english..., should it include literature? Options

[pandamonium]

I hate how we have to read hamlet and all of those other stories. i think literature should be an elective and english should just stick to grammer. I feel that literature is getting to into the class so they should make it more of a seperate class. Do you feel the same way.

[*mipadi*]

Literature is what matters in English. Sure, the proper use of the language is important, but that's easy enough to learn in primary school, and you learn the language through reading the language, anyway. But literature is where ideas are actually expressed and transmitted, which is the reason for language in the first place.

[gelionie]

In my school, we have English literature and English language as two seperate subjects. I think this is better than having just one subject called English, because some people may not like plays or poems or any literature-related stuff.

[Gypsy Eyes]

Of course! Literature is one of the main things that makes up english! Who cares if you can use proper english if you can express yourself? Isn't that what we learn english for?

by the way speaking of "grammer" it's spelled grammar.

[*mona lisa*]

I understand that literature is an important part in our understanding of the English language but I honestly don't think English courses should focus on analyzing poems and novels and etc. I recently read an article (in English class) that most of the students in a 3rd year Economics class in a Canadian university had trouble with the simplest grammar rules. They were misspelling common words and making very simple grammar mistakes. It would be much more beneficial if English literature were a unit in an English language class or a different course altogether.

[BOLIN_Vee]

its better than having to sit in class and name adjective and adverb clauses all frikkin period

[*Statues/Shadows*]

I absolutely disagree. Without literature, grammar would be boring as hell, even for people like me who like it. You cannot fully understand the English language without seeing it used well in a variety of ways- essays, poetry, novels, short stories, etc. It really doesn't matter whether someone likes one or the other, because I'm still forced to take math against my will. Do you really want to add another class to it? That's just doubling your pain. There's no way one would be made optional; both reading and writing are far too important to sacrifice.

[voguelove]

mm, true in some ways. we learn from reading different literatures. how are we going to understand the vacab without reading? yes, vocab tests, but thats not really grammer.

here, we call it communication arts. haha.

[misoshiru]

i disagree. i feel that literature is an integral part of english and grammar. to learn grammar alone would more or less be signing your own death warrant, since it's insanely boring. literature not only livens it a bit, but it also teaches literary devices that we could use. proper english is hackneyed and i find literature much more useful. also, i thought hamlet was really interesting, and generally i like all the literary works we read.

[AngelinaTaylor]

Well in my country, I used to have two "language" classes - literature and grammar. Yes, it does make sense.

Cheers,

Taylor``

[lilith]

i think lit should be required. i dunno how u guys r taight at school , but mines a killer! i still love it thou.. i learn a lot and these lit will be helpful not only now but also in the future. i think lit help people have their own opinion and voice a lot and actually KNOW more

[subway]

i love hamlet. i love how everyone just dies at the end and at that same second some loser comes and takes over the country

[IceCream4U]

Of course it should include literature. Literature is the main part of English. I mean, come on. You aren't going to be learning about subject/verb aggreement forever, are ya?


Without literature, you wouldn't have grammAr. We learn grammar in order to understand literature, and so we can write our own. Soo..it kinda makes sense, doesn't it?

[xoxo_proud]

Nooo. I HATE grammar. It's the same thing over and over every year. I'm glad to be out of MS just because of that. At least in HS it's basically literature and some writing.

[insanityislaughi...]

Are you saying that you'd seriously want to have a full class devoted to learning about grammar? To me, grammar blows. I would die of boredom in English if we didn't have any good books to read. Then again, I'm a book worm.