Why do we have to study grammar and usage? Based on your readings so far, what benefits have you gained from studying how to write effective sentences? write in an academic setting? use words effectively?
Where have you noticed the greatest leaps in your writing (i.e. where are your big improvements)?
Happy Thinking,
Mr. B
Studying grammar may not be the most exciting thing to do (especially for homework), but it is definitely necessary as a high school student. I think my main problem is vocabulary. I do not have the widest vocabulary, so reading the last few sections of the Little, Brown Handbook has helped me focus more on finding the right words. I have been trying harder to think of better words to fit my sentences and writing. I have a lot more to learn about word usage, but I try to improve my vocabulary with each paper I write.
ReplyDelete(After rereading that, I realized I have a long way to go with word choice)
Grammar and its usage are important because they allow us to more effectively use the English language in speech or writing. I don't think I've gained any benefits from studying how to write effective sentences yet, but I'm sure I have and I just haven't noticed, or it will come soon enough. Although, I've started to pay more attention to correct word choice, and I can recall changing the word for one of its synonyms that more effectively emphasizes my point.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest improvements are probably with effective word choice, not just in English, but in my other classes as well
We study how to use grammar so that way we can develop our writing and turn it into persuasive literature that is comprehendable. Studying these grammar techniques help me understand what authors are trying to tell me, and how they are trying to do this. Like Jenna said, words are not my strong point. My vocabulary is not limited, but it is not broad, which needs to change in order to help me connect my thoughts in a more intellectual way. The only thing I can tell from my writings is that I am using a better collection of vocabulary words than I was at the beginning of the course.
ReplyDeleteGranted studying grammar is no fun, it does help. It's important so that my essays make sense. No point in trying to persuade someone if what you're saying sounds ridiculous. When reading someone's work the first thing I notice is their grammar. I hate reading something that doesn't make sense. As far as my progress goes, I haven't seen any big jump. My one big problem is that in my essays, when I'm running out of stuff to say, I'll drag my point out, and repeat myself a lot. I think that's the area where I'm improving most.
ReplyDeleteAfter doing the last six assignments from the Little, Brown Handbook, I realized how much I don't know about spelling. I know those rules like "I before E except after C" and other similar rules, but I do not know much about hyphens. That exercise was the hardest because it made me second-guess myself. In fact, I just checked the dictionary to see if "second-guess" has a hyphen, and it does. I also found that I was questioning myself in the section where we had to change the singular words to their plural forms.
ReplyDeleteGrammar is an important thing it learn because it will help your writing, speacking, and reading comprehension later on in life. Using grammar can be a distinct factor in a lot of important events in your life. Grammar is the base for language, and well if you don't understand the language you are using you can't go very far.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest problem with grammar is my sentence structres, and repeating myself. The excersises in LBH have helped, so it's just about putting it to use, and making it work; but I feel I have been improving little by little.
Once i did these assignments I immediately recognized change in my word choices and improvement in my writing. After taking the midterm today even i used a lot of the things learning in the Little Brown Handbook. Like Daniel said you can't persuade someone if you aren't using correct grammar. These exercises really were helpful in strengthening rhetoric. My biggest problem is the effectiveness of my sentences. I know my point and my point gets across but this chapter really helped make my sentences more concise.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to study grammar and usage because when it comes down to expressing our thoughts, we need to be able to express them in an intellectual manner. If a person uses incorrect grammar and has poor word choice when expressing himself, it is likely that very few people will listen, because they will tune him out thinking that he has no idea what he's talking about, even if he does. In a country where we have the freedom of speech, we may as well take advantage of it and speak effectively with proper grammar.
ReplyDeleteEven though grammar is one of the dryest topics to study it is helpful. Without proper grammar, the efficiancy of rhetoric would be greatly depleted. Without proper grammar our diction, and syntax would also be reduced. We would be reduced to using child-like grammar that makes us sound uneducated and is not pleaseing to the ear. We rely on grammar to make our thoughts coherant and concise. A good example of the use of grammar is in The Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man. In the first chapter his thoughts stray and are hard to comprehend but as his grammar improves he becomes easier to understand. I believe that I have improved the most on reducing my run-on sentences by learning more about diction and being concise.
ReplyDelete