dwalker

Behind every great writer is great grammar, and the trick to great grammar is simplicity and cleanliness, never any mess or confusion! Great grammar is not a gift. It is a skill; you can learn it! But you have to think about it. You need to know your writing well enough to know where your grammatical strengths and weaknesses lie. Knowing your writing is your ticket to grammatical greatness!             Below is a simple guide to grammatical gregariousness, a surefire means of grabbing your reader’s gazoo without his ever even knowing it and sweeping him along on the swell of your grammatical grandiloquence.  Follow these simple guidelines, and you will know your writing as well as any teacher! Become a guaranteed grammatical grandmaster today!!!            

 Use the categories below to assess and correct your writing. I am always available to answer all your questions. And remember, think Grammatical Greatness!  

 1. Tense:

a.When writing about the events of a piece of literature, use present tense. Imagine the characters and events as living and occurring now.

 b. When writing narratively, use the past tense.

c.  Keep your tenses consistent. If the body of your text is in past tense, it must be consistently past tense. d.    Keep your tenses simple. Avoid the perfect tense (have, had, will have had) and the conditional (would, could) wherever possible.  

2. Agreement:

a. Subjects and verbs must agree (be the same) in number: singular subject means singular verb; plural subject means plural verb.

b. Pronouns and their referents must agree in number as well. It is very common to have a singular referent (the noun to which the pronoun refers) and a plural pronoun (The person put their gloves by the radiator.), so be careful.  

3. Reference:

a. Make sure that the pronouns you use in your writing have specific referents in proximity (the previous couple of sentences). You mustn’t leave your reader wondering to what or to whom the pronoun is referring.

Francis gave Mary her final two weeks notice. (To whom does “her” refer?)

b.     The most common reference errors occur when using this, that, and it. Please be sure you have a clear reference when using either of these.

Mr. Walker failed me because I was late all the time. This really made me furious. (To what does “this” refer?)  

 4. Comma Usage:

 a. Use a comma with the coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, for, but, yet) when you are joining complete ideas.

b. Use commas with phrases or clauses interrupt the progress of the idea in the sentence ( Walter closely observed his daughters, whose relationship had been strained for years, and decided that he needed talk to his wife about them.).

 c. Use a comma after a long phrase or clause which begins your sentence.

d. Never end a complete idea with a comma. Use a period. (I had known for years that my father was ill, I didn’t the end would come so quickly.)        

Macgruder’s Helpful Hints for Effective Writing

            Remember that your audience needs clear, concise writing. Here are some hints that will help you to be a direct and effective writer.  

 1. Verb Usage: Use active verbs that capture your thinking. Avoid using passive voice (never have the subject of your sentence receive the action of the verb).

I was given an old pair of boots by my father. (passive)

My father gave me an old pair of boots. (active)    

2. Syntax: Syntax is the way you put words together in a sentence to communicate your idea. Be direct. Remove unnecessary words (very, definitely, totally, etc.) and phrases. Remember that the power of your sentence is in simplicity, clarity, and verb choice. Avoid convolution. As you revise your writing, think about how you have constructed your sentences. A simple rule is clear subject, active verb, and simple qualification. If you see “combine”, “compress”, “simplify” or “clarify”, you must take out the unnecessary phrasing.

 3. Sentence Combination: A useful rule of thumb is to combine no more than two separate ideas in a sentence. There may be times, particularly as you become more proficient in concision, that you will play with this rule, but for now keep it simple.

4. Coherence: Think carefully about how you move from thought to thought. Connect your thoughts smoothly. Avoid simply stacking one thought on top of another.

5. Logic: Be sure that your assertions can be clearly supported in your reading. Don’t cling to an idea that cannot be supported.

