Teaching grammar Essay Example for Free

Teaching grammar Essay The question to teach or not to teach grammar has always been present for no clear answer could ever be provided; both sides, the advocates and opponents of teaching grammar, keep producing evidence to buttress their own views towards this issue. The former believe that grammar is an important component in language teaching, whereas the latter believe that language can be learnt holistically through the context without explicit instruction. What motivated me to address this question, whether grammar is important in second language teaching, is the claim of some ioneer linguists, Krashen for example mentioned in Ellis, 1985: 230, who maintain that learned knowledge can not convert into acquired knowledge and that consciousness raising of grammar is neither a sufficient nor a necessary condition for mastery of another language. I was taught English in a country where English is a foreign language and I was taught explicit grammar throughout all of my study stages. I can assert that the teaching of grammar could be of great support especially when interacted with communicative context even in later years. I can still retain rules that help me speak properly and accurately and I can claim by now that all the grammatical knowledge I learned in my study years has already converted into acquired knowledge. It is beyond doubt that ignoring such rules would be an obstacle in forming and uttering the simplest sentences in English. Native speakers of English, even when they have not studied grammar, can form accurate grammatical sentences because they unconsciously internalize grammar rules while they are growing up. There is a general consensus among learning theorists, educational psychologists, and teaching professionals that language is a rule-governed behaviour and it is a rule-bound system in both standard and non-standard varieties and in both spoken and written modes (Brindley, 1996: 224). Cook, 2001: 19 states that grammar is considered by many linguists the central area of language around which other areas such as pronunciation and vocabulary revolve.

Comparing Love in Go Tell It on the Mountain, Giovannis Room, and Anot

     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Baldwin’s first three novels -Go Tell It on the Mountain, Giovanni's Room, and Another Country-boil over with anger, prejudice, and hatred, yet the primary force his characters must contend with is love.   Not meek or mawkish but "...something active, more like fire, like the wind" (qtd. in O'Neale 126), Baldwin's notion of love can conquer the horrors of society and pave the way to "emotional security" (Kinnamon 5).   His recipe calls for a determined identity, a confrontation with and acceptance of reality, and finally, an open, committed relationship.   Though Baldwin's characters desperately need love, they fail to meet these individual requirements, and the seeds of love they sow never take root and grow to fruition.    Baldwin's fixation with love, especially a love perpetually denied, arises from his past, which colors must of his writings.   Baldwin never knew his father.   He endured the brunt of his stepfather's abuse simply because he was not his true son.   Similarly, Baldwin's characters never receive familial love and are cast out, with neither support nor an understanding of love, into a world of hatred.   Baldwin never forgot his cold, strict, intolerant stepfather, David Baldwin, and this failed relationship between father and son forms the basis for his first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain.   Also fundamental to Baldwin's works is his homosexuality, which plays a predominate role in Giovanni's Room and Another Country.   He favors the homosexual characters, who come closest to achieving love, not merely on account of their sexuality, but because they tend to meet more of Baldwin's prerequisites: "In his most elegant formulation, [Baldwin] remarked that the word homosexual might be an adjective, perhaps a... ...unity."   MELUS 10 (1983), 27-31.   Rpt. in Fred L. Standley and Nancy V. Burt.   Critical Essays on James Baldwin.   Boston: G. K. Hall, 1988. O'Neale, Sondra A.   "Fathers, Gods, and Religion: Perceptions of Christianity and Ethnic Faith in James Baldwin."   In Fred L. Standley and Nancy V. Burt.   Critical Essays on James Baldwin.   Boston: G. K. Hall, 1988. Pratt, Louis H. James Baldwin.   Boston: Twayne, 1978. Rosenblatt, Roger.   "Out of Control: Go Tell It on the Mountain and Another Country."   In Black Fiction.   N.p.: Harvard University, 1974.   Rpt. in Harold Bloom ed.   James Baldwin.   New York: Chelsea House, 1986. Standley, Fred L.   "James Baldwin: The Artist as Incorrigible Disturber of the Peace." Southern Humanities Review 4 (1970), 18-30.   Rpt. in Fred L. Standley and Nancy V. Burt.   Critical Essays on James Baldwin.   Boston: G. K. Hall, 1988. Comparing Love in Go Tell It on the Mountain, Giovanni's Room, and Anot      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Baldwin’s first three novels -Go Tell It on the Mountain, Giovanni's Room, and Another Country-boil over with anger, prejudice, and hatred, yet the primary force his characters must contend with is love.   Not meek or mawkish but "...something active, more like fire, like the wind" (qtd. in O'Neale 126), Baldwin's notion of love can conquer the horrors of society and pave the way to "emotional security" (Kinnamon 5).   His recipe calls for a determined identity, a confrontation with and acceptance of reality, and finally, an open, committed relationship.   