Day 18: My 5 Best Writing Tips

And today, pretty much, we conclude the writing instruction portion of our course.  Almost...

So, when we're talking about all this different grammar stuff, what do we mean really?

Grammar is like glamour--they have the same etymology--only…

"It is not the business of grammar, as some critics seem preposterously to imagine, to give law to the fashions that regulate our speech.  On the contrary, from its conformity to these, and from that alone, it derives its authority and value."
(George Campbell, Philosophy of Rhetoric, 1776)

"The child does not learn his language from his grammar.  After he has learned it in other ways, grammar steps in and furnishes him a scientific analysis of what he has been doing."
(Thomas R. Lounsbury, "Compulsory Composition in Colleges."  Harper's Monthly Magazine, Nov. 1911)

"A preschooler's tacit knowledge of grammar is more sophisticated than the thickest style manual. [Grammar should not] be confused with the guidelines for how one 'ought' to speak."
(Steven Pinker, Words and Rules.  Harper, 1999)

“Families is where our nation finds hope” (George W. Bush)

Two Perspectives on Grammar

Pre_scriptive_________                      De_scriptive__________

Prescriptive views of grammar prescribe specific rules that have to be followed.  Descriptive views of grammar simply view grammar rules as describing what we already are doing with our language.  I lean toward the latter view even though I am teaching you grammar rules for your own benefit.

E. B. White and William Strunk Jr. wrote the handiest little book on grammar rules and it still is a great source.  It's called The Elements of Style and you can get it for free online here.  And finally, I'd just like to share My 5 Best Writing Tips.  I hope these help you.

Good luck as you finish your research argument assignments.  Work hard on them.  They're one of the biggest grades for this class.  I know that all of you can do well if you apply yourselves.

Grammar Review: 

Since we've talked so much about grammar today, I just thought I'd share this image that gives a particular mode of rhetoric that we haven't talked about yet.  It always sparks a lot of conversation, but it is an interesting situation to think about rhetorically.  Do you think his approach is effective?  Why or why not?  What is he trying to communicate and why?

Your Daily Assignment:

Finish your papers!  To turn them in, I'd like you to post them to Google Docs and set the permissions to public where "anyone can edit" them.  Share the links on your blogs.  


Here's a pretty good guide to get you started...  if you run into more trouble... just Google it!