Comments on: advertisers = bad writers? http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/2008/01/03/advertisers-bad-writers/ the story of an Chicago 20-something as she tries to make, save and spend money Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:53:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Lean Not http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/2008/01/03/advertisers-bad-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-423 Lean Not Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:46:38 +0000 http://thiswriterswallet.com/?p=215#comment-423 Most of my grammar/writing students do fairly well with free thinking. Structure and technical things are their biggest struggle. It's not that I care so much about the nitpicky stuff; I really just want them to get into the habit of writing what they write for a reason, not just because it "came out" that way. They have good ideas, but they need to learn to put those ideas into a structure that makes their presentation effective and understandable to others. Most of my grammar/writing students do fairly well with free thinking. Structure and technical things are their biggest struggle.

It’s not that I care so much about the nitpicky stuff; I really just want them to get into the habit of writing what they write for a reason, not just because it “came out” that way. They have good ideas, but they need to learn to put those ideas into a structure that makes their presentation effective and understandable to others.

]]> By: Dean Rieck http://www.thiswriterswallet.com/2008/01/03/advertisers-bad-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-422 Dean Rieck Fri, 04 Jan 2008 05:00:36 +0000 http://thiswriterswallet.com/?p=215#comment-422 Interesting point. Though I'd say it was the other way around. My experience is that it's harder to teach rigid grammarians how to communicate in the commercial arena than it is to teach "free thinkers," as you call them, acceptable grammar. Free thinkers are well, free thinkers. They're not tied to any set of rules. On the other hand, grammarians are locked into the rules and have trouble breaking free. I'm coming at this as a recovering English teacher, by the way. Interesting point. Though I’d say it was the other way around.

My experience is that it’s harder to teach rigid grammarians how to communicate in the commercial arena than it is to teach “free thinkers,” as you call them, acceptable grammar.

Free thinkers are well, free thinkers. They’re not tied to any set of rules. On the other hand, grammarians are locked into the rules and have trouble breaking free.

I’m coming at this as a recovering English teacher, by the way.

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