(no subject)

[meganbmoore]

Do they seriously not require grammar for English majors anymore?  Mapping sentences that take up a full page? Analyzing and dissecting every type of phrase or word known to the English language?

ARE PEOPLE TRULY NO LONGER REQUIRED TO TAKE THAT COURSE?

It was the most feared course at my university!  English majors trembled at its coming! Getting a B- was cause for celebration!  I still catch myself mapping sentences without even thinking about what I'm doing!  And you don't have to take the course any more?  Or, at least, not everyone does?

EXCUSE ME PLEASE!  I MUST GO HATE ON EVERY ENGLISH MAJOR EVER WHO IS YOUNGER THAN ME AND/OR WAS NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE THAT COURSE BY THEIR UNIVERSITY!

ETA:  I should mention that I had the Junior High and High School versions, too, and, while hard, there wasn't much comparison.

Comments

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

The thing is that even less in terms of grammar and vocabulary and how to use them is being taught at any level. So the less that's required, the poorer the average person's understanding and ability to properly understand and express his or her self is.

[livvylove.livejournal.com]

I think if they taught people how to write properly with basic and complete thoughts then that would be better. I always hated that they would force me to take something that could be said in one sentence and they would make you write at least 3 about the same thing. I would say, so you want me to fluff it up since this sentence fits all the requirements. I hate fluff when it came to classwork and in the office. Although on LJ I love the fluff.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

The thing is that, to do that, you have to understand the basic rules of sentence structure and how words are used. And that doesn't seem to be being taught, or at least retained, as much anymore. And the less people follow and understand the same essential rules of the language-especially those whose role itis to pass on information-then the poorer communication and understanding become.

[livvylove.livejournal.com]

I found that all through school they focused more on the fluff and writing super long essays then being able to get a point across quickly. And honestly if they write like they speak and can speak well then that is more then enough.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I write the way I speak. It's been confusing people since I was 12, since I have a relatively extensive vocubulary, rarely use slang (I had to teach myself to when I worked on the phones, actually) speak in complex sentences, and use proper grammar.

[mistaria.livejournal.com]

Yep, they did that in my school(s) too. I thought it was ridiculous. I'd look at the work my peers were doing and they'd have two pages written saying the exact same thing I'd said in half a page. ...but I was the one to get yelled at.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

*nods*

I understand the need for a word/page count, because you can only pad your content so much, and the minimum length guarantees you at least a certain amount of content. But the way we get taught to write to reach that length instead of how to cram as much content as possible in is rather sad.

[southerndave.livejournal.com]

I also had that problem... although it wasn't so much in English as in History. History was the most interesting subject at school, but I got my worst marks in it because I Do. Not. Do. page after page of waffle. If I have to say something I'll say it without all the dithering around before getting to the point.