Standard English Questions

Evaluating the Standard

1.     When a person speaks or writes in Standard English, what exactly does that mean?

Standard English is English that everyone accepts and understands, even though it is not always correct it is accepted.

2.    How do you think this particular variety of English became the standard?

I think it was because people got more comfortable with less formal English rather than formal.

3.    Should a student use a dialect other than Standard English (or even a different language other than English altogether) in the classroom? If so, in what particular situations (speaking, writing, reading, use of technology, etc.) are non-formal English appropriate?

I think students should use standard English in the classroom. Situations like text messaging, talking with friends and/or relatives, and technological things like Facebook are non-formal.

4.    What makes someone a good writer? What kind of things do they do when they write? (this can be things like how they organize a paper, what words they use, etc.) List a few.

I think someone is a good writer when they use the right words and make whatever it is they are writing about flow. If a person is reading it, they are reading more than just words; they are reading a voice. I think good writers have voice.

5.    You think that someone is a bad writer. What are some things that this person does that make them a “bad” writer in your eyes? List a few.

A person is a bad writer in my eyes when they use cliche phrases like "And I'm now going to talk you about such and such.." Something like this that completely bores the reader. I also think that a person is a bad writer if they have gramatical errors. It is extremely difficult to focus on a paper if I have to stop every three seconds and go "It should be 'you're', not 'your'."

6.    Are there times when a person you meet doesn’t speak “correct” English? What does that person do that is “incorrect”? List a few things.

To me, incorrect English is simply English with errors. If a person is speaking in non-formal terms and is using slang that does not make sense, it is incorrect English to me. Also, when a person is not using the correct words to try and explain or describe something.

7.    What particular types (or genres) of writing should students be doing in elementary and secondary school to prepare them for college and the work force?

I think formal English should be taught at an early age because I am seeing more and more students using incorrect English on even the most informal settings, such as Facebook.

8.    Does standard English=correct English? 
Not always.