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A wise teacher taught me never to begin the concluding paragraph of an essay with the phrase, “in conclusion.” Being ornery, of course, I always began concluding paragraphs in her class with “in conclusion” and then crossed it out.
I think that was an exercise in philosophy. It’s similar to the question of the tree falling in the forest. If I write something and cross it out, she can’t dock points for it, yet it offends her sensibility just the same. If you write something and cross it out, did you write it? Or did you not write it?
For the record, she was one of my favorite teachers. I wouldn’t have been as difficult with a teacher I disliked. I think that’s only natural.
In conclusion, I have no conclusion.
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I'm currently taking Freshman Composition (yeah, I know) and one of our text books is called "Adios, Strunk and White". Apparently, all those rules they drilled into our heads? Totally ignored now. They urge us to find "our voice". How's your "voice"?
My voice tends to start sentences with conjunctions. And that's a fact.
As long as you do it with style, you're good.
My voice uses words like "boneriffic."
Your mom's voice! Apparently my voice likes your mom.
Strunk and Whiteboy
Incidentally, I also had "Adios, Strunk and White" as a textbook in Freshman Composition.
I like to use the cross out function. It's like showing someone "I really could be a dick, but I'm going to choose not to be one".
My freshman year english teacher is what comes to mind when I read this! She was a senior english and had so many “Don’t do this!” and “Don’t do that!” problems I hated it. I still liked the teacher because she knew me from the start, without talking to me… GREATEST TEACHER EVER!!!