Well, it's been a while. Those of you who know me personally will know why. But I noticed last week that I had a few gems to share and I thought the long weekend might offer an opportunity to post. In January my College English students wrote self-reflection essays. The assignment was to look at the five papers they had written over the course of the fall semester and reflect on what they had learned, how their writing had improved, and what might still need improvement. (Some variation of "Mr. Chaffee is hard on our writing" is a popular comment. The level of bitterness varies.) Anyway, I tell you this because the first sentence below is the title of one of those self-reflection papers. As always, these are from real student work and my comments are in ( ).
- How Disappointed Can I Make Mr. Chaffee This Time?
- There has been recent research that has brought truth to this theory.
- Sexual Education is part of the required curriculum in heath class. (Heath class? Does that have anything to do with Heath Bars? I love those things...)
- Emerson and Thoreau have the same basis idea but some of there other ideas were different.
- Salem witch trials started to get injustice on the "witches."
- He further flaws himself...
- Childhood obesity can lead to health disease. (Sounds serious.)
- Some people think that smoking will make them "cool." Others are just curios and want to try it. (All the curios on my shelf are smokers. Lousy trinkets.)
- Smoking controls their lives and will make it possible to but cigarettes.
- He was overtaken by a carriage with a name by the name of Dr. Richards.
- The mystery trying to be solved... (Deep down, every mystery wants to be solved. It's their hearts' desire.)
- The meaning of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg are known to be like "God."
- People might think that a killer whale in a tank is not a big deal. These people are wrongfully mistaken.
- He was credibly corrupt.
- ...which many people associate guerrilla war with the use of bubby traps.
- Professional (football players) have taken abusing others to far. (A little light abuse is fine; but don't go overboard NFL players.)
One more. If you don't know what passive voice is, this won't make sense. If you do, let the delicious irony drip down your chin.
- I was unaware of passive voice and that it should not be used.
("It should not be used," is in the passive voice.)
J
