Evaluating the Standard

Evaluating the Standard

1.     When a person speaks or writes in Standard English, what exactly does that mean?

·         When a person writes in Standard English they are simply following the rules and guidelines to writing. They are making sure that everything they have written is grammatically correct. When a person speaks in Standard English they are speaking in a way that they think is that right way to speak. They are using certain terminology that they feel is correct even though language change throughout different genres.

2.    How do you think this particular variety of English became the standard?

·         I think this particular variety of English became the standard because it was most frequently written and spoken so everyone just assumed that it was the right way to do things so they set these “rules” in place.

3.    Should a student use a dialect other than Standard English (or even a different language other than English altogether) in the classroom? If so, in what particular situations (speaking, writing, reading, use of technology, etc.) are non-formal English appropriate?

·         Depending on the class should a student use other dialect other than Standard English. Most teachers prefer that students use the Standard English dialect because it is easier to grade them this way because there are several books on how a paper should be written. If you have an open-minded teacher I think students should use different dialects to show their flexibility and you might be able to relate to others in this way of learning. This could be in terms of speaking, writing, reading, and sometimes technology. Non-formal English is appropriate depending on who you are interacting with and if they are open to the diversity of language.

4.    What makes someone a good writer? What kind of things do they do when they write? (This can be things like how they organize a paper, what words they use, etc.) List a few.

·         A good writer organizes their paper, are very strategic when it comes to stating their main points, transitions well (the paper flows), and makes the reader see exactly what they are talking about. When a good writer writes they follow the traditional writing guidelines as well as put their own style in the writing, consider the audience who will read the paper, and do not lose themselves in the paper (writing what they think they should write instead of what needs to be written).

5.    You think that someone is a bad writer. What are some things that this person does that make them a “bad” writer in your eyes? List a few.

·         A bad writer does not take the time to spellcheck their work, writes their paper at the last minute, scrambled ideas, unorganized, and does not write a draft first before starting on the paper.

6.    Are there times when a person you meet doesn’t speak “correct” English? What does that person do that is “incorrect”? List a few things

·         Honestly I do not pay attention to if people are speaking correct English when they are talking to me. Long as I can clearly understand what they are saying and the point they are trying to get across, correct English is the furthest thing in my mind.  This is partly because I myself talk different when I talk to certain people, my English change automatically based on the person, event, and situation at hand.

7.    What particular types (or genres) of writing should students be doing in elementary and secondary school to prepare them for college and the work force?

·         I think that students in elementary and secondary schools should be learning how to write particular genres such as business memos, articles, and memoirs to prepare them for college and the work force.

8.    Does Standard English=correct English?

·         No Standard English does equal correct English because you can write something in a different way and it still will mean the same thing.