AnxiousRaisin

Thanks for the explanation, and I agree with you that my ego is the main part of the problem in this case. But I feel this incident triggers my constant anxiety about not being able to effectively communicate with my adviser and learn from her. (But again, it might be my excuse to shift away from my own problem...idk...)

Thank you all for the suggestions. It's great to listen to different voices when I'm not sure whether my ego is getting in the way. Maybe I've not experiencing such things enough...Like Sociologyapp2016 said, I should step away and calm down for the moment and then look at the situation more rationally.

Thanks for being so positive. That's what I have been trying to do for the past two years. But does that mean that it doesn't matter which field I'm in and which adviser I'm with? I understand the importance of effort, but now I'm doubting if I've made good choices. Again, I appreciate and admire your attitude.

Maybe I have not made it clear, but I don't think it's just about one paper. Of course I'm going to rewrite it but now I'm confused whether I am in the right field or with the right adviser...

Just received feedback from my advisor about a final paper I submitted. I was expecting an A since this is actually the one I have made the most efforts on. Ironically, the advisor describes it as "disappointing" and "can't recall another paper of you so roughly written." Fortunately, she asks me to rewrite it. But I was shocked and at a loss. I replied to her and asked for more detailed suggestions (she has not reached the main part and I doubt if she has even read my thesis (there is no comment on the thesis.)) I admitted to her that the introduction part is not clear enough and aksed if she could briefly read the rest of my paper. I wrote the email as politely as I could but now I fear it may irritate her. Some background information (mainly my own impression, so could be biased). I have taken her courses for 5 semesters. My impression is that she often "misunderstands" me--I'm not not sure if this is my problem since I don't feel other professors "misunderstand" me so often. Sometimes I feel she does not read my responses and papers very carefully. Nonetheless, she seems to be easily impressed by something she is not familiar with. For instance, I once submitted an essay on a film. She usually focuses on literature and does not know much about films. I got an A for that one, though I feel it is really an empty essay and lacks a clear thesis now. I have been trying to communicate with her since the first semester but I don't feel I have got much useful or clear advice from her. At the end of this semester, we had a presentation in class and everyone talked about the papers they were going to submit. She told me that my theoretical framework "works" and I kept it in the final version of the paper. I also asked about the introduction part that I had some doubt with. I was not sure if I should leave it out, but her answer was "it depends on you. If you feel it works, you can keep it." I always remind myself that as long as I make more efforts, I would make progress eventually. And this semester, I indeed felt that I was doing better. So her comment is really a "surprise." My head aches now and I don't know what I should do. I usually receive great comment from my other professors and some of them tried to persuade me into switching my field to related ones. I feel I'm losing my motivation now. I apologize if I sound like ranting, but please give me some suggestions.

What's fun in being so rational

nobody replying? also applying to Yale, but I feel chances are slim Actually I'm not sure about any of my schools at this point Contemporary Chinese, too! But modern period as well. Focusing on literature. BTW, cool website!