Mary Sherry In Praise Of The F Word Summary

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In 2016, using the “f-word” in any environment does not have the same connotation it may have had years ago. These days using the “f-word,” or failure does not come close to meaning failure the connotation applied to it is more negative. Failure in any educational level is still a fear many students have; therefore, it would bring out positive outcomes along with negative outcomes. Students, parents, and the educational system should question the idea of using failure as a way for students to be motivated enough to do their work. Students should be concerned with using failure as teaching tool alone because failing any course is simply detrimental to their education. Parents should question what the outcomes for their children will be if teachers …show more content…

Sherry, expresses her concern on how students are being handed useless diplomas since they are not being taught the necessary knowledge skills and abilities to help them in the workforce. She goes on to back up her reasoning regarding the broken educational system using a personal example that failing a student would be the best way in motivating that student in having a usable high school diploma. Sherry, voices her disgust on how the educational system allows teachers to pass along students simply because they are good and do not cause any disruptions in the …show more content…

The weaknesses in the essay are having a lack of depth, breadth, and precision. Sherry tends to have a huge lack of depth since there is only one point of view and there is mainly one example the essay is based off of. Not providing any other examples besides personal examples and using only factual evidence negatively impacts her voice of authority, due to her not seeming fully researched in the topic. Breadth in this essay seems to be glanced over since it only includes the students of her adult-literacy program. The lack of precision comes from there being more emotions backing up her argument than evidence that was factual.
In my opinion, I would have to disagree with the idea of threatening to flunk students in hopes of them being motivated to do their own work. The action of failing a student in hopes to receive a positive outcome could just as well become a negative outcome instead. The negative outcome that could come from threatening to fail student is not always motivational, it could also potentially damage a student 's educational career, and become a worn out

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