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Effect of social class differences on the education system
Effect of social class differences on the education system
Effect of social class differences on the education system
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Rule(s) of the English Language
When it comes to the education of the English language, every class tends to have their different views on what is constituted as proper writing. These views, also known as prescriptive rules, create many flaws for children growing up with an education which eventually will impact the general English language. A shibboleth, known as a word or way of speaking and behaving which proves that a person belongs to a particular group, is one of Pinker’s ways of explaining how proper writing within a class is depicted (Pinker 375). In his reading The Language Mavens, Pinker states that prescriptive rules have to be enforced consistently in order to be understood, providing a brief understanding that language may be
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This contributes to Pinker’s idea that the English language is failing. First, children lack the self-esteem to write a solid paper and from there, will not ask for the help they need. Lee Warren states in his paper, “The biggest factor affecting learning for lower class students is a lack of confidence based on real or perceived weaknesses in preparation” (Warren). Simply because a child is not from the highest class and they are intertwined with these high class students they feel they cannot learn as well and that shows in their work. This should not be a factor and this is where teachers need to step in with their set fundamental rules that all children should face when writing. Teachers need to apply the fundamental rules as well as ensure every child in each class feels equal and like they are capable of being a proper writer. Pinker tries to say “[that] once introduced, a prescriptive rule is very hard to eradicate, no matter how ridiculous” (Pinker 374). This is completely false. What needs to happen is teaching authorities needs to step in and fix the problems by starting with young children and following through until they are done school following with a repetition of this for all
Stein, Marcy and Robert C. Dixon. "Effective writing instruction for diverse learners." School Psychology Review 23 (1994): 392-406.
As children, we learn to read and write the typical English language taught to us by our elementary school teachers. Although we are fully capable of speaking and writing it, we are not fully aware of the ways the english language has been used to trick and deceive us. Language is misused in many different ways, and it is rarely identified by the average citizen. According to some known authors, like William Lutz, Donna Woolfolk, William Zinsser and others, language is being used to manipulate the minds of the average citizen. Average citizens should become fully aware of the language used around them. Many times, the language used is full of honest lies, that are being blindly believed. Commercials on television are constantly advertising their products, doing everything they can to convince their audience. Writers are constantly writing things to make things sound better than they really are. These writers tend to be the ones who end up working with advertising companies or political parties to increase their chances of being bought out. Big words seem to be doing the job when it comes to convincing people. Those who are fully aware of the ways language can be manipulated are constantly misusing it to their advantage, they find ways to deceive the average citizen. Being aware of the language used around us is a very important aspect of becoming a well informed citizen; if one is not fully aware of the tricks language can pull, they will quickly and foolishly be betrayed on a daily basis.
Evidence: During my research, I found one teacher who said “I teach writing and journalism, yet I found some questions were written so awkwardly — although they were grammatically correct — that I wanted to take a red pen to them and demand that they be rewritten” (Streetman)
The article begins with subjective examples of what a “problem” is when it comes to challenges faced by students. The examples portray students having excuses for not being able to write. The writers successfully identify the underlying issues. I personally thought the examples were unnecessary as the point was clear enough. The central arguments focus around providing the impression of “basic writers”, and introduction of classroom activities and exercises. As the authors claim that these are what so called “Reflective practices” (Fernsten and Reda 171). The latter part of the central arguments emphasize on the multidisciplinary application of the presented strategy. Conclusion does seem to conclude and cover essential points from the evidences provided.
To be prepared for any question, educators begin teaching to the test. “Fifty-two percent of teachers surveyed said they spend too much time on testing and test prep (Walker).” This can have many negative effects in the classroom. For one, creative writing is used less and less in modern English classes. Most students are lucky to participate in lab experiments, instead of spending precious time studying formulas. This can, not only create a sense of dread in a classroom, but handicap a child’s interest in learning as well.
...ate fully in the society in which they live. Educators must ensure students have a deep understanding of writing as a social construct and provide students with opportunities to practice using language as a social tool so as they can express themselves with confidence.
As a homeschool mom you know that children who learn to write well will do better in college and even in life. Yet it is hard to know the difference between a dangling participle and a sentence fragment. How are we supposed to be able to grade their work or tell them how to write better beyond spelling errors?