Though Baldwin's characters desperately need love, they fail to meet these individual requirements, and the seeds of love they sow never take root and grow to fruition.    Baldwin's fixation with love, especially a love perpetually denied, arises from his past, which colors must of his writings.   Baldwin never knew his father.   He endured the brunt of his stepfather's abuse simply because he was not his true son.   Similarly, Baldwin's characters never receive familial love and are cast out, with neither support nor an understanding of love, into a world of hatred.   Baldwin never forgot his cold, strict, intolerant stepfather, David Baldwin, and this failed relationship between father and son forms the basis for his first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain.   Also fundamental to Baldwin's works is his homosexuality, which plays a predominate role in Giovanni's Room and Another Country.   He favors the homosexual characters, who come closest to achieving love, not merely on account of their sexuality, but because they tend to meet more of Baldwin's prerequisites: "In his most elegant formulation, [Baldwin] remarked that the word homosexual might be an adjective, perhaps a... ...unity."   MELUS 10 (1983), 27-31.   Rpt. in Fred L. Standley and Nancy V. Burt.   Critical Essays on James Baldwin.   Boston: G. K. Hall, 1988. O'Neale, Sondra A.   "Fathers, Gods, and Religion: Perceptions of Christianity and Ethnic Faith in James Baldwin."   In Fred L. Standley and Nancy V. Burt.   Critical Essays on James Baldwin.   Boston: G. K. Hall, 1988. Pratt, Louis H. James Baldwin.   Boston: Twayne, 1978. Rosenblatt, Roger.   "Out of Control: Go Tell It on the Mountain and Another Country."   In Black Fiction.   N.p.: Harvard University, 1974.   Rpt. in Harold Bloom ed.   James Baldwin.   New York: Chelsea House, 1986. Standley, Fred L.   "James Baldwin: The Artist as Incorrigible Disturber of the Peace." Southern Humanities Review 4 (1970), 18-30.   Rpt. in Fred L. Standley and Nancy V. Burt.   Critical Essays on James Baldwin.   Boston: G. K. Hall, 1988.

Partisan polarization in the congress Essay

The statement saying that the Policymaking in Congress has been increasingly plagued by Partisan Polarization is very true. To support this fact we can have a look at the evidences available to us in the form of the chaos and uneven passing of the bills. Actually, each year the Congress is expected to pass nearly 13 bills, which funds the operation of the federal government. It should be written, debated and then be passed in both the houses and get the consent signature of the president. If this does not happens than the government is expected to have shut down. Thus, a regular movement of these bills year after year proves the proper procedures confirmation working in the Congress. Its movement helps in studying the members behavior overtime and how changes in preferences affect the legislative body in the law making process. Partisan Polarization in the Congress: By Partisan we mean a one-sided or biased decision making of some people like the politicians in the interest of their own party without taking into view of the national interest. Polarization is a move that these political parties make from centrist to extreme political positions. The motive behind partisan polarization is not just to keep an issue before the legislature but to gain the faith of a definite section of society so that they cast vote in their favor during the upcoming elections. For instance, A Muslim supporting lobby in the Congress always supports the decision-makings in the favor of most Muslim countries. Like a lobby of Muslims in the Congress always cast their vote in favor of giving Pakistan, huge chunk of financial aid. In the recent days, one more Partisan Polarization has been seen in the President’s comment. Through out the ruling period the President of United States, George Bush, has been supporting India on nuclear issues, but during the end of his reign he came under the pressure of Partisan polarization and announced Indian middle class as the root cause of Inflation in the whole world. His stand was that Indian middle class is getting wealthier day by day, and their number is much more than the whole population of United States. But the fact is that Indians faces more problems regarding malnutrition, millions of people do not even get all three times meal. While the corn used in United States to make petrol can feed a whole family for one year. The percentage of wastage of food and other items is much more as compared to Indians. Thus here temper flares and partisan spirit provokes new hostility among the Indians and the Americans, raising up people who have patience and restraints. Thus these kinds of statement increases partisan polarization in United States. Causes of Partisan Polarization in the United States: A number of causes of partisan polarization have been observed in the United States. Among them the most common are as follows. A. Ethnic or religious violence. That is a not so note worthy issue is highlighted again and again to get the benefit in the upcoming elections. For instance, the scandal of Bill Clinton came before the public during his upcoming election campaign. It shows clearly that the issue of ethics was highlighted with the view to destroy the image of Bill Clinton, aiming him to loose elections. Similarly if a religious attack occur between two sects than the political leaders does not act as negotiators but as the leg puller’s which in turn results in more violence, distrust and spread hatred. B. Counter-violence that may occur in