“The best way to teach is to praise positive
actions and ignore negative ones.”
Write a response in which you discuss the
extent to which you agree or disagree with the
recommendation and explain your reasoning
for the position you take. In developing and
supporting your position, describe specific
circumstances in which adopting the
recommendation would or would not be
advantageous and explain how these examples
shape your position.
The recommendation presents a view that I would
agree is successful most of the time, but one that
I cannot fully support due to the “all or nothing”
impression it gives.
Certainly as an educator I agree fully that the best
way to elicit positive response from students is to
make use of students’ positive energy and then
encourage actions that you would like to see repeated.
it is human nature that we all want to be accepted and
achieve on some level, and when people in authority
provide feedback that we have done something well,
the drive to repeat the action that was praised is
bound to be particularly strong.
this blanket statement would obviously pay dividends
in situations in which a teacher desires to have
students repeat particular behaviors. For example,
if an educator is attempting to teach students
-14-
proper classroom etiquette, it would be appropriate
to openly praise a student who raises his or her hand
when wishing to speak or address the class. In such
cases, the teacher may also help shape positive
behaviors by ignoring a student who is trying to
interject without approval from the teacher. In fact,
the decision to ignore students who are exhibiting
inappropriate behaviors of this type could work very
well in this situation, as the stakes are not very high
and the intended outcome can likely be achieved by
such a method. however, it is important to note
here that this tactic would only be effective in such
a “low-stakes” situation, as when a student speaks
without raising her hand first. As we will discuss
below, ignoring a student who hits another student,
or engages in more serious misbehaviors, would not
be effective or prudent.
To expand on this point, it is important for teachers
to be careful when working with the second half of
this statement, only ignoring negative actions that
are not serious. Take for instance a student who is
-15-
misbehaving just by chatting with a fellow classmate.
this student might not be presenting much of a
problem and may be simply seeking attention.
ignoring the student might, in fact, be the best
solution. now assume the negative action is the
improper administering of chemicals in a science
experiment or the bullying of a fellow student. To
ignore these negative actions would be absurd and
negligent. now you are allowing a problem to persist,
one that could potentially lead to much bigger and
more dangerous issues. In a more serious situation,
addressing the negative actions quickly and properly
could stop the problem it in its tracks. it is for reasons
like this that I do not advocate the idea that a teacher
can be successful by simply ignoring negative actions.
I do, however, greatly support the idea that the
central focus of teaching should be to build on and
encourage positive actions. however, the author’s
all-encompasing statement leaves too many negative
possibilities for the classroom. Perhaps a better way
to phrase this statement would be to say, “The best
-16-
way to teach is to praise positive actions and ignore
negative ones that are not debilitating to class
efficiency or the safety of any individual”.
Thus, in the original statement, there are indeed some
good intentions, and there could be a lot of merit in
adopting its basic principles. Data proves that positive
support can substantially increase motivation and
desire in students and contribute to positive
achievements. In fact, most studies of teaching
efficacy indicate that praising positive actions and
ignoring negative ones can create a more stable and
efficient classroom. it needs to be stressed, however,
that this tool is only effective at certain levels of
misbehavior. As mentioned above, when the behavior
is precipitated by feelings of revenge, power or total
self-worthlessness, this methodology will likely not
work. it is likely to be very successful, however, when
-17-
the drive behind the misbehavior is simple attention
seeking. In many of these instances, if the teacher
demonstrates clearly that inappropriate behavior
does not result in the gaining of attention, students
are more likely to seek attention by behaving properly.
Should the student choose this path, then the ignoring
has worked and when the positive behavior is
exhibited, then the teacher can utilize the first part of
the theory and support or praise this behavior. now
it is much more likely to be repeated. if the student
does not choose this path and instead elects to raise
the actions to a higher level that presents a more
serious issue, then ignorance alone cannot work
and other methods must be employed.
In conclusion, one can appreciate the credo expressed
in this instance, but surely we all can see the potential
error of following it through to the extreme.
Grammar and spelling errors:
Line 7, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Impression
... support due to the “all or nothing” impression it gives. Certainly as an educ...
^^^^^^^^^^
Line 18, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Encourage
...f students’ positive energy and then encourage actions that you would like to see repe...
^^^^^^^^^
Line 20, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: It
...that you would like to see repeated. it is human nature that we all want to be ...
^^
Line 28, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Bound
...epeat the action that was praised is bound to be particularly strong. thi...
^^^^^
Line 33, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: This
...und to be particularly strong. this blanket statement would obviously pay d...
^^^^
Line 37, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Students
...s in which a teacher desires to have students repeat particular behaviors. For exampl...
^^^^^^^^
Line 39, column 1, Rule ID: SENTENCE_FRAGMENT[1]
Message: “if” at the beginning of a sentence requires a 2nd clause. Maybe a comma, question or exclamation mark is missing, or the sentence is incomplete and should be joined with the following sentence.
...t particular behaviors. For example, if an educator is attempting to teach stud...
