Dissertations

[russycarps]

That generation of people don't think grammar and spelling are important. Unfortunately they are applying for jobs to a generation of people for whom it's still critically important, in a lot of cases.

In my experience foreigners of university leaving age have better English grammar and spelling skills than Brits.

 

[cammie81]

17 minutes ago, russycarps said:

That generation of people don't think grammar and spelling are important. Unfortunately they are applying for jobs to a generation of people for whom it's still critically important, in a lot of cases.

In my experience foreigners of university leaving age have better English grammar and spelling skills than Brits.

 

It's really bad. I've seen workplace examples of text speak and it's embarrassing.

I'm no grammar nazi (though maybe a grammar dick) but I always text in full sentences including punctuation. I've seen people older than my parents that use text speak so it's not solely a generational thing.

 

[grumpyhack]

I agree with Russy.  One reason could be that when you learn another language you break it down into its component parts and learn about basic grammar, verbs, nouns, tenses etc. I don't think English is taught to English kids in that way any more.

Back in the old days (sorry but as an ageing fart I now find myself using that phrase rather a lot) when I did 'O' levels we had English Language and English Literature as separate subjects.  English Language was all about grammar.  But I don't think that is now taught as a subject on its own.

[Eks101]

I go through hundreds of applications for graduate positions every year. The quality of these are generally exactly the same as they were 15 years ago, in some respects better. Yet every year I hear how standards are slipping, graduates can't formulate sentences, it was better in my day etc etc. 

Puzzling that I never see any evidence of this.

Edited February 21, 2016 by Eks101

[exmoor shroomer]

I'm no grammar Nazi either, if people want to use text speak, that's their lookout.  If people don't care about spelling, punctuation or grammar, that's totally fine.  Who am I to tell people what to say or write?*

Having said that, had I handed in anything with the kind of basic mistakes that are regularly seen in this kind of questionnaire when I was a student, I'd have been marked down and very probably ridiculed in class.

Kids don't learn the classics any more and it seems like computers, media, business and 'new' subjects are more important than history and literature and basic English use.  Any kind of put down or criticism is seen as a form of abuse.

The little fuckers can't even swear properly any more.  

If I cared more, I think I'd despair.  Luckily for me I found a jar of dried shrooms in my shed on Tuesday. 

 

*Am I too mild-mannered for this forum?

[danwood]

I desperately need more people to take part in my study for my dissertation, it takes ten mins and if you good efesters can find it in the good of your heart to help a brother out then there will be an extra male running round glastonbury with not a care in the world and possibly a degree. So in a weird utilitarian way you should all do my study! I'm joking but Yeh all help is appreciated and if you have a survey needing filling in holla back at me I'd be glad to help . https://goldpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cvSLh4hHQVRJVX

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

On 21/02/2016 at 10:29 AM, Eks101 said:

I go through hundreds of applications for graduate positions every year. The quality of these are generally exactly the same as they were 15 years ago, in some respects better. Yet every year I hear how standards are slipping, graduates can't formulate sentences, it was better in my day etc etc. 

Puzzling that I never see any evidence of this.

My exposure to the writing skills of the 'youth' today is solely based on the dissertation survey requests on here. My exposure to the dynamics of their brain function is also based on reading the content of these surveys and the intentions behind those surveys. It's not looking good from this end, but maybe we on here just attract the weak minded on this forum.

 

 

 

Yes, I do get the irony. lol

[russycarps]

20 hours ago, danwood said:

I desperately need more people to take part in my study for my dissertation, it takes ten mins and if you good efesters can find it in the good of your heart to help a brother out then there will be an extra male running round glastonbury with not a care in the world and possibly a degree. So in a weird utilitarian way you should all do my study! I'm joking but Yeh all help is appreciated and if you have a survey needing filling in holla back at me I'd be glad to help . https://goldpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cvSLh4hHQVRJVX

damn I tried to fill this in as you've got 100+ posts here, but it was actually too difficult. I might try again tonight after a few drinks.

 

[stuartbert two hats]

21 hours ago, danwood said:

I desperately need more people to take part in my study for my dissertation, it takes ten mins and if you good efesters can find it in the good of your heart to help a brother out then there will be an extra male running round glastonbury with not a care in the world and possibly a degree. So in a weird utilitarian way you should all do my study! I'm joking but Yeh all help is appreciated and if you have a survey needing filling in holla back at me I'd be glad to help . https://goldpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cvSLh4hHQVRJVX

I'm really interested in how you're varying that initial article.  Fascinating stuff.

[Gnomicide]

Made a nice change that one, well thought out questions, made you think as you answered them.

Mind you, it seems a rather more important study than "How do you think colour/smell/ambiance impacts your overall VIP festival experience?"  

[stixmcvix]

Good thought provoking survey that, just watch your spelling and using words like "assimilation" which may confuse some people. (I'm a market research analyst for a living, so I'm afraid I'm a bit of pedant when it comes to surveys). 

Seriously though, good luck with your dissertation, I have a feeling you're gonna smash it.

[danwood]

Cheers for the good feedback guys it makes me feel more positive about this last month. I'll dm you the details as if I put it on here people might see and then it invalidates results :)

[Spindles]

That is fair comment.  The only foot wrong you put was posting it in someone else's thread, but to be honest rather that than yet another dissertation thread

Thanks for not studying event management.  Ark 3 is leaving next year with the event management graduates, telephone sanitisers and management consultants, just before the giant space goat arrives...ahem.

 

[grumpyhack]

Done.  Well thought out and a bit more purposeful than many dissertations on here.  Good luck.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

9 hours ago, Spindles said:

Thanks for not studying event management.  Ark 3 is leaving next year with the event management graduates, telephone sanitisers and management consultants, just before the giant space goat arrives...ahem.

Ahem indeed! Nice smoke Spindles?

[eFestivals]

10 hours ago, Yoghurt on a Stick said:

Ahem indeed! Nice smoke Spindles?

it's a HHGTTG reference.

[Spindles]

 

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

2 hours ago, eFestivals said:

it's a HHGTTG reference.

Oh I see. Well there was a man who simply must have enjoyed a smoke before writing I'd say.

[Spindles]

To be fair, both of you were correct, I was enjoying a smoke at the time

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

6 hours ago, Spindles said:

To be fair, both of you were correct, I was enjoying a smoke at the time

There's a smoking fiend coming to our house in a bit - yippee. I've only met him once before - when me and my wife were given no choice but to abduct him and take him with us on a bit of a major drugs deal (we were buying for oursleves I hasten to add). It was a set of circumstances that you simply couldn't make up. At one point we took this poor timid spaced out lad in to a pub and the barman came on to him. Back at our flat we had a senile oap (one of my wife's friends from before she went senile - the friend that is!) waiting in complete darkness for our return because the electric meter had run out. On our return to the flat with more electric credit the lights went on and this oap started making amorous advances towards our little friend. We later said how sorry we were for putting him through that and he just smiled and said it was the best night of his life so far.