*I think that a lot of people, of all ages, have problems with commas. “Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause” (Strunk pg 5). When I first read this I was like, huh?
-Silisa
Me too girl! Up until my 300 or so level classes I did not know basic grammar or definitive rules, just relying on my ear for what sounded right. At that point I started looking these things up myself and learned how to translate that to-
“Silisa and Christine learn style, clarity, and English grammar.”
A refresher course would better prepare kids for college and reinforce positive habits. Mastering basic skills is a necessary foundation and habits get harder to break as time goes on.
Silisa also has really cool features on her blog (the page markers, I like those).
*I’ve written some total crap in my time that was still positively reviewed, and I written some awesome stuff that was poorly received. Bad writing is in the eye of the be-reader? And how do personal feelings toward the author/writer of the piece affect your opinion of it?
-Aimee
I couldn’t agree more and I think Aimee’s statement affirms itself. Funny how that happens sometimes. Personal feelings undoubtedly have an effect on a person’s interpretation and opinion of writing, evidenced by the fact that other people and teachers have felt differently about our work than we have. Not only personal feelings but prior knowledge- Williams explains that prior knowledge has an enormous effect on the reader’s comprehension. I also thought it was gracious of him to point out that often if we don’t understand something it’s because the writer does not know how to write. And as Williams points out, a writer will form something of an opinion of the author based on their work.
* This book was not laid out as clear, concise rules followed by examples but rather a more in depth look at each principle (Williams).
-Allison
I can see how Strunk and White’s book could be considered more clear and concise because of its format as more of a reference book. I really think that Williams’ in depth discussion and examples is even more clear and concise, because he has more to say about it. Instead of wondering how to apply the concepts, they are directly illustrated. From the preface forward the ideas seem to link as a cohesive work. Strunk and White was specific and to the point, but what they do not say leaves a lot of gray area.