^^
Line 53, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: When
...a student who raises his or her hand when wishing to speak or address the class. ...
^^^^
Line 59, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Interject
... ignoring a student who is trying to interject without approval from the teacher. In f...
^^^^^^^^^
Line 69, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Such
...ed outcome can likely be achieved by such a method. however, it is important to n...
^^^^
Line 69, column 16, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: However
...likely be achieved by such a method. however, it is important to note here that t...
^^^^^^^
Line 75, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Without
... situation, as when a student speaks without raising her hand first. As we will disc...
^^^^^^^
Line 75, column 33, Rule ID: SENTENCE_FRAGMENT[1]
Message: “As” at the beginning of a sentence requires a 2nd clause. Maybe a comma, question or exclamation mark is missing, or the sentence is incomplete and should be joined with the following sentence.
...eaks without raising her hand first. As we will discuss below, ignoring a st...
^^
Line 81, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Be
...more serious misbehaviors, would not be effective or prudent. To expan...
^^
Line 92, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Are
... only ignoring negative actions that are not serious. Take for instance a studen...
^^^
Line 102, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Misbehaving
...a student who is -15- misbehaving just by chatting with a fellow classmat...
^^^^^^^^^^^
Line 102, column 37, Rule ID: FELLOW_CLASSMATE[1]
Message: Use simply 'classmate'.
Suggestion: classmate
... misbehaving just by chatting with a fellow classmate. this student might not be presentin...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Line 104, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: This
...by chatting with a fellow classmate. this student might not be presenting much of...
^^^^
Line 106, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Problem
...nt might not be presenting much of a problem and may be simply seeking attention. ...
^^^^^^^
Line 108, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Ignoring
...and may be simply seeking attention. ignoring the student might, in fact, be the best...
^^^^^^^^
Line 110, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Solution
... student might, in fact, be the best solution. now assume the negative action is the ...
^^^^^^^^
Line 110, column 11, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Now
...ight, in fact, be the best solution. now assume the negative action is the im...
^^^
Line 114, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Experiment
...inistering of chemicals in a science experiment or the bullying of a fellow student. To...
^^^^^^^^^^
Line 118, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Negligent
...negative actions would be absurd and negligent. now you are allowing a problem to pers...
^^^^^^^^^
Line 118, column 12, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Now
...tions would be absurd and negligent. now you are allowing a problem to persist, ...
^^^
Line 122, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: More
... potentially lead to much bigger and more dangerous issues. In a more serious sit...
^^^^
Line 126, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Could
...egative actions quickly and properly could stop the problem it in its tracks. it i...
^^^^^
Line 126, column 42, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: It
...ould stop the problem it in its tracks. it is for reasons like this that I do n...
^^
Line 130, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Can
...not advocate the idea that a teacher can be successful by simply ignoring negati...
^^^
Line 139, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Encourage
...f teaching should be to build on and encourage positive actions. however, the author’s...
^^^^^^^^^
Line 139, column 29, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: However
...d on and encourage positive actions. however, the author’s all-encompasing statem...
^^^^^^^
Line 143, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Possibilities
...g statement leaves too many negative possibilities for the classroom. Perhaps a better way...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Line 159, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Efficiency
...s that are not debilitating to class efficiency or the safety of any individual”. ...
^^^^^^^^^^
Line 168, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Adopting
...and there could be a lot of merit in adopting its basic principles. Data proves that ...
^^^^^^^^
Line 174, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Achievements
... students and contribute to positive achievements. In fact, most studies of teaching e...
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Line 176, column 10, Rule ID: MASS_AGREEMENT[1]
Message: Consider using third-person verb forms for singular and mass nouns: 'indicates'.
Suggestion: indicates
...t, most studies of teaching efficacy indicate that praising positive actions and i...
^^^^^^^^
Line 180, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Efficient
...ve ones can create a more stable and efficient classroom. it needs to be stressed, how...
^^^^^^^^^
Line 180, column 22, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: It
...more stable and efficient classroom. it needs to be stressed, however, that ...
^^
Line 184, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Misbehavior
... only effective at certain levels of misbehavior. As mentioned above, when the behavior ...
^^^^^^^^^^^
Line 190, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Work
...ss, this methodology will likely not work. it is likely to be very successful, ho...
^^^^
Line 190, column 7, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: It
...is methodology will likely not work. it is likely to be very successful, howeve...
^^
Line 202, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Seeking
... the misbehavior is simple attention seeking. In many of these instances, if the tea...
^^^^^^^
Line 208, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Are
...n the gaining of attention, students are more likely to seek attention by behavi...
^^^
Line 216, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: The
...eacher can utilize the first part of the theory and support or praise this behav...
^^^
Line 216, column 49, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Now
...ry and support or praise this behavior. now it is much more likely to be repeate...
^^^
Line 218, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: It
...support or praise this behavior. now it is much more likely to be repeated. if ...
^^
Line 218, column 40, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: If
... it is much more likely to be repeated. if the student does not choose this pat...
