"Not I"

[steepholm]

I want to find out about the extent to which school pupils and university students are discouraged by English teachers/lecturers from using the first person pronoun in essays.

Does anyone know whether recent-ish research has been carried out on that topic - or where might be a good place to look for it?

Comments

[negothick.livejournal.com]

if I may add a personal experience: several years ago I was at the annual convention of the New England Association of Teachers of English. Our name badges also contained our institutional affiliation. As I walked through the hallway, a total stranger read my badge, saw that I was teaching at a college, and stopped me.
"You! You're one of those college professors who let students use the first person in their essays!"
And off she went, leaving me no chance for assent or argument. From her expression, this was the worst insult she could have delivered.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's great! Sharpies at dawn!

[thistleingrey.livejournal.com]

Heh! Oh dear.