David Mulroy's The War Against Grammar mentions how the Greeks are mainly responsible for the creation of grammar. The thing I found most interesting about this chapter was the topic of the Seven Divine Bridesmaids. The topic of grammar versus rhetoric is the first thing that really caught my attention. The book infers that Plato held a higher opinion of grammar than of rhetoric. To me, this is somewhat intriguing, since it seems all philosophical data, before Plato started writing, was remembered through oral speech.
I will continue this conversation later, but must tend to other things right now.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Grammar in the Hood
I think almost everyone approached grammar the same way. Nobody really liked it at first, but soon organizing and structuring sentences became addicting. I feel that in order to like grammar, one must surely suffer from O.C.D. Okay, I'm only kidding. They either suffer from that or they really appreciate the written language. When I was first introduced to grammar, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it. After time though, I learned to look forward to the class where labeling sentences took up a majority of the hour.
My first memory of grammar would have to be in elementary school where we practiced the Shirley-English Method. I enjoyed labeling sentences. However, as I grew older I found it much more enjoyable to create the sentences that needed to be labeled. I preferred to write.
The question of why grammar should be taught and learned is not difficult to answer. Grammar is knowledge. According to a some philosophers, knowledge is the only good and ignorance is the only evil. If we believe this to be true, which to some degree I do, then grammar should simply be taught because it is knowledge.
This could probably be compared to working at a corporate office or something similiar. In the beginning, I had an entry level job delivering mail. In this position I spent a majority of my time in the basement, pushing around a cart piled high with stamped envelopes that needed my attention. Then, I got promoted. I no longer have to work in the basement, but I have an office with windows and even a fake plant in the corner. I get mail delivered to me. It seems that taking this class will be like revisiting the mailroom. Which is okay, because every now and then it is good to go back and remember where you came from.
My first memory of grammar would have to be in elementary school where we practiced the Shirley-English Method. I enjoyed labeling sentences. However, as I grew older I found it much more enjoyable to create the sentences that needed to be labeled. I preferred to write.
The question of why grammar should be taught and learned is not difficult to answer. Grammar is knowledge. According to a some philosophers, knowledge is the only good and ignorance is the only evil. If we believe this to be true, which to some degree I do, then grammar should simply be taught because it is knowledge.
This could probably be compared to working at a corporate office or something similiar. In the beginning, I had an entry level job delivering mail. In this position I spent a majority of my time in the basement, pushing around a cart piled high with stamped envelopes that needed my attention. Then, I got promoted. I no longer have to work in the basement, but I have an office with windows and even a fake plant in the corner. I get mail delivered to me. It seems that taking this class will be like revisiting the mailroom. Which is okay, because every now and then it is good to go back and remember where you came from.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
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