and if you don't like the course to begin with, the quiz section will probably only make it worse. I personally have never had a bad section --- in fact the quiz sections I have taken have been nothing short of extraordinarily beneficial --- but I understand that other students have not always been so fortunate.

Still, the bias against sections really stems from very few actual problems, and its expansion to a widespread belief is unjustified.

Most TAs are not meager substitutes for lecturers or professors. Rather, it has been my experience that they are, on the whole, very interesting UW students who have a wealth of knowledge, experience and time to share.

Responsibility falls on the part of the TAs to regularly attend the lectures in order to be prepared. It is when TAs do not attend the course lectures or meetings that a lack of uniform comprehension of the material and other problems develop. But most TAs do attend lecture --- perhaps even more often than the professors themselves, in some departments.

It is truly important that students appreciate what a unique resource sections are. Quiz section TAs have the ability to help work through the information presented in lecture, answer questions, stimulate discussion, provide preparatory practice and hold office hours in addition to the times offered by your professor, all on a very individual level.

As far as how your grade that will be affected by section participation, do not let what seems like an insignificant percentage deter attendance. Besides the fact that lots of small point losses add up quickly, the benefits of attending a quiz section"like being prepared for the exams --- are greater than the points gained directly from attendance.

While the time and effort it takes to participate in a quiz section may seem unnecessary, there is nothing unnecessary about enhancing your familiarity and preparation with the course information. The fact is these are necessary components for success and a good grade.

As you embark on a new school year, do not let the stigmas built up by past students keep you from getting the most of your education. Granted, there is much more to the college experience than attending class, but you are here to learn --- at least a little --- and quiz sections can only help you to this end.

You will never in the future look back on your time at college and say, "I wish I would have skipped more quiz sections, because then I would know less." Rather, you should learn as well as you can, while you can.