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Date: | Thu, 16 Aug 2001 14:02:21 EDT |
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In a message dated 8/16/2001 4:30:38 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
<< This then provides the teacher and student understanding of why
students have such a hard time learning to WRITE Standard English -- they are
putting on paper their accustomed conversational patterns, and the syntax of
conversation and the syntax of Standard Edited English are quite different.
>>
Rebecca,
This sounds fascinating! What a great way to draw attention to the
differences. Every year I struggle to help my kids understand the concept of
voice in writing, and they have a very difficult time finding a more formal
voice for their writing. One or two a year never "get it," and I send them
off to seventh grade writing gems like "I really, really liked lit circles
this year - soooo cool! I hope we get to do them next year (even though our
teacher is new and might be an ax murderer for all I know - JOKE, Mrs. Lee!"
in a year end reflective essay (actual quote, mind you!).
I would posit that there is a new pattern emerging due to technology - email.
Email writing seems to be a curious mix of conversation and formal writing.
My students email me frequently, and the style is different from either their
writing in class or their speech. It may be a function of the shortcuts
available (numbers and letters in a shorthand "c u latr" or "brb" for be
right back) and the graphics they have embraced so quickly (emoticons,
colors, and jpegs abound). I'm just as bad - I found to my horror that I had
sent off welcoming emails to our new teachers with a winking emoticon in the
close. Sigh.
Fascinating subject! Thanks, Rebecca. I know how I'm opening my writing
workshop this year. Now to round up some tape recorders!
Gretchen in San Jose
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