^^
Line 218, column 40, Rule ID: SENTENCE_FRAGMENT[1]
Message: “if” at the beginning of a sentence requires a 2nd clause. Maybe a comma, question or exclamation mark is missing, or the sentence is incomplete and should be joined with the following sentence.
... it is much more likely to be repeated. if the student does not choose this pat...
^^
Line 226, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: And
...ue, then ignorance alone cannot work and other methods must be employed. ...
^^^
Line 235, column 1, Rule ID: UPPERCASE_SENTENCE_START
Message: This sentence does not start with an uppercase letter
Suggestion: Error
... surely we all can see the potential error of following it through to the extreme....
^^^^^
Transition Words or Phrases used:
also, but, first, however, if, may, second, so, then, thus, well, for example, for instance, in conclusion, in fact
Attributes: Values AverageValues Percentages(Values/AverageValues)% => Comments
Performance on Part of Speech:
To be verbs : 45.0 19.5258426966 230% => Less to be verbs wanted.
Auxiliary verbs: 30.0 12.4196629213 242% => Less auxiliary verb wanted.
Conjunction : 30.0 14.8657303371 202% => Less conjunction wanted
Relative clauses : 32.0 11.3162921348 283% => Less relative clauses wanted (maybe 'which' is over used).
Pronoun: 63.0 33.0505617978 191% => Less pronouns wanted
Preposition: 92.0 58.6224719101 157% => OK
Nominalization: 20.0 12.9106741573 155% => OK
Performance on vocabulary words:
No of characters: 4437.0 2235.4752809 198% => OK
No of words: 792.0 442.535393258 179% => Less content wanted.
Chars per words: 5.60227272727 5.05705443957 111% => OK
Fourth root words length: 5.30495000532 4.55969084622 116% => OK
Word Length SD: 2.85661064955 2.79657885939 102% => OK
Unique words: 350.0 215.323595506 163% => OK
Unique words percentage: 0.441919191919 0.4932671777 90% => More unique words wanted or less content wanted.
syllable_count: 1252.8 704.065955056 178% => OK
avg_syllables_per_word: 1.6 1.59117977528 101% => OK
A sentence (or a clause, phrase) starts by:
Pronoun: 15.0 6.24550561798 240% => Less pronouns wanted as sentence beginning.
Article: 9.0 4.99550561798 180% => OK
Subordination: 10.0 3.10617977528 322% => Less adverbial clause wanted.
Conjunction: 7.0 1.77640449438 394% => Less conjunction wanted as sentence beginning.
Preposition: 18.0 4.38483146067 411% => Less preposition wanted as sentence beginnings.
Performance on sentences:
How many sentences: 32.0 20.2370786517 158% => OK
Sentence length: 24.0 23.0359550562 104% => OK
Sentence length SD: 54.1996364004 60.3974514979 90% => OK
Chars per sentence: 138.65625 118.986275619 117% => OK
Words per sentence: 24.75 23.4991977007 105% => OK
Discourse Markers: 3.59375 5.21951772744 69% => OK
Paragraphs: 93.0 4.97078651685 1871% => Less paragraphs wanted.
Language errors: 50.0 7.80617977528 641% => Less language errors wanted.
Sentences with positive sentiment : 17.0 10.2758426966 165% => OK
Sentences with negative sentiment : 14.0 5.13820224719 272% => Less negative sentences wanted.
Sentences with neutral sentiment: 1.0 4.83258426966 21% => More facts, knowledge or examples wanted.
What are sentences with positive/Negative/neutral sentiment?
Coherence and Cohesion:
Essay topic to essay body coherence: 0.195209922335 0.243740707755 80% => OK
Sentence topic coherence: 0.0572660715228 0.0831039109588 69% => OK
Sentence topic coherence SD: 0.0569516392347 0.0758088955206 75% => OK
Paragraph topic coherence: 0.0358210100395 0.150359130593 24% => Maybe some paragraphs are off the topic.
Paragraph topic coherence SD: 0.0517458176407 0.0667264976115 78% => OK
Essay readability:
automated_readability_index: 17.3 14.1392134831 122% => OK
flesch_reading_ease: 47.12 48.8420337079 96% => OK
smog_index: 3.1 7.92365168539 39% => Smog_index is low.
flesch_kincaid_grade: 12.7 12.1743820225 104% => OK
coleman_liau_index: 15.5 12.1639044944 127% => OK
dale_chall_readability_score: 8.4 8.38706741573 100% => OK
difficult_words: 179.0 100.480337079 178% => OK
linsear_write_formula: 18.0 11.8971910112 151% => OK
gunning_fog: 11.6 11.2143820225 103% => OK
text_standard: 18.0 11.7820224719 153% => OK
What are above readability scores?
---------------------
Write the essay in 30 minutes.
Maximum six paragraphs wanted.
Rates: 66.67 out of 100
Scores by essay e-grader: 4.0 Out of 6
---------------------
Note: the e-grader does NOT examine the meaning of words and ideas. VIP users will receive further evaluations by advanced module of e-grader and human graders.