Specific is Terrific!

“The girl with the hair. ” We have all heard this comment at least once. When I hear this comment I feel like smacking the person on their head! Most girls have hair, how is anyone supposed to know who is being referred to? Here at ALC I’ve noticed students write sentences referring to “things” or “stuff”. Teachers like Ms. Bone joke around and say, “What kinds of things are you talking about? Fish? Umbrellas? Those are all things.” She’s right. Students like sophomore, Orlando Juan likes being vague. “I like being kinda mysterious.” But is writing “and then the thing moved” really mysterious or “and then the big hairy creature moved” more mysterious? Being specific and going into detail creates a picture in your mind and it also catches the reader’s attention. Teachers like Dr. Fey are annoyed by the vagueness of students, “It suggests that they aren’t thinking about the topic in very much detail or depth” and later adds “college professors will say ‘more detail’ or ‘more explanation’.” I think students should start working on being more detailed like ALC sophomore, Vanessa Torres,  “I go into detail”. Some students at ALC are specific “depending on the situation” like Kevin Maldonado said. Do some students get so used to being vague that when the situation “changes” and matters they are not specific? Sophomore, Baruchs Ramirez believes students do get used to being vague and although they think they are being specific they are not. The importance of the situation came up again when sophomore Wendy Saravia said “Well, sometimes when it comes to teachers I am specific. To friends I can care less; they know what I’m saying.” This is interesting because Dr. Fey said “I think students know they are writing for the teacher and they assume the teacher knows what they are talking about. When you write for an SAT or a CAHSEE you don’t know who you are writing to.” Although Wendy is specific “when it comes to teachers” not every student turning in papers is being specific. Both Dr. Fey and Ms. Bone agree that not being specific is an outcome of laziness. This was proven correct by sophomore, Anthony Muñoz, when asked if he is specific “Sometimes, because sometimes I’m tired and I want to make it short.” Some students are annoyed by teachers when they tell students to be more specific. Sophomore, Orlando Juan is annoyed by this type of criticism “Yes, it bugs me like what’s the point of being specific, just be like yes or no,” later he adds “Well probably they just say that so you could write more. They have nothing else to do.” Other students like sophomore, Vanessa Torres do not get annoyed because it is “constructive criticism”. Students should look at the comment from teachers in a positive way because they are going to help you. Here at ALC we should work on being specific and with the year ending, being specific can be a goal for the upcoming year of 2010-2011.