The Gnostic Pynchon

[Terrance]

David Morris wrote:
> 
> >From: Terrance <Lycidas at worldnet.att.net>
> >To: Dave Monroe <monroe at mpm.edu>
> >I can't really make out what's going on here, but I'll make
> >a couple of comments any way.
> 
> My difficulty has something to do with the lack of paragraphs.  Run-ons are
> hard to follow...

OH! Grammar! Like my spelling and grammar ain't to good
taech. 

I guess, by your comments you are a prescriptivist. Aren't
we all?  After all, does anyone of us read a newspaper or an
academic journal which does not follow certain conventions
of standard written English.  Of course, sometimes we
encounter examples in which the conventions of public
grammar are deliberately violated.  When that
happens in those places ain't there usually a good reason? 
Sometimes,
it is to deliberately challenge the convention.  In other
words, it is
sometimes appropriate to be inappropriate.


Being able to control the conventions of public grammar,
especially in
writing, is one of the important goals of education because
its
conventions are expected to be understood by the writer (not
necessarily
always followed) when a text is to appear in public.
However, a public text must do more than follow the
conventions of public grammar.  A text which is confusing,
not
well-organized, not well-supported, and boring will not be
well
received by the public.   Complete knowledge about the
conventions of public
grammar does not guarantees that a text will be clear,
organized with
good arguments, or interesting.

Finally, DM reminds us of the particular values we Americans
have and
especially the value we want to put on everyone's ideas
regardless of
the form those ideas are expressed in.

the ancient grammarian, 

MD