retracing some sense of purpose
Posted by: trijata on: June 14, 2010
I should be writing a letter of intent by now, but instead, I’m on Fb, fervently checking friends’ statuses and commenting on them, while listening to the Lakers-Celtics game, and typing this blog entry… classic neglect for things that are supposedly my responsibilities. However, this idea of responsibility seems stale for me. It’s done simply for compliance purposes, for the formality of things, for paperwork’s sake. I’m not saying I’m refusing to write it, I will; it’s part and parcel of what I bargained for when I joined the academe. I just wish to take things bit by bit, and put more thought and hopefully, heart, into what I would be writing.
Is it just me or is it really this freakin’ difficult to put one’s intent into writing?
5 Responses to "retracing some sense of purpose"
August 5, 2010 at 11:47 pm
on second thought, you used “as” so the phrase is not at all a participle, is it? my bad. 
thanks, that reply will do for a blog post.
creative license, indeed. i’d probably hide my identity. good wishes, ma’am yen.
August 5, 2010 at 11:52 pm
and if i should be one hell of a grammar nazi, i’d probably criminalize starting a sentence with “’cause” too. hihi, what was i thinking.
August 7, 2010 at 10:05 pm
I re-reviewed the status that you’re talking about and I realized that I read the wrong one (my bad, sorry)!
I now humbly acknowledge that you are correct in noticing that there’s indeed an error; however, the error isn’t the case of a dangling participle for the phrase wasn’t a participial phrase at all. The real problem is the fact that I failed to provide what the adverbial phrase modifies. To correct it, it would have been something like this: ‘As a child, I’ve always been bought red and white things by my mother’ or ‘When I was a child, my mom always bought me things in white and red’.
Thanks for pointing out the error. 
People like you keep me on my toes and firmly grounded, reminding me that complacency should never be the brand of attitude I wear towards writing. As much as I want to defend myself on why such an error was committed, i deem it unnecessary already since even native speakers make mistakes in speaking and even in writing. Also, it’s inexcusable anyway so what’s the point, right? I’ll charge it to experience, lack of sleep, stupidity and utter mind-blankness. CHAR!
I appreciate the fact that you value grammar so much ’cause in reality, it is very important, specially if scholarly writing is concerned. By implication it means that we must also take into consideration the type of writing intended by the author. Was it scholarly, expressive, journalistic, literary, technical, or business-like?
I really hope that you don’t end up being a grammar nazi when you read; for the tendency for such readers is that they focus too much on technicalities and mechanics, failing to appreciate and experience the depth of the message and the intent behind the play of words, imagery and symbolisms.
I also want to let you know that I respect your air of anonymity no matter how immaterial I view it as. I hope someday you find the freedom to boast in mentioning your name in comments, prints, publications or anything of that sort. Sharing your ideas is meant to liberate you and not suppress you. At the end of the day, I’m just someone who happens to be your instructor at the moment but that doesn’t make me a god nor someone you should fear having a dialogue with. We improve our thoughts and selves through others, and I wouldn’t take it against you if you had the courage to stand up to my wrongs. I could only respect your opinion, may it be for me or against me, and grow from there.
This has gotten really long, sorry. Thank you again. I hope you become a more conscientious writer than I could ever be. May my slips serve as your pillars. ^_^
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August 4, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Oh, ma’am. You’re spending too much time on fb. I was particularly bothered by one of your recent status messages… Either my knowledge of grammar is rusty or I found a dangling participle on the first statement. Monday at 12:28.
Anyway, I commend your blog – it’s fun to read. Post more!
August 5, 2010 at 5:21 pm
i don’t think there’s a dangling participle there, i reviewed it and asked peers about their opinions… In writing though, specially for creative output, there is such a thing as poetic license. Grammar isn’t that restrictive when it comes to creative writing particularly if the supposed error is necessary for expression and stylistic purposes. i use fb when i get a break from teaching koreans. thanks for visiting the blog. i am way too busy and preoccupied at present to write.
who are you by the way?