reaction to the ethnic violence or religious violence. In case a sect of society has suffered due to religious violence and the ruling party is still quite than the result in increased anger among the people and the counter violence emerges resulting in chaos in the area. C. Political leaders aiming to win next election make such comments which flair a feeling of unhappiness or may even result in anger between the two parties, countries or two sections of society. The main motive is still to get more votes and not the benefit of any section of society. D. Changes in electoral system, made by the ruling party, also become the cause of partisan polarization. Actually by doing this, an attempt is made to benefit a section of society supporters than the median voter. United States is a country wherein people from around the world come in search of food, job and wealth. Either its Asian or African, Either European or Latin American every country resident wants to come to United States to test his/her fate. Due to this reason the population of the migrants has been increasing in the United States. The result is that these migrants try to make their own lobby in the Congress. Every sect of society tries to preserve its own interest leaving behind the national issues and profit of the nation. And the political leader becomes the puppet in their hands and tries to achieve their macro level goals. Therefore to preserve the interest various group of people a lobby of every country, caste or religion has made its own place in the Congress of the United States. So, whenever a policy making body starts working, each lobby tries to effect the decision making process. The purpose is to mend it as much as it benefits their specific interest. Â  The fact is that due to different parties and their different ideologies, every party wants to impose its own will and shape the upcoming legislative decision as per their own comfort. Ideologies of the political parties leading to partisan polarization: The Ideologies of the major two political parties has also become the root cause of partisan polarization in the United States. The Republicans are always in favor of controlling the international politics through their imperialist thinking. While the other big political party, the Democrats wants to see the whole world changing in to a democratic state. And to achieve their goals both the political parties takes such decision which were not necessarily required but in turn results in a heavy loss of men and money to the country. During the reign of Bill Clinton (Democrat President), a lot of financial aid was given to Asian countries to bring Democracy in their countries. Pakistan military cue, Nepal Maoist movement etc all were discouraged by the president of United States and money was spent in the form of financial aid to force these countries to bring back democracy. On the other side, George Bush (Republican President), made country fought the battle in Afghanistan, Iraq and now playing mind games with Iran. Â  The result was again loss of money and this time loss of men too. Due to this over expenditure on the treasury of United States, the country is facing many financial problems. The stock market has depreciated, Inflation rise up, slow down in the progress of the country has been confirmed. And now the over expenditure has resulted in lesser money available to take the country of this problem. The increasing prices of daily commodities are also adding fuel against the present government. The other problems faced by the country is rising unemployment and depleting standard of living of the common people. All this and more may be expected just because the ideologies of these political parties and politicians do not think for Americans. Effects of Partisan Polarization: The result of partisan polarization is that major decisions for the necessary progress of the country has to face unnecessary delays. The legislative assembly has to face major set backs while framing different policies. The policy makers also faces difficulties in bringing out the legislation as the lobbies in the house effects adversely the movement of the bill, and delay in passing of the specific may prove futile. The 13 appropriations or the spending bills that needs to be passed swiftly, faces difficulty to pass in both the houses, especially the Senate. Not only that there are rumors in the general public regarding bribery taking of the elected members of the legislative for delaying or hindering the progress of certain bills. The politicians are mainly considered responsible by the public for making unnecessary delays in the policy-making framework and slowing down process of passing bills. Some people even think that these delay-making politicians has taken bribes from the enemies of the country so as to slow down the progress of the nation. Thus the loosing faith of the public is another result of Partisan polarization. Wastage of time and money is another result of Partisan Polarization. The limited time of session of Congress gets wasted due to unnecessary delays. And finally the president gets the power to sign the bill without proper discussion in both the houses. Not only that, a lot of money also gets wasted due to unnecessary delays in the decision making process. Solutions to end Partisan polarization: To end the Partisan Polarization, the Brookings Institution along with the Hoover Institution will host a discussion on partisan polarization in the United States and its effect on foreign policy on 30th November 2008. This way this institution will try to figure out the root causes