And Somehow I Am Surprised

At 9 p.m. last night, I received an email from one of my students:

I'm having a hard time deciding what the topic of my paper should be. Can you give me some ideas?

I distributed instructions for this assignment on October 25, which included some possible topics. I then spent 20 minutes in class discussing those instructions. And I have been reminding my class about this paper at every. single. class.

The paper is due this Wednesday. And only now is the student requesting advice.

And somehow, I am still surprised.