Post by General Veers on Aug 31, 2009 22:07:43 GMT -5
A few days ago, I noticed that TheShadowLord wrote about his frustration with the English language arts teachers that he had. His expression actually motivated me to start a debate thread, something I only made twice before now. As a matter of fact, do not participate in this debate until you have read the thread which I have linked below.
I would like to argue against him about "how much of a failure our education system is today." Much of this evidence will be from what Wikipedia calls "original research": my own experience while taking language arts classes.
I believe that American language arts is not a failure: I believe that it may even be a success.
In English classes, many Americans are taught the basics of the English language. They will learn about the different parts of speech. They will learn about how to use them together. They will learn new vocabulary. In order to reinforce all of the different lessons together, the students will be assigned various work that go through the lessons in manners that many students may consider dull or frustrating. Many consider essays the worst of these assignments; an essay has a particular structure, an essay follows a particular topic or point of view, and a graded essay must follow certain English conventions.
Some students complain that these reinforcing assignments do not permit enough creativity and that English classes ought to be remodeled. Authors aren't expected to follow particular conventions, they will argue - authors don't follow imposed topic restrictions or turn in work to publishers by a specific deadline. These students will complain with similar arguments and talk about the rebellion, but many of these students have not yet discovered a class which would explain all of this to them.
Advanced Placement Language and Composition brings light to their darkness with the brightest, hottest lamp in English: style analysis.
Style analysis is all about crafting literary masterpieces with different uses of punctuation, syntax, and diction. It takes the knowledge that students should have gained from their previous language arts classes and shows them how meaning is altered when the rules bend.
The hypocrisy of the Separatist Puritans are revealed through their diction!
Hitler hypnotizes the masses with precision-controlled syntax!
Childrens' books are discovered to be rebellious political satires with cunning metaphors and puns!
Authors control your subconscious with just the right amount of details!
Evil becomes good when it argues with appeals to logos!
...Even a simple horizontal rule can convey deep meaning...
In order to wield such power, one must be able to realize that such power exists. The artful employments of language is relative to the set of rules that are so detested: if they were relative to themselves, then they wouldn't be so controlling or artful. The language arts teachers are mindful of Einstein and his laws of relativity when they tell you what the "relative origin" of English is. They know that the laws of English were made to be broken, and so they take upon themselves the great duty of showing you the starting point...
With such tremendous education, the American language arts program is not a failure in respect that they do not teach you anything practical or powerful.
I would like to argue against him about "how much of a failure our education system is today." Much of this evidence will be from what Wikipedia calls "original research": my own experience while taking language arts classes.
I believe that American language arts is not a failure: I believe that it may even be a success.
In English classes, many Americans are taught the basics of the English language. They will learn about the different parts of speech. They will learn about how to use them together. They will learn new vocabulary. In order to reinforce all of the different lessons together, the students will be assigned various work that go through the lessons in manners that many students may consider dull or frustrating. Many consider essays the worst of these assignments; an essay has a particular structure, an essay follows a particular topic or point of view, and a graded essay must follow certain English conventions.
Some students complain that these reinforcing assignments do not permit enough creativity and that English classes ought to be remodeled. Authors aren't expected to follow particular conventions, they will argue - authors don't follow imposed topic restrictions or turn in work to publishers by a specific deadline. These students will complain with similar arguments and talk about the rebellion, but many of these students have not yet discovered a class which would explain all of this to them.
Advanced Placement Language and Composition brings light to their darkness with the brightest, hottest lamp in English: style analysis.
Style analysis is all about crafting literary masterpieces with different uses of punctuation, syntax, and diction. It takes the knowledge that students should have gained from their previous language arts classes and shows them how meaning is altered when the rules bend.
The hypocrisy of the Separatist Puritans are revealed through their diction!
Hitler hypnotizes the masses with precision-controlled syntax!
Childrens' books are discovered to be rebellious political satires with cunning metaphors and puns!
Authors control your subconscious with just the right amount of details!
Evil becomes good when it argues with appeals to logos!
...Even a simple horizontal rule can convey deep meaning...
In order to wield such power, one must be able to realize that such power exists. The artful employments of language is relative to the set of rules that are so detested: if they were relative to themselves, then they wouldn't be so controlling or artful. The language arts teachers are mindful of Einstein and his laws of relativity when they tell you what the "relative origin" of English is. They know that the laws of English were made to be broken, and so they take upon themselves the great duty of showing you the starting point...
With such tremendous education, the American language arts program is not a failure in respect that they do not teach you anything practical or powerful.
*Snip: Click on quote link for full post.*