Russ McDonald suggests that “throughout Twelfth Night Shakespeare makes his audience aware that words are unreliable images of reality.” We are in Illyria after all, and what we perceive and what is true are often at odds. The language of the play ranges from the ridiculous, as when Sir Toby praises Sir Andrew as “as tall as any man in Illyria”to the sublimely ironic, as when Cesario describes to travails of his “sister’s” love.  It is language that gets these characters into and out of trouble, not action, and clearly, each character’s use of language shapes who he/she is in the play. Your job is to explore how. Below are some suggestions for focus. Choose one and see where it takes you. You may write about a variation on one the ideas below, but you must focus on how character is shaped by his/her use of language. Take a look.
 

• What do Feste’s songs reveal about his character?
• Sir Toby linguistically browbeats and terrifies Sir Andrew and Cesario. Why? What is revealed of him and his purpose in the play?
• Viola seems to have a love affair with words. She is exhilarated and later trapped by them. How so?
• Malvolio depends on words, and he is stung, badly. How so?
• What do we learn about Orsino in his lovesick ramblings?
• Olivia is quite the flirt. How so?

Your essay should have three essential parts: a discussion of a character’s relationship with language, a detailed analysis of your favorite of his/her passages, and what you make of the character having done this exploration. It is most important that you engage with the text closely; pull it apart and examine it. How does your character use figurative language? What images are sharpest? What does the presence of rhythm or rhyme reveal? What is his/her use of irony? Ok? Any questions?
 

Here is what you need to include:

• a compelling idea, related to character and language, clearly stated and introduced
• focus on your character’s relationship with language, a detailed analysis of your favorite passage, and the meaning you make as a result.
• a conclusion which reminds the reader of content and suggests new thinking
• a compelling title
• careful diction and simple, direct syntax
• grammatical/mechanical correctness (Macgruder lives!!!)
• 2-3 pages please
• Writing group conferences on Weds. 10/4 (day H).
• Paper due Thurs. 10/5.

Congratulations! You have blogged wisely and well. I am glad to see that you are carrying on the conversation. In some cases you began new ones, as with those of you who set out to cast the play. I wanted to tell you some of what I saw in the hope that it might help to shape the short paper you will begin in the next day or so.

• Many of you were interested in love and attraction and whether they have much in common. Some of you argued that Elizabethans were not as interested in love, that marriage was a business arrangement. There were, however, hundreds of thousands of love sonnets written at that time, and Shakespeare wrote many romantic comedies.
• Many of you talked about gender confusion, how entertaining it is and how compelling. You wondered a good deal about women’s cleverness and their roles in the community. You suggested that it is the women who determine/direct the action of the play. Where Maria leads, for example, the men follow. Viola’s strength, you suggest, is never compromised.
• Viola and Maria have the best lines.
• Many of you were drawn to Feste and his insight. There were much said about his songs as well. We take him more seriously than the other men in the play.Some of you said that Maria serves much the same role as Feste in the play - the fools who sees human nature more clearly than the others in the play. What do you think?

Shakespeare is very intentional. Each event, quirk of character, and turn of phrase is there for a reason. We just have to figure out why.

As you think about the characters, go back and look at what they say; you’ll find everything you need to know about character there.

Please do not forget to comment on others’ blogs. It helps the writer, and it helps you to clarify your thinking.  

Dear parents/guardians,

As a critical component of AP English this year, each student will create and maintain a weblog, or “blog”.  A weblog is a web-based and text-based chronicle of the individual’s conversations and personal reflections on specific course-related ideas. We use it as a means to carry on the discussions we begin in class, as a means to share  and get feedback on longer writing, and to reflect on the reading that we have done, to name a few. What makes the weblog different from a traditional website is that the blog allows for immediate response. When I read another’s post, I can immediately post a comment to the writer offering my thoughts on his/her idea. And the writer can respond back to me.  Teachers around the country, as well as around the world, are using blogs to open up their classrooms to new ideas and to connect their students outside the classroon.  A blog is a powerful learning tool that forces students to be accountable for their own learning and gives them the opportunity to publish their findings.