Throughout the course, the question of the validity of prescriptivism versus descriptivism has constantly come into question. Prescriptivism characterizes a specific pattern of linguistic habits within a language as “proper” or “correct”. From those habits, linguistics, professors, and usually the ruling class dictate rules surrounding the structure and usages of those habits. On the other hand, Descriptivism dictates language should be studied, approached, and taught as it is truly used. That includes the entirety of a language’s slang, unconcise ramblings, and fragmented, choppy subordinate clauses. The discord between the two theories of grammar have incited a serious of “do’s” and “don’ts” within the English language, such as using active
Cursive writing is a form of penmanship that flows by joining letters together with loops so that the writing motion is continuous and therefore more efficient because the pen does not have to lift off the page as often. Although cursive has been the primary method of writing for centuries, it has been slowly disappearing over the last decade in our primary schools. According to the US Today, 41 states have removed cursive writing instruction from their mandatory curriculum (qtd. Tarshis 6). There is significant controversy currently within the educator community on whether or not to keep cursive alive by making it mandatory curriculum in primary education. The debate centers on the time required to learn cursive, which could be dedicated
The pen was once said to be mightier than the sword. Writing letters, books, and poetry by hand was the sign of a scholar. However over time the pen became weak and typewriters ushered in the new theory that speed is better than quality. With the invention of computer programs such as spell check, audio books, and even texting humankinds’ knowledge of language has suffered. Spell check has decreased peoples understanding of spelling and grammar. In past years schools made a point to teach grammar and spelling but having essays and papers written out by hand but in modern times schools lean towards typing up paper on computers and using spell check to fix any problems causing concern among parents and teachers. With the invention of the typewriter it became not how well an individual could write but how fast one could type. This was one of the first steps in a society that didn’t care about the quality of writing but how fast it could be done. Now in modern times with the advancements in computers knowing proper spelling and grammar of one’s own language have become very poor. It has become accepted and even taught that it is fine to have poor grammar and spelling as long as one can type fast. By simply click on one icon that says “spell check” on any typing/writing device all ones grammar and spelling errors will be fixed without having to know why it was wrong in the first place. “When being a student in grade school as well as in high school (1934-1946), grammar was heavily emphasized in English/language arts classes, particularly in grades four through the senior year in high school” (Marlow pg1). Grammar and proper spelling was once taught greatly in schools but as typing became a new staple in schools way of teaching writing ...
Child A struggled the most with writing, including spelling and pronunciation of words as well as counting and recall of number facts in maths. Provisions that the class teacher and school put in place included intervention groups outside of the classroom, where the child would go with an adult to a separate room to complete the class task or to use online support programmes suc...
“A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all the time – if corrected to much, he will stop talking”(3). This article has changed my opinion on starting to send children to school as young as four years old. Children that young are still trying to figure things out by themselves, nothing good will come out of making them sit in a classroom for hours. Children shouldn’t be bombarded with rules the minute they step foot in a school building. It changes their perspective on how the world works. Children feel pressured enough at school, adding ways to test their knowledge isn’t going to prove anything. A change in the grading system might be what we need. In “School is Bad for Children”, John Holt explains his view on how school
In society today, being able to write is a big part of the curriculum. When I was as little as three years old I never knew how much writing would be important in my life today, as an adult. From the very beginning, of being introduced to words in elementary school, I struggled with spelling words correctly. I can remember being in class and struggling with the difficulty of spelling something as simple as my own name.
As I already mentioned above, there are many subcategories of the English language. In order to know English Linguistics, we have to be aware of regional and social and variability. When I attended the classes of The study of language I became aware of the tremendous differences of American, Australian and British English. It is evidence how territorial boundaries affect language development. Long time ago, American, Australian and British English were the same, but today, we are able to see a clear distinction between them. People from different places speak differently, but even within the same community, people might speak differently according to their ethnicity and social or educational background. This presents numerous variations within
Standardization of the English Language There are several important events before 1500 that, when listed together, show a series of steps in the struggle for English language supremacy. These steps are mainly governmental, legal and official events that pushed English usage. In 1356 The Sheriff's Court in London and Middlesex were conducted in English for the first time. When Parliament opened in 1362 the Statute of Pleading was issued declaring English as a language of the courts as well as of Parliament, but it was not until 1413 that English became the official language of the courts everywhere. Thirteen years later in 1423, Parliament records start being written in English.