Week 4

 

So far throughout this course, the few short weeks we’ve had it, I can say that I have learned a few new things about grammar. Before joining this class, I did not really know too much about grammar. I knew about punctuations, correct their and there’s and things like that, but now going more in-depth with ideas such as apostrophes and comma placements. I will admit that I was one of those writers that thought that apostrophes are meant to be used to show possession, but now as we have discussed in class, I can easily refer to our chart and figure out the proper use of apostrophes when it comes to plurality and contractions as well. My grammar skills are still a bit limited, unlike those WHOSE are much more extensive than mine, but I feel as if I am learning quickly enough. AS A STUDENT, IN HIGH SCHOOL I DIDN’T REALLY PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO PROPER GRAMMAR WHEN I WOULD HALF-ASS ESSAYS; AS A WRITER NOW IN COLLEGE, I AM BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF GRAMMAR, PROPER PUNCTUATION, AND SYNTAX [parallel sentences conjoined by semicolon, with introductory phrases, with comma after the phrase].  

As we read more and more about the imaginary student Dora, I have begun to attempt to think back to how I learned to write and I can honestly say I have no idea in hell how I was taught to write. This lack of memory probably contributes to my writing style. 

When I write, words pretty much just come spilling out. No structure, not much punctuation, and sometimes no point at all. That is one of the things I hope to get out of this class, sentence structure and over all more precise meaning when I write. So far I like to think that I have gotten a little better, feel free to let me know otherwise. 

Overall, this class has begun to teach me that grammar is much more important than I thought I was before. I now find myself re-analyzing my texts before I send them, facebook status’, tumblr posts, anywhere I write now where I may have a tendency to be lazy and use bad grammar or shortened words, I double check myself. I know this new habit will continue throughout the class and I hope that it only helps me improve my writing and my grammar skills!