John Lennons Use of Writing in Lyrics Essay -- English Writing Gramma

John Lennon, the late Beatle, and immortal Walrus, said, â€Å"I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together. See how they run, like pigs from a gun, see how they fly-I’m crying.† And, the strangest thing about it is, after A Hard Day’s Night of typing this into my computer’s grammar checker, the program didn’t indicate a single error. Imagine, three decades before the age of the word processor, Lennon made his words Come Together. Think back to secondary school. What would many of your teacher’s reaction have been had you written what John Lennon did? I think I have an idea how some of my teachers might have reacted. I’d likely have been referred to the guidance counselor for drug counseling, and I’d have been sent home with a note to my parents. Granted, things have changed over the past twenty-five years, and many of today’s teachers realize that â€Å"good† writing consists of more than three-sentence paragraphs and single-subject-single-verb sentences. Where educators could once refer to a universal writing ideology, they must now recognize social diversity as a factor in critical evaluation of students’ work. Understand, I have never taught children in a school environment, and my only insight into what it is like is through reading books and essays, my discussions with friends who teach, you, my classmates, and, of course, my own memories of secondary school. So, when I offer my opinions, I do so humbly. Having said this, you’ll excuse me while I rant about the topic of our October 9th classroom discussion of what makes â€Å"good† writing and how to teach it. I found our discussion of â€Å"If I Learn It’s a Mircal,† by John, the â€Å"remedial† first year community college student, engaging. We talked about â€Å"voice,† and we... ...rtant as making sure he remains long enough to receive what he is asking for. His voice is honest and politically relevant. The teachers who assist him in refining his language and writing skills can take pride knowing that they share a certain part of his successes. I think John Lennon would agree: As this student heads down The Long and Winding Road, he will be grateful to the teachers who have given him his Ticket To Ride. Works Cited Brodkey, Linda. â€Å"On the Subjects of class and gender in ‘The Literacy Letters’†. Cross-Talk In Comp Theory. Ed. Victor Villanueva, Jr. NCTE, Illinois. 639-658. John. â€Å"If I learn it’s a mircal.† ENG 521 class handout. Lennon, John and Paul McCartney. I Am The Walrus. The Beatles. Comet Music Corp. 1967. Whitman, Walt. â€Å"Song Of Myself.† Anthology of American Literature. Ed. George McMichael. Prentice Hall, New Jersey. 2037. John Lennon's Use of Writing in Lyrics Essay -- English Writing Gramma John Lennon, the late Beatle, and immortal Walrus, said, â€Å"I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together. See how they run, like pigs from a gun, see how they fly-I’m crying.† And, the strangest thing about it is, after A Hard Day’s Night of typing this into my computer’s grammar checker, the program didn’t indicate a single error. Imagine, three decades before the age of the word processor, Lennon made his words Come Together. Think back to secondary school. What would many of your teacher’s reaction have been had you written what John Lennon did? I think I have an idea how some of my teachers might have reacted. I’d likely have been referred to the guidance counselor for drug counseling, and I’d have been sent home with a note to my parents. Granted, things have changed over the past twenty-five years, and many of today’s teachers realize that â€Å"good† writing consists of more than three-sentence paragraphs and single-subject-single-verb sentences. Where educators could once refer to a universal writing ideology, they must now recognize social diversity as a factor in critical evaluation of students’ work. Understand, I have never taught children in a school environment, and my only insight into what it is like is through reading books and essays, my discussions with friends who teach, you, my classmates, and, of course, my own memories of secondary school. So, when I offer my opinions, I do so humbly. Having said this, you’ll excuse me while I rant about the topic of our October 9th classroom discussion of what makes â€Å"good† writing and how to teach it. I found our discussion of â€Å"If I Learn It’s a Mircal,† by John, the â€Å"remedial† first year community college student, engaging. We talked about â€Å"voice,† and we... ...rtant as making sure he remains long enough to receive what he is asking for. His voice is honest and politically relevant. The teachers who assist him in refining his language and writing skills can take pride knowing that they share a certain part of his successes. I think John Lennon would agree: As this student heads down The Long and Winding Road, he will be grateful to the teachers who have given him his Ticket To Ride. Works Cited Brodkey, Linda. â€Å"On the Subjects of class and gender in ‘The Literacy Letters’†. Cross-Talk In Comp Theory. Ed. Victor Villanueva, Jr. NCTE, Illinois. 639-658. John. â€Å"If I learn it’s a mircal.† ENG 521 class handout. Lennon, John and Paul McCartney. I Am The Walrus. The Beatles. Comet Music Corp. 1967. Whitman, Walt. â€Å"Song Of Myself.† Anthology of American Literature. Ed. George McMichael. Prentice Hall, New Jersey. 2037.