Student blogs are a great fit for Connecticut’s state standards for English and the language arts, which call for students to be able to read and respond to texts in a variety of forms and from many cultures, to use English to communicate their ideas clearly and proficiently, and to employ the language arts for lifelong learning, work, and enjoyment.  They provide a wonderful opportunity to practice writing in different styles and for different purposes.  In addition, as students become more blog-savvy, they will gain valuable experience in evaluating the merits of different sources, becoming skilled media critics.

There has been much attention lately on the dangers of the internet.  Social-networking sites like MySpace, for example, allow teenagers to post revealing or incriminating pictures and information that make them easy targets for unsavory characters.  I want to make it clear that a class blog has nothing to do with that sort of site.  Your student’s blog, in accordance with Greenwich High School’s Acceptable Use Policy, will be for academic use only.  Revelation of personal information, including (but not limited to) a student’s full name, address, identifying characteristics, or personal photograph, may be cause for immediate deletion of the blog, as well strict disciplinary action.  Your child’s safety is as important to me as it is to you, and I will be monitoring the blogs regularly. For more information on blog safety you might visit http://www.blogsafey.com/forum.jspa?forumID+1100000006.

In addition, I encourage you to read your student’s blog regularly.  Not only will your attention help keep your student safe online, but it will give you additional insight into what we are doing in the classroom and the new knowledge that is being created.  Feel free to leave comments online and to discuss the writing with your student.  These blogs are meant to serve as a document of the progress made during the school year, as well as an invitation to the community to contribute.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at david_walker@greenwich.k12.ct.us

Sincerely,

David Walker 

Blogging Guidelines

Blogging is a very public activity. Anything that gets posted on the internet stays there. Forever. Deleting a post simply removes it from the blog it was posted to. Copies of the post may exist scattered all over the internet. That is why we are being so careful to respect your privacy and using first names only. We do not use pictures of ourselves.

Students using blogs are expected to treat blogspaces as classroom spaces. Speech that is inappropriate for class is not appropriate for our blog. While we encourage you to engage in debate and conversation with other bloggers, we also expect that you will conduct yourself in a manner reflective of a representative of this school.

Never EVER EVER give out or record personal information on your blog. Your blog exists as a public space on the Internet. Don’t share anything that you don’t want the world to know. For your safety, be careful what you say, too. Don’t give out your phone number or home address. This is particularly important to remember if you have a personal online journal or blog elsewhere.

Again, your blog is a public space. And if you put it on the Internet, odds are really good that it will stay on the Internet. Always. That means ten years from now when you are looking for a job, it might be possible for anyone to discover some really hateful and immature things you said when you were younger and more prone to foolish things. Be sure that anything you write you are proud of. It can come back to haunt you if you don’t.

Never link to something you haven’t read. While it isn’t your job to police the Internet, when you link to something, you should make sure it is something that you really want to be associated with. If a link contains material that might be creepy or make some people uncomfortable, you should try a different source.

Freedom of speech comes with personal responsibility.  Everything you post represents you.  You shouldn’t post anything you wouldn’t be comfortable with anyone, from your parents to potential employers, viewing.

 
Blogging Policy

1. I will not use any curse words or inappropriate language.
2. I will not use fighting words or provoke anyone.
3. I will avoid the use of chat language.
4. I will try to spell everything correctly.
5. I will only give constructive criticism.
6. I will only use my first name.
7. I will not post pictures of myself.
8. I will not give out any personal information about myself or anyone else.
9. I am responsible for anything posted in my name.
10. I will not plagiarize.
11. I will use common sense.

I recognize that breaking any of these rules could lead to any of the following consequences depending on severity and repetition:

1. warning
2. deletion of some or all of the post
3. temporary loss of blogging privileges
4. permanent loss of blogging privileges

I further recognize that the blog is considered a virtual extension of our classroom, and therefore all GHS and that all internet usage policies apply. I am aware that violation of any of these rules may be referred to the School Administration.

Adapted from Ms. Simpson’s Mathematical Musings,
http://mathmusings.blogspot.com/2006/01/safe-blogging.html
 

One of my roles as your teacher is to listen to your discussions without too much interjection. It’s a challenge because I want to respond to all the engaging ideas you present. One way to keep my mouth shut during discussion is to write to you about at least some of what I heard you say. The great thing about blogging is that you can read and comment on what I have said, either as response or correction! So, take a look below and post a comment if you like.

