Abstract
Learning should not always involve sitting in a classroom and listening to what the teacher has to offer. In addition to learning from the teachers, students can also study from each other. For this to happen, students have to sit together and discuss a certain concept. The scholars with a better understanding of the topic are the ones who help the others understand the same. The beauty of learning from each other lies in the fact that, in the course of discussing presentations, arguments created in the course of the study make it difficult for the students to forget what they absorb. Also, in the course of discussing, the students can come up with better ideas that will help understand the said ideas more than they had when the tutor explained them in class.
I recently participated in a group presentation and there was a lot that I gained from the discussion. The study was aimed at coming up with a group presentation on whether plain prose does cheat. In this study, much was talked about language. Many people would just view it as an important tool because it helps in communication. One would argue that language needs to be simple and clear for effective passing of information. As the discussion, there was a revelation that the simplicity of language is a premise that translates to the fact that language is static, which, is not the case. Taking language to be static would mean that the world is static too. On the contrary, the world is always evolving and there is, therefore, need for language to be versatile so as to be able to express the new ideas and concepts that come with the evolution.
Looking at language from a theoretical point of view, one would see it as one that does not change. Words that were used three or more decades ago are still being used in the present day. Consequently, younger generations are still able to talk to the older folk in the same language, meaning, there has not been a change in language over time. However, critically looking at the situation, it becomes clear why language has to be changing and not static. Compared to decades ago, there has been much development in terms of the people’s way of life. Much has developed and been invented over time. These changes are what have necessitated the need for some new words to describe the new inventions and ideas that have come up with time. Following this discussion, it was clear to the group members that language cannot be static and, therefore, however, plain prose may seem convincing, it needs some example to emphasize its truth.
Further, plain prose can be likened to someone giving an opinion on a matter that does not affect him or her. While coming up with a group presentation, the group undertook an activity to emphasize on how plain prose could not be relied on. The group was subdivided into two groups. To one group, the question was asked on how much time and resources they could dedicate towards care for their elderly parents. Among the answers given were taking them to nursing homes, hiring of nurses and taking them in to live with them. The other group was asked how it would wish to be taken care of once they became old. The members said that they would have wished to live with their children. These two situations were different since in one, the situation directly involved the subgroup members while the other did not. From my experience with the group, it was clear that plain prose can never be totally correct.
