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- Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
- Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!news.dell.com!paladin.american.edu!auvm!UNB.CA!HUNT
- Message-ID: <ID0202.D921231.T104131.HUNT@UNB.CA>
- Newsgroups: bit.listserv.mbu-l
- Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 10:41:31 AST
- Sender: "Megabyte University (Computers & Writing)" <MBU-L@TTUVM1.BITNET>
- Comments: <31DEC92.11558136.0039.MUSIC@UNB.CA>
- From: Russ Hunt <HUNT@UNB.CA>
- Subject: Re: Standardizing Composition Classes
- In-Reply-To: In reply to your message of WED 30 DEC 1992 21:24:52 EST
- Lines: 21
-
- Myles says:
- > usage, spelling, mechanics, apostrophes: drill? no. show the kids how
- > to look the problems up!
- I usually agree with Myles, but here I'm not so sure. I
- solutely agree with the negative to "drill 'n' kill" as Frank Smith
- used to call it, but it's not just a matter of showing them how to
- look them up, or even showing them how to use a spell checker.
- They need to know, in their guts (not just because they've
- been told) why it matters that "a lot" is not one word, or what
- the consequences are of writing "if I had of." If the consequences
- are a splash of red ink in the margin, it doesn't matter. Even if
- the consequences are having to look it up in the _Handbook_ it
- doesn't matter. Not enough, not in the right way.
- -- Russ
- __|~_
- Russell A. Hunt __|~_)_ __)_|~_ Learning and Teaching
- Department of English )_ __)_|_)__ __) Development Office
- St. Thomas University | )____) | EMAIL: hunt@unb.ca
- Fredericton, New Brunswick___|____|____|____/ FAX: (506) 450-9615
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