2008 Woodie Awards
The Collegian Weekly: Grammar learn it
The opinion of The Collegian editorial staff
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Opinion
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It's like trying to compose a musical score without a working knowledge of rhythm. Or like trying to analyze the chemical reactions within the metabolic process without learning the periodic table. Or like trying to do calculus without a limit.
Nevertheless, many students attempt to write their great thoughts without the most basic material: grammar and punctuation.
What they don't realize is, without these tools, we lose our ability to express ourselves precisely, an essential skill in nearly every field of study. Likewise, many students haven't learned basic structure of a paper.
But even though Hillsdale College's faculty acknowledges the problem, they've taken few steps to fix it.
Associate Provost David Whalen told The Collegian most students write at college level- "but not with stunning excellence."
And both Whalen and English Department Chairman Michael Jordan said Hillsdale does not offer remedial grammar and composition classes- get this-- because of Hillsdale College's high academic standards.
That's the beginning of an unending loop of problems, and none of the excuses offered take students any closer to competent writing.
One might conclude the college exchanges excellent quality for excellent reputation.
The Collegian questions how students could hope to meet those high academic standards if they cannot meet standards so low our college does not deign to include them in the curriculum.
Hillsdale College aspires to academic prestige, so there is no excuse for neglecting our students' most fundamental knowledge.
Some argue when a student reaches college, he should already know basic grammar and punctuation. He should already know how to write a three-point essay.
Ideally, yes. But in reality, many students haven't learned the fundamental rules of writing.
That's because most high schools neglect to teach them. So says the president of the Society for the Preservation of English Language and Literature. The structure of freshmen's papers seems to agree with him.
Nevertheless, many students attempt to write their great thoughts without the most basic material: grammar and punctuation.
What they don't realize is, without these tools, we lose our ability to express ourselves precisely, an essential skill in nearly every field of study. Likewise, many students haven't learned basic structure of a paper.
But even though Hillsdale College's faculty acknowledges the problem, they've taken few steps to fix it.
Associate Provost David Whalen told The Collegian most students write at college level- "but not with stunning excellence."
And both Whalen and English Department Chairman Michael Jordan said Hillsdale does not offer remedial grammar and composition classes- get this-- because of Hillsdale College's high academic standards.
That's the beginning of an unending loop of problems, and none of the excuses offered take students any closer to competent writing.
One might conclude the college exchanges excellent quality for excellent reputation.
The Collegian questions how students could hope to meet those high academic standards if they cannot meet standards so low our college does not deign to include them in the curriculum.
Hillsdale College aspires to academic prestige, so there is no excuse for neglecting our students' most fundamental knowledge.
Some argue when a student reaches college, he should already know basic grammar and punctuation. He should already know how to write a three-point essay.
Ideally, yes. But in reality, many students haven't learned the fundamental rules of writing.
That's because most high schools neglect to teach them. So says the president of the Society for the Preservation of English Language and Literature. The structure of freshmen's papers seems to agree with him.
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