Will Spelling Count Jack Connor Analysis

In writing classes the most common first day question is whether or not spelling and grammar will count. Most commonly students focus more on how they are writing and if it is grammatically correct or not rather than writing their inner thoughts. Jack Connor in his essay, “Will Spelling Count?”, argues that writing requires meticulous efforts through his use of cause and effect, comparison and contrast, and division and classification.
Connor displays cause and effect throughout his essay to show how different ways of teaching affect students performance and effort level. When Connor first began teaching he wanted to be a different type of teacher. “I intended to inspire students in my classes to write the kinds of papers the unconventional …show more content…
“ I had to demonstrate that I was not the stereotypical English teacher: a fussbudget who would pick through their essays in search of misspellings and trivial errors.” (605) Connor's first experience teaching was not successful although he had his mind set for what he wanted the students weren’t doing what he wanted them to do making his approach unsuccessful. “So, in my second year, I answered the questions with a 50-minute lecture. … which argued that people write better when they don’t worry about spelling.” (605) This year he decided to take a similar approach, but explain the reason why to his students. The also resulted as unsuccessful as the students once again showed poor work on their papers. In the latest year of teaching he does the same act that he did in his first year teaching but changes his answer. “Then, with what I hope sounds like a mixture of confidence and disdain, I reply, “Yes.” (608) The year before could be marked as a success as it was clear students put more time and effort into their essays. This separates the quality of his first year students writing skills to his current students