and the possible solutions to this problem. The politician’s mistakes will be highlighted and kept before the Congress and solutions will be discussed. The solution to this problem is through arising of the feeling among the countrymen regarding country’s first and people later type of feeling in the politicians. Politicians must understand that the interest of the nation is much, much more important that there personal interest. And if by any way their interest has to face some drawbacks than in that case making lobbies and bringing obstacles in the way of passing a specific bill may prove to be anti-national step. So if you have to give up something for your beloved country than kindly don’t hesitate and take time in doing so as you owe a lot the country. Congress has also resorted to new measures to ensure the passage of bills to be easier and faster. Firstly it has packaged the bill in the form of Omnibus, so as to broaden their base of support and easier movement in both the houses. Secondly, the number of earmarks has also been increased, so as to provide an additional support for the safe and quick passage of the bill. Normally this Omnibus bill is not meant towards the majority party preference than other spending bills in the past. Reason being the final product needs to be negotiated with president and needs the prior approval of the president. But in case of Unified government, Omnibus bills actually do provide opportunity for Partisan polarization for the majority party that can enact its own preference in the lawmaking process. The politicians responsible for making unnecessary delays should not be allowed to sit and vote in the Congress meeting. He/she should be asked to get re-elected and prove his/her true position at that point of time. Also a lesson regarding a responsibility towards the country and the countrymen should be given to all the politicians. Making Pamphlets, social meetings and other methods can do this. By improving the policy makers we can expect the bills to be passed easier and the country in the direction of progress. Also through legislation, a bill should be passed to avoid any unnecessary delays in the bills of national importance. Any politician trying to bring undue hindrance in the way of such important bill should not get the right to vote for that certain bill. Conclusion: There is certainly no point in loosing time and money due to partisan polarization. The progress of country should be considered more important than a person’s own interest. Moreover the politicians of today should realize their mistakes and that they should not forget their responsibility towards the country and the countrymen in wake of earning more and more money. Number of solutions are tried to make an attempt to the problem of partisan polarization but until whole nation unites and speaks against it collectively there won’t be any benefit coming out of it.

The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost Essay - 729 Words

In the poem, â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, the author Robert Frost employs several different types of poetic methods throughout his poem. Such methods as symbolism, imaginary, connotation, and tone are uniquely utilized to express the overall theme of the poem. These methods make this poem emotional and complex. In addition, the author is actually focusing on himself. The title â€Å"The Road Not Taken† is emphasizing the word â€Å"Not† more so than the other words. The author is probably focusing on the road or path that he did not take. In addition, the poem consists of four stanzas with exactly five lines in each stanza with an iambic pentameter base. The musical device used is alliteration and the rhymes are masculine. Symbolism plays a†¦show more content†¦This situation could describe the choices we make in life. According to the text, this points out that the poem â€Å"concerns some choice in life† (727). The significance of this situation is also crucial to the theme of the poem. Robert Frost utilizes imagery in his poem, â€Å"The Road Not Taken†. The poem is written in such a way that the reader is forced to imagine the traveler coming upon two roads and having to choose one. Therefore, by imagining the scene the reader is able to understand it more efficiently. The text further points out that, â€Å"images †¦ do not cease to be images when they become incorporated in metaphors or symbols† (726). This tends to explain how the reader has an image of a man coming upon to roads having to choose one. In addition, Robert Frost uses a particular tone in his poem, â€Å"The Road Not Taken†. The overall tone tends to be melancholy because of the roa d that the traveler did not take but optimistic with the road that he did take. At the end of the poem, it can be interpreted that the speaker seemed to be in a melancholy state because he did not take the other road. On the other hand, the speaker could be in a state of relief that he took the road less traveled. The tone of the last stanza is vague. The poem states, â€Å"I shall be telling this with a sigh / Somewhere ages and ages hence† (16-17) which reflects some type of regret that the traveler may have. According to the text, â€Å"it isShow MoreRelatedThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost983 Words   |  4 PagesThe poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken was written by Robert Frost, a four-time Pulitzer Prize winner in poetry, and also a special guest at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration (Robert Frost Biography). Frost was born on March 26, 1874 in San Francisco, California