Rutgers Declares Grammar Racist

[Cow Poke]

I had an English teacher in high school who taught with an almost militant fervor. She used curriculum that we called "Programmed Grammar" (I forget the longer title) that was literally page after page after page of grammar drills, and then at the end of every chapter, you had to take a test and pass with at least an 80% or you had to do the entire chapter over again. Naturally, we students hated "PG" with a passion, but I suppose I can't complain because it did teach me to right gud.

Did you do days and days of "diagramming sentences" on the chalkboard? Subject, predicate, verb, noun, adverb, adverb, "understood"....... I can almost do that in my sleep.

[Mountain Man]

Did you do days and days of "diagramming sentences" on the chalkboard? Subject, predicate, verb, noun, adverb, adverb, "understood"....... I can almost do that in my sleep.

Uggh... yes...

[Cow Poke]

Uggh... yes...

OK, confession --- my weaknesses are commas (I use way too many) and whether or not the punctuation mark goes at the end of the sentence when it ends in a quote, or inside the quote.

OH, and after learning that you don't use a comma after the next-to-last item in a series, I got fussed at in college for NOT using a comma after the next-to-last item in a series!

Grammar certainly is not as exact as the maths.

[Mountain Man]

I'm a "comma after the second to last item" guy, and I will put the comma inside or outside the quote, depending on context.

For instance, "Petra is the best rock band ever," he said.

vs

My favorite Petra song, "Stand In The Gap", was recorded in 1988.

[mikewhitney]

OK, confession --- my weaknesses are commas (I use way too many) and whether or not the punctuation mark goes at the end of the sentence when it ends in a quote, or inside the quote.

OH, and after learning that you don't use a comma after the next-to-last item in a series, I got fussed at in college for NOT using a comma after the next-to-last item in a series!

Grammar certainly is not as exact as the maths.

Don't learn this stuff. Once you learn it one way they change the rules again.

I saw some examples where the comma is useful before the "and" but I don't remember them.

The commas I like least are when you are have multiple, obnoxious adjectives separated by commas. I think this is just a way of discouraging the use of multiple adjectives.

[KingsGambit]

Don't learn this stuff. Once you learn it one way they change the rules again.

I saw some examples where the comma is useful before the "and" but I don't remember them.

The commas I like least are when you are have multiple, obnoxious adjectives separated by commas. I think this is just a way of discouraging the use of multiple adjectives.

But they are good for the the common practice of padding your word length for writing papers. Also, supposedly, repeating the the word "the" commonly goes unnoticed and the the practice is often used to bump them up.

[Mountain Man]

But they are good for the the common practice of padding your word length for writing papers. Also, supposedly, repeating the the word "the" commonly goes unnoticed and the the practice is often used to bump them up.

tumblr_oltjbmCFsJ1sie5gfo1_1280.jpg

[kiwimac]

Rutgers Declares Grammar Racist

English Department pledges to incorporate 'critical grammar' into program



Us Grammar Nazis is in lots of troubles!

You do realise that is not what the article says? I would also add that Johnson's critique is wrong as well. When English is taught it is important to realise that not everyone, especially those from other cultures, starts in the same place. It is perfectly acceptable to structure the way a language is taught to ensure those folk do not get left behind.

[seer]

It is perfectly acceptable to structure the way a language is taught to ensure those folk do not get left behind.

No, it is perfectly acceptable to teach English only. It is funny, I grew up in the 60s with Blacks and Latinos (from Cuba) in my classes who learned English as well as me. And with a number of Italian immigrants who learned English just fine.

[Cow Poke]

You do realise that is not what the article says? I would also add that Johnson's critique is wrong as well. When English is taught it is important to realise that not everyone, especially those from other cultures, starts in the same place.
It is perfectly acceptable to structure the way a language is taught to ensure those folk do not get left behind.

That's not what this is about.

[Sparko]

If someone is in college they should know college level grammar. Even if they are foreign. If they don't they shouldn't be taking that level of class and should go take some remedial courses first.

Maybe they will come out with "critical math" next for people who don't know how to do math. Then people can just make up their own math. 1+5=15!