tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post6668120167751060943..comments2024-02-12T17:59:33.534-06:00Comments on RAZORED ZEN: Second half of the QuizCharles Gramlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-4091290818649651742015-04-27T16:55:49.392-05:002015-04-27T16:55:49.392-05:00Richard, I cannot account for what happens now in ...Richard, I cannot account for what happens now in high school and middle school classrooms. I think very little that we would recognize as rigorous and productive English instruction occurs. <br /><br />However, I know that the vast majority of students that I see in college classrooms would have been severely challenged by but would have benefitted from going through the English courses you and I are familiar with from the 50s and 60s. <br /><br />I might dredge up the grammar diagnostic that I use in my courses and post it in on my blog (Crimes in the Library) in the near future. Perhaps you will enjoy attempting the assessment. Hint: less than 20% of my students pass it.R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13220814349193561823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-17243109639438424892015-04-27T15:55:12.795-05:002015-04-27T15:55:12.795-05:00That was supposed to be "how is it things got...That was supposed to be "how is it things got..."Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-16530510684167411512015-04-27T15:54:35.398-05:002015-04-27T15:54:35.398-05:00RT, I'm sure you're right about me being s...RT, I'm sure you're right about me being shocked at the grammar and punctuation "illiteracy" , but how is things got this way? When I was in high school, you had to be able to read, write, diagram sentences define parts of speech, understand the differences between the kinds of words in Charles test. In other words speak and write coherently. Otherwise you didn't graduate from high school. But then a student also didn't make it into junior high (grades 7-8) without the ability to read, as in read novels and write reports on them.Can't do it? Repeat the grade.<br /><br />I see reports in the newspaper that many high school students cannot read, and it baffles me. Why can't they read, write, speak in grammatically correct sentences?Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-90663913934990650792015-04-27T13:15:21.109-05:002015-04-27T13:15:21.109-05:00Richard, your comment intrigues me. I can tell you...Richard, your comment intrigues me. I can tell you because of my 15+ years of experience in English composition classrooms with college freshmen in attendance (and in literature classes with upper-classmen in attendance) that very few college students -- either as freshmen or upper-classmen -- could pass the tests offered here by Charles. The level of English language grammar and punctuation "illiteracy" would shock you if you witnessed it first-hand in the classrooms. Charles, I suspect, will have had similar experiences with his students. But he can correct me if I am wrong in that supposition.R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13220814349193561823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-39876251134024297652015-04-27T13:05:44.818-05:002015-04-27T13:05:44.818-05:00This is a test I would expect a freshman in high s...This is a test I would expect a freshman in high school to take and pass, not a college student, who should have no problems passing it. However I think the level of English classes and education in general in the last few decades is much reduced from the school classes I took in the late 1950s and early 1960s.Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-51919049775468672722015-04-23T11:57:37.306-05:002015-04-23T11:57:37.306-05:00Robert, thanks for visiting.
Riot Kitty, yes, som...Robert, thanks for visiting.<br /><br />Riot Kitty, yes, some do poorly indeed.<br /><br />Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-20982933787271998992015-04-22T23:37:20.336-05:002015-04-22T23:37:20.336-05:00OK, once again...does anyone really fail these? I ...OK, once again...does anyone really fail these? I probably don't want to know the answer to that, having gotten an inquiry from a "stutdent."Riot Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02725825736285347870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-83243712124044635432015-04-22T16:31:39.712-05:002015-04-22T16:31:39.712-05:00I am ready for remedial training! Yikes!
All the ...I am ready for remedial training! Yikes!<br /><br />All the best to you from a new blog: Crimes in the Library. Hey, if you like crime fiction, you might enjoy what lies ahead in the Library. R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13220814349193561823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-86641838618751338212015-04-22T07:52:57.572-05:002015-04-22T07:52:57.572-05:00Prashant, I think I grappled with many, which is p...Prashant, I think I grappled with many, which is probably why they are on this one.<br /><br />RT, I've seen that too. Some folks have too much self esteem. <br /><br />Alex, that's often a good guide. They just don't sound quite right.<br /><br />Oscar, one of the reasons I so promote reading in my classes.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-50560287090091184602015-04-21T17:33:14.176-05:002015-04-21T17:33:14.176-05:00I think I knew most of them on the full quiz but w...I think I knew most of them on the full quiz but would be surprised if a young college student even knew half, unless he was a reader.Oscar Casehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10328166606910469945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-70537441358357914162015-04-21T16:56:05.362-05:002015-04-21T16:56:05.362-05:00I think I got all of them. Some of those sentences...I think I got all of them. Some of those sentences come off as funny when the wrong word is used.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-35555349430818960792015-04-21T16:03:52.003-05:002015-04-21T16:03:52.003-05:00My students would hate your quiz! They blame quizz...My students would hate your quiz! They blame quizzes, tests, and assignments rather than themselves. Hmmmm.R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13220814349193561823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-49741296661458811452015-04-21T14:40:31.790-05:002015-04-21T14:40:31.790-05:00Good examples, Charles. I have grappled with a cou...Good examples, Charles. I have grappled with a couple of them.Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-84005213778846296772015-04-21T10:58:07.397-05:002015-04-21T10:58:07.397-05:00David, certainly!
Sage, as well you should be.
B...David, certainly!<br /><br />Sage, as well you should be.<br /><br />Bernard, most missed it initially.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-16613057861710843312015-04-21T07:52:44.208-05:002015-04-21T07:52:44.208-05:00I'd bet discreet/discrete was a tough one for ...I'd bet discreet/discrete was a tough one for them. :)BernardLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09722619048888613647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-32400526041248168212015-04-21T06:03:20.055-05:002015-04-21T06:03:20.055-05:00Where do we turn our papers in? I know that I'...Where do we turn our papers in? I know that I've been exhausted from exhaustive research...sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17499891950639742366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-32547871690192109872015-04-21T05:40:51.686-05:002015-04-21T05:40:51.686-05:00I'm fairly certain I passed with flying colors...I'm fairly certain I passed with flying colors. Gold star?David Cranmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04749857752139212888noreply@blogger.com