Memo to Brad:
Your posts provide an interesting entry into a point that many students find difficult to learn - or, perhaps more accurately, that I find difficult to teach - namely, the "tone" of academic discourse. Telling students that the purpose of their writing is not to teach "life's lessons" always manages to produce much debate. So there is nothing, of course, that's inherently wrong with givng grammar surveys to grammarians, or particularly disturbing with results that show we have different positions when it comes to reading and analyzing texts. (I believe a prior post on this subject pointed out that context has a lot to do with interpretation.) A writing researcher whom I greatly admire (David Bartholomae) describes the student's job as "joining the conversation." Thus, the "life's lesson" to be learned by those who would engage academic grammarians in grammar surveys is simply this - to be treated as an equal, don't presume to be superior. So, Brad, keep up the good work - you're on your way!
Geoff
Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:19:59 -0800From: [log in to unmask]: Brad's Grammar Survey - continuedTo: [log in to unmask]
Dear Grammarians,
I have read your several comments and find a certain lack of focus. What is at issue is that forty people were kind enough, or brave enough, to respond and the results came out this way.
%
( 45 ) John is upset because his application was turned down.
( 55 ) John is upset because his application has been turned down.
( 37 ) John was upset because his application was turned down.
( 64 ) John was upset because his application had been turned down.
The question is, what conclusions can be drawn from what you see above? What does it mean that 40 grammar professionals display the wide range of opinion displayed above?
There are no names attached to the results. It was hard enough to rack them up by the numbers without trying to separate who said what, so do not worry that I will try to call any entity to account. Please try to view this exercise as the honest inquiry I claim it to be.
I honor your profession and your professionalism. Please do not persuade me otherwise.
Please reply to [log in to unmask], not to the listserv.
.sincerely.brad.15feb08.
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