RE: [DL] Rpg classes (WAY OT)

["Heivilin, Jim" <banzai@missouri.edu>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Goff [mailto:JohnGoff@deadlands.com]
> Subject: Re: [DL] Rpg classes (WAY OT)
> 
<snip>
> just exposes you to bad prose/poetry written by your classmates <g>);
> journalism (gives you the "basics" on what's important to tell your
> readers); and math, particularly statistics (you can't make a 
>
First a little background.  I'm an engineer (by education, I work in the
computer "industry").  I learned to write in the Army (which changed it's
preferred writing style four times in the five years I was on active duty).
I can do it passably well.  

I work at the University of Missouri which, presumably, has one of the best
Journalism schools in the country. My first job here was working at the
computer help desk.  I worked with a lot of journalism students and a few of
their profs.  Based on that experience I would NOT recommend journalism as a
study choice unless you want to go into the field.  Badly.  There seems to
be a disturbing trend to equate ignorance of a subject with objectivity on
it (IMNSHO).  And we *all* know what sharpshooters gamers are.  If you learn
to do this then you will be dreadfully unhappy when your readers pick apart
your hard work.  

And I agree with Matthew, learn to proofread.  Personally I find nothing so
indicative of poor writing as simple spelling errors and grammatical
mistakes.  It shows a lack of attention to detail and if they can't get the
spelling right, how much effort might they have put into the major things?
Having said that I realize (from personal experience) that you never find
*all* the mistakes until *after* it's gone to the printers.  

And lastly, while you're in college, learn how to learn.  If you acquire
this skill you will be set for life, able to learn anything you need.
Unfortunately it's not a subject actually taught in school, you have to pick
it up on your own.  

Jim "quietly goes back to teaching himself java"

Jim Heivilin, Project Manager
Systems & Applications Group, IAT Services
University of Missouri at Columbia
mailto:banzai@missouri.edu, 884-3898