Pronoun error

My problem with grammar today is pronouns. I never really thought about this to much but when I referred to "their" instead of his or her, I was marked wrong on my paper.

So here is the rule, in order for a pronoun to be correct the noun must match in number.
For example,

• Pronoun error: Everyone needs to bring their own canteen.

• Correction: Everyone needs to bring his or her own canteen.

Even though everyone seems plural it is actually singular. So if the noun is singular than the pronoun must be singular as well, therefore making it "his or her own canteen", not "their own canteen."
For more information go to http://college.cengage.com/devenglish/fawcett/evergreen/7e/students/grammar_errors.html

Open for Interpretation

My impression on the first poem was a mislead one. I was expecting it to down right rag on money because it talked about having to fork it over or watch it burn holes through you pocket. However, I realized after reading the rest of it, that the meaning of the poem is that money is not good or bad it is just how we use it that can be considered good or bad. In the next poem it sends out a similar message of how you view something is what changes the meaning of it.

I believe this relates to art because art is open for the interpretation. The artist my have an intended meaning but when another person looks at it they will see a whole different meaning because of where they have come from and how they view things. I myself do abstract art, and when I will show it to about 10 different people, they will all come up with something different. This is fun for me because when they come up with an interpretation I can usually get a good idea of how they view the world or how their personality is like.

Now relating to politics, I believe this goes along with the first poem really well because many people have firm beliefs on politics, whether it is really good or really bad. pointing out that politics itself is not bad or good, it is how it is viewed that makes it good or bad. This makes me think of the current election, when ever I bring up President Obama i always get a polar opposite opinions. This just means that again we all come from different back grounds and value different things. If in reality one thing itself was bad or good, then we would all agree right?

Something I would like to bring up that relates to this topic is culture. Yesterday I learned in my sociology class that biologically race does not exist, it is all with our own culture beliefs. As a matter of fact, we are the closest related species. For example a fruit fly from another fruit fly biologically can be as different from an chimpanzee to human child are. This all just brings me to the point that many things that have believed to be a certain way my not be that way at all and can change from person to person .

Past, Present and Future

Some problem I have recently encountered is when to speak in the past tense and when to speak in the present tense. For example today I was reviewing a sentence in my rhetoric analysis and I was told to put it in the present tense because I am referring to a document. Well I questioned this rule and decided to look it up.

So here is the rule, use present tense to state facts, to refer to perpetual or habitual actions, and to discuss your own ideas or those expressed by an author in a particular work. Also use present tense to describe action in a literary work, movie, or other fictional narrative. Occasionally, for dramatic effect, you may wish to narrate an event in present tense as though it were happening now. If you do, use present tense consistently throughout the narrative, making shifts only where appropriate.

For more information go to http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_tensec.html

Grammar trouble in writing center

Today I went to the writing center to review my rhetoric analysis. It was a very beneficial time, but I realized some common grammar mistakes I repeatedly do. The most frequent mistake I do is not using a common after a introductory clause.

The rule to this grammar correction is that introductory clauses are dependent clauses that provide background information or "set the stage" for the main part of the sentence, the independent clause. For example,

• If they want to win, athletes must exercise every day. (introductory dependent clause, main clause)
• Because he kept barking insistently, we threw the ball for Smokey. (introductory dependent clause, main clause)

All introductory clauses begin with adverbs like after, although, as, because, before, if, since, though, until, when, etc.

For more information go to http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_commaint.html

"Just you wait intil your in college"

Rosy red cheeks and the sound of out of breathe kids fills the classroom. "Alright kids recess is over time to work on your country reports." said Mr. Price, as a collective moan is given. We all begin to work on our reports gathering glue, scissors and pencils. Mr. Price strolls the class room to make sure everyone is on task, or needs help. Many hands raise and he quickly attends the students,"What can i help you with?" he looks down at billy with deep blue eyes. "I really don't think I can do this Mr. Price I cant figure out how to start my paper," billy says hoping for mercy. "Well how about a fact or statistic about the population?"
" Argh! but that means more work in research!"
"Billy how are you suppose to learn if you don't work? and besides you are in elementary school how do you think it will be when your in college?"
Billy shamefully looks back down and begins scribbling at his paper.

Mr. Price was my 5th and 6th grade teacher and was the best teacher I have yet. At times I would not like the way he made us do so much work in comparison to the other fifth and sixth grade classes. However, I am so grateful for it now, because I have not only learned about the concepts of school but I have a awesome study and work habit. This to me has benefited me not only in school but in work as well. He really cared about his students, therefore he made us work for everything we got.

"I have a average dream!!!"

According to Dictionary.com the word average refers to being typical, common, and ordinary. Now seeing the definition,the question is, why do we want to be average? Is it because we want to blend in and not be seen? or perhaps is it a small whisper that tells you this is all you got ? The individuals reason are a mystery to me and probably always will be because I really don't think anyone really knows the answer to this question.

In the story "I just wanna be average", Micheal Rose talks of his high school days as a undereducated teenager. In his story his entrance exams are mixed up with another student and is put into the below average classes. Already having to suffer school as it is he is left to deal with incompetent teachers for the exception of one, and classes that did not challenge his potential. Life was hard for rose. Yet, because of a teachers influence he was able to turn all of his negative experiences as his drive for ambition. The moral to this story suggests that it is easy to average, but it is hard to except and act with your full potential.

Even though the school systems need to be updated and have competent teachers placed in them. We are the deciders of our future and if we just settle and let our schools become who we are, then we are no better than the school itself. This average mentality needs to be changed and we need to remember that we are the ones who will represent our generation, therefore average is not going to cut it we need to go far and beyond average.

Who vs. Whom

A grammar error I have never understood was the who vs. whom. It always confused me, making me think that whom is past tense and who is present. So to solve the problem I looked at a website called grammar girl, which gave me a simple way to remember it.

Who is the subject of the sentence and Whom is the object of the sentence, meaning that who is the doer and whom is the one being something done to. Additionally, you can remember it by asking the question would it be him or he. So if you were to ask "who(or whom) do i love?" you would answer "I love him," therefore making it whom. Then vice-versa, if you were trying ask "who(or whom) stepped on squiggley?" you would say "he stepped on squiggley," therefore making it who.

For more information on Who vs. Whom go to http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/who-versus-whom.aspx