Monday, July 26, 2010

Your writing and spelling DO matter


Yes, your communications, or "what you write" does matter.  It could be the difference between getting a job offer...or losing one.  And yes:  I do make spelling and typing errors in my emails.  I don't like to find them either--and I check my work.  It's just that I can make mistakes too. 

These are actual emails I received from college students.  They complained that these were not "real" assignments and that they didn't have to use correct spelling.  Well, to me, that's like saying 3.00 is the same thing as 300.  If that's the case and they're using numbers, please send me 300 dollars instead of 3.00.

(1) hey i need ur opinion on something. i had to do observations for my intro to teaching class. i wore dress jeans one day and brang coffee with me all the time. they just called to tell me that i cant go back bc of these things.  also i didnt go once and emails the teacher to let her know bc i got into a snow tubing accdient and i had to go to the doctor. What should i  say to my professor since obviously hes going to ask.
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(2) i havent missed so many english classes! I keep up with my absences and i've missed 5 classes total! u can only drop me if i miss 8 classes, i know i'm close but not there yet!

(3) well, if i remember correctly.. u suppose to email us when we miss 5 days, so we can keep in touch with ur attendence list too, but i dont think i got an email from u! THanks alot

#1 went into a book—and her comments went out to friends around the country. Some 2nd graders in Memphis helped develop for their teacher a two-day lesson on “proper” writing (that THEY inspired)—but this young woman wanted to be an English teacher. And she was fired from her in-class training position, as you can see—but she had no clue why!

#2 and 3 were from the same student—who twice repeated this class and was dropped by me. No, I don’t have to tell you how many days you’ve missed: it’s YOUR responsibility. And text message formats are not appropriate for academic communication—so if you want a job and hope to keep it, learn to write.

By the way, “English” is in upper case EXCEPT for describing a pool cue shot or a curve ball. It’s a language; a country of origin—and in an academic view, a course. CAPITALIZE IT! And try using apostrophes as well as full words—and if you ever “brang” anything to me, I’ll put it toward your grade.

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