"It's so easy not to pay attention to grammar sometimes and we all do it, even if we like to think otherwise. After all, we are only human," Kia Garriques writes in a blog post, "How to Start the New Year: Get Serious About Grammar!"
With a new semester beginning this week at Marquette University, and me once again teaching Digital Journalism III (JOUR 2100) in the Diederich College of Communication, I want my 14 students to focus on grammar all the time. Hence my Facebook message last night:
With a new semester beginning this week at Marquette University, and me once again teaching Digital Journalism III (JOUR 2100) in the Diederich College of Communication, I want my 14 students to focus on grammar all the time. Hence my Facebook message last night:
A #loweclass rite of passage will happen tomorrow morning. The much-appreciated, nowhere-else duplicated, 50-question grammar, spelling and punctuation quiz is locked and loaded in D2L. It is set to begin at 10 and end at 10:25. As stated Monday, 50 extra-credit points to each student who answers at least 40 questions correctly. Only two students -- Alec Brooks and Rob Gebelhoff -- have earned such glory in five prior semesters.
The post earned three dozen Facebook "likes" and engendered boldness among my friends and family, not to mention well wishes and thoughts of cats from former students of #loweclass – which, by the way, is the Twitter hashtag to follow what my students are doing. A cousin asked why 25 minutes for 50 questions? One doesn't need more than two minutes per grammar question. Three people asked to take the quiz. How cute. I really don't think they are ready.
Several of the questions relate to what's in the Associated Press Stylebook, the "journalist's bible" in newsrooms across America. I insist that my students know AP Style because it helps to teach how to write with clarity, consistency, accuracy and authority. There will be more AP Style quizzes soon as well as the ever popular "AP Style Bowl" that's designed to make it fun to learn.
So, how did the class do with today's quiz? Regretfully, no one scored the requisite 80 for the 50 extra-credit points. Two students were two correct answers shy of the magic number, with both earning a 72. As in past semesters, I will give the quiz -- and another chance at the extra credit -- again near the term's end. Hopefully, then someone else will earn grammar glory.
Several of the questions relate to what's in the Associated Press Stylebook, the "journalist's bible" in newsrooms across America. I insist that my students know AP Style because it helps to teach how to write with clarity, consistency, accuracy and authority. There will be more AP Style quizzes soon as well as the ever popular "AP Style Bowl" that's designed to make it fun to learn.
So, how did the class do with today's quiz? Regretfully, no one scored the requisite 80 for the 50 extra-credit points. Two students were two correct answers shy of the magic number, with both earning a 72. As in past semesters, I will give the quiz -- and another chance at the extra credit -- again near the term's end. Hopefully, then someone else will earn grammar glory.
That moment when you doubt all the grammar lessons you've had: the first of many #loweclass @APStylebook quizzes @MUCollegeofComm
— Estefania Elizondo (@Ely4Estefania) August 27, 2014 50 questions of second guessing myself #APStyle quiz #loweclass
— Elizabeth Baker (@eebaker1231) August 27, 2014 I hope the #APStyleQuiz at the end of the semester will turn out better. #LoweClass
— Brittany Carloni (@CarloniBrittany) August 27, 2014 
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