and he died of complications from prostate surgery on January 29, 1963. Much of Robert’s popularity was gained throughout Europe (An Analysis of Robert Frost’s Poem: The Road Not Taken). Frost became a poetic force, and the unofficial poetRead MoreThe Road Not Taken by Robert Frost764 Words   |  3 PagesWritten by Robert Frost, â€Å"The Road Not Taken† deals with about making c hoices in life and how those choices affect your whole life. The meter of this poem is iambic tetrameter, for the most part. In most lines, the meter follows the rule with four iambs, which means that there is one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. But the meter is not normal since, in some lines, an anapest, which means there are two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable, is substituted forRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost1173 Words   |  5 PagesRobert Frost, one of America’s well-known poets is highly regarded for his realistic illustrations of rural life and poetry which is still relevant in today’s society. After being honoured on numerous occasions, he became one of America’s most popular public figures. Frosts’ poems reflect his greatness and his life in a variety of ways after he was confronted with such despair and grief after the passing of his father due to tuberculosis at just eleven years of ag e and his mother who passed awayRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost995 Words   |  4 Pagesthey can only move forward hoping for the best. â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, Robert Frost, 1916. In â€Å"The Road Not Taken† a traveler is strolling through the woods and comes across two different roads he could take, and unable to travel both the poet eventually chooses which path to take. The theme conveyed is about making choices. Frost does this through the use of diction, the use of figure of speech, and the use of imagery. To start with, Frost displays the main idea of decision making by the wordsRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost1055 Words   |  5 Pagesago. Either way, if you admit it now or in the wee hours of the night, like most people, you will come across this question at least once in your life. Robert Frost was able to grasp this raw, vulnerable life changing moment in the palm of his hand. Then he beautifully laid it out in the form of words in the narrative poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken†. Frost is able to take you back to a time when you have been faced with a life-changing decision. Then, causing you to ask yourself â€Å"Did I make the right choiceRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost940 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Road Not Taken† was written by Robert Frost in 1916, and it was the first poem in the collection Mountain Interval (Shmoop). Even though it was written many years ago, people of all ages still study this enticing poem. Frost wrote about coming to a fork in the woods and examining which path he should take and whether he might ever come back; the speaker believes each path is fine to take, but he takes the less used path (line 6). He wrote about this decision in clear, standard English. â€Å"TheRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost863 Words   |  4 PagesThe Poem, â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, by Robert Frost is a detailed poem about a conflict in a person’s life, dealing with having to take the right path throughout life. The Narrator of this poem is faced with a predicament when he comes across two paths. The choices that he makes in his life, can alter the future for better or worse. This poem describes his attitude and emotion towards his choices as well as, shows examples of themes, mood, and different literary devices. The title of this poem canRead MoreThe Road Not Taken, By Robert Frost968 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal Response 3 Title: The Road Not Taken Text Type: Poem Author: Robert Frost The poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost is about the â€Å"roads† and different paths we take in our lives. Frost wrote about a traveler who had to chose between two roads. He had to decide if he wanted to go down the well used or less used path. In the end, he went down the less used path. The theme of decision making and choices is shown in this poem. I think that this is a way of describing the choices we makeRead MoreRoad Not Taken, Robert Frost942 Words   |  4 PagesEnglish 101 Burstrem October 7, 2009 The Road Not Taken Life is full of choices and decisions that could ultimately change the outcome of our lives. In the poem, â€Å"The Road Not Taken† by Robert Frost, a traveler is destined to make that decision. This traveler man has to decide which road to take, one that is frequently traveled, and the one that is not. After contemplating which road to follow, he comes to the decision to take the road less traveled because he doesn’t want to follow inRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost1100 Words   |  5 PagesRobert Frost reflects that poetry â€Å"begins in delight and ends in wisdom†¦.It runs a course of lucky events , and ends in a clarification of life—not necessarily a great clarification, such as sects and cults are found on, but in a momentary stay against confusion† (931). His poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken† is a clarification of life. This paper will analyze and evaluate the formal elements of â€Å"The Road Not Taken† and consid er how these elements work together to fit the author’s purpose and clarification