Do you want to be a superhero but have no superpower like Superman or Spiderman? No worries. You can be a hero too even though you’re just an average Jane or Joe.
You can be a hero by using punctuation. Punctuation saves lives. Consider this:
Yups… did you see how we actually saved grandma by using punctuation?ĆĀ Grammar and impressive vocabulary is not the only thing that is important when you write in English.
Punctuation is important too, and I find it disappointing that a lot of my students don’t really use punctuation in their compositions.
I don’t know what their English teachers are teaching them in school, but it seems to me that their stories always lack of punctuation as well as imagination.
Whenever I examine their works, I feel as if the students are trained to use ‘safe mode’ to write where their arguments and opinions are almost the same and monosylabus. I don’t know what’s going on, but it doesn’t impress me when I see their composition plots are similar to each other, and they don’t seems to have their own opinion at all. š
What really contributes to the lack of creativity? I can’t be too sure, but I have a sneaky feeling that our education system is way too restrictive and exam oriented that the students are oppressed from using their creativity as well as letting themselves go whenever they write a story.
Cleffairy: If only I can tell my students that creative writing/novel writing is like playing a piano. First you play by the rules then you must forget the rules and play from your heart.
For one thing, they have done away with a lot of the punctuation marks – see the newer books…but not me. I’m old school…and I will teach punctuation. I don’t think they do that in school…and even if they do – like me, the students are not in the least bothered to learn and remember. Teach half dead…still the same. That’s why I’ve given up for good. Happiness!
Eh? Really kah? They dun teach punctuation anymore? You’re not kidding, are you? *gasps* So betullah they dun teach punctuation anymore? š No wonder the kids punya punctuation so teruk la… all in one straight line… no intonation at all, and when I teach them how to use punctuation, they’re all like clueless on what i was talking about.
*sigh* Teaching is a vocation to me. A calling, just like writing. I dun do it just for money, though it’s part of the reason why I decided to teach. I have to admit, even though it can be frustrating sometimes, but at the end of the day, I always feel contented and satisfied.
I remembered back in those days in school, we were asked to ‘memorise’ our compositions from samples.. there explain why lack of imaginative creativity.. but in my time, I still got to learn punctuations, now I don’t really know. It will be sad if they don’t put this in the syllabus anymore
Yes, I remembered being asked to memorize composition too when I was in primary school, but I was a rather rebellious child, and I did as I pleased with my composition… luckily for me, though, I got away with it. Not sure if kids these days are still asked to do the same thing. If they are still doing these, den i’ll be damned!
Poor grandma.. without a comma and she is gone case!
Hahaha, yes, without a comma, can say bye bye to grandma liao, and you have no idea how many grandmas my students killed! LOL!
I would say most students nowadays are doing things they are ‘programmed’, not given a chance to develop on their own.
Agreed… I couldn’t say it better myself. these days, kids are pre-programed… hence the lack of creativity.
well done!
Happiest New Year wishes
with Warm Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
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Thanks… happy new year to you too.
So agreed with you on your advice to your students. Strong foundation is required before the creative juices set play. š
+Ant+
But when they already had the foundation, they ought to forget the rules and learn how to write with their hearts.