Susan,
   In your own post, "teacher" and "student" get repeated very
effectively. The subject of your third sentence is "that", which refers
back to the content of thwe previous sentences. You use "But" to start
your second paragraph. Every sentence in your final paragraph starts
with "I", and I don't mean that as a criticism. Much of our advice
about writing doesn't match what good writers do.

Craig

>

On May 16, 2009, at 9:20 PM, Craig Hancock wrote:
>> You don't help students by giving them
>> a false description of language because you believe they aren't
>> capable
>> of the truth.
>
>
> Maybe we don't actually disagree.  If a teacher actually told her
> students that good writers never start sentences with the word
> "because" or an essay that doesn't have a thesis at the end of the
> first paragraph is wrong and an example of bad writing, then I am
> with you.  That is false information.
>
> But a teacher who tells her students that they can only write in
> pencil, or that they must show their work, or that their essay must
> have 5 paragraphs is not giving them false information.  Should a
> teacher clarify that the rule about "because" is only for this class
> and that when they are older they may break this rule?  Yes.  I think
> that probably does happen.  I think it is too much for some students
> to process, and what they retain is just the rule itself.
>
>> "Vary sentence starts" would be another example of bad advice.
>
> I am surprise that you believe this.  I notice you vary your sentence
> starts.  I do too.  I would only break that rule to prove a point.  I
> hope I have proved it.  I am not sure if I have.  I hope you will let
> me know.
>
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