Block 2

You began by observing that Feste is the “wise” fool. He has great depth of character and brings a sense of reality to the play that none of the other characters does. We see him cleverly bring Olivia back to reality with “take the fool away”. You suggested as well that Feste is the audience’s true connection to the characters in the play; we see them as they really are when we look through his eyes.

You went on to observe the Orsino is simply in love with being in love. He would rather be miserable than to take action. He seems to be a giant ego. It is through him that we see men satirized.The great irony is that when he actually does take action, he is entirely changeable. Love matters, not the person whom he loves. Which leads to your observation that love appears to have no substance; it is just a word. The relationships seem to be dressed in  finery but have no real substance. They seem superficial, empty. We have to wonder whether love will be able to actually sustain the relationship.

One question that occurs to me is Does Viola make the “rules”?

Block 4

You began by suggesting that comedy has more voices, that the story seems to be told by more characters than appears to be true in tragedy. Othello seems to be “told” primarily by Iago and Othello whereas Viola, Orsina, Olivia, Maria, Feste, Malvolio, Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew all have a hand in the story told in Twelfth Night. You went on to discuss the idea that comedy is more plot driven than tragedy. Not a great deal happens in Othello while Twelfth Night is full of activity. You explained that comedy remains on the surface; characters don’t appear to have the same depth as characters in tragedy. It is only after the fact that we reflect on motivation. Feste seems to be the only exception.

Many of you seemed to chafe a little at making a list of rules that govern comedy as a genre. You pointed a number of ways in which the plays we have read don’t really fit the rules. These criteria do provide a framework for considering these plays and others, and while there are always exceptions, the criteria do provide milestones along the way to check our progress.

We had an electrician in recently. He’s a real talker. He explains everything, which turns out to be a blessing because we have a lot of electrical problems in our house. The combination of the previous owner and a previous electrician created an extraordinary mess. This new guy, Sal, pulled out this tester and poked it all over the place, getting a read on where the problems and the solutions might lay. He clearly knows how to use that tester. I’d like to suggest that literature serves the same function as Sal’s tester. It gives a picture of the strengths and weaknesses of the world and people it depicts. But you have to know how to use what you read. That’s where questions come in. Let’s continue our work by asking a collection of related questions. Then we can consider the literature we use to attempt some answers. There is also a list of work that I will ask you to do with some general due dates. Take a look.  

The Questions:  

1.   What are the rules by which people are supposed to conduct their lives?

2.    Who makes them? By what authority?

3.   What do the rules reveal about the people who make them?

4.   What happens when the rules are misunderstood or transgressed? 

5.   What made the rules breakable to begin with?  

The Literature:            

The reading is assigned by text. For the most part, there are no nightly assignments. You are expected to have the reading completed by a given date. Please plan accordingly.

Here are the texts:   Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

Mona Lisa Smile a film set at Wellesley College in the mid 1950s

Selected poetry Independent Reading    

Expressing Your Understanding:             You not only have to read! You need to make sense of it. You do that in class and small group discussion, but you also do it in writing and in what teachers like to call visual texts. Here is what you can expect through the 1^st quarter:

1. the summer reading assignments
2. a 3-5 page discussion on language, character, and who makes the rules in Twelfth Night, due in late September
3. an ap exam style in class writing assignment in which a central character from A Passage to India reflects on the probability of East ever meeting West, done in early October
4. a conversation with independent reading – you reflect on your reading in several journal style entries, due in mid October
5. a “visual take” on what defines the world of Turn of the Screw and who defines it, done in late October
6. An culminating essay in which you use a choice of literature to help you consider what you have learned about the nature of rules, who makes them, and whether or not we should follow them, due in early November.

  ***The due dates are tentative because we need to wait and see where we are. As you are doing your planning and preparing, know that these are the assignment you can expect. If you have any questions, please ask.