Quintilian, a Roman rhetorician, organized rhetoric into its classical five parts. Later rhetoricians like Campbell tried to also organize words into similar categories like those of the larger aspects of a public address. Some have speculated that this is the source for the semantic domains of Eugene A. Nida called TEAR. But I rather think that his semantic domains may have risen out of the success of computers and their technical language.
Computers and their wild success are based on approximately 6 major themes, logics, or categories. Computers are critical to understanding both the logic and the history behind my ARWAT approach to basic communication. Nida could have derived his four categories from the language of computers.
He chose to speak of four primary semantic domains (as seen in the acronym TEAR):
Things
Events
Relations
Attributes
Things of course is not really much of a clue either way, but events, relations, and attributes all have the ring of computer relations or basic categories. If you were to read the technical discussions in the computer field on relations, you would see some of this language.
It is no big stretch to expand Nida's TEAR to include the relations between parts and wholes. And in the recent articles dealing with object-related relations in a computer context, there is some evidence that the sixth category could fit into one of the other five. This is no place for that technical discussion.
Let it suffice to say that the language of computers with its six categories and the language of rhetoric with its five categories show a great deal of overlap. While rhetoric speaks more to the macro level and computer language more to a micro level there is no reason not to see the parallels between them.
In any case, a pretty good case can be made for Nida's TEAR idea whether you argue for a classical origin in rhetoric or a cutting edge origin in computers. I favor the latter, but I think there is further support from classical rhetoric that is helpful as well..
I think lending further support to their method is the core course labels of undergraduate level linguistics classes while I was a student at Bethel University (St. Paul, MN). They were:
Continuity and change (this I believe parallels "Attributes", ex. old or new, etc.)
Bond and Barrier (this I believe parallels "Relations", ex. connected or disconnected, etc.)
Models and Theories (wholes - not listed by Nida, ex. these are each comprehensive competing options)
Rule and Freedom (this I believe parallels "Events", ex. the rules and freedoms in the game of Monopoly)
Sense and Nonsense (this I believe parallels "Things", ex. a thing is something you can sense, nothing is not the same thing, etc.)
So perhaps Nida's idea of semantic domains, which I consider his best idea, may have the most lasting legacy because of its ties to computers and to the classics. This blend would be a sales marketers dream.
Sincerely,
Jon
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Communication Basics: Emotions as an Important Part of the Mind, not Primarily the Soul
You may say this to yourself as a reader of this blog. You, the writer, have started writing about emotions in your communication material lately. You're not a psychologist, so why should I listen to you on the topic of emotions?
I really appreciate you asking. You are breaking the silence, so now we can move forward. There is a number of great reasons. But silence on your question does not speak, words do. So let me answer your great question.
The first reason to listen to me is that I have been simplifying difficult things for younger students for years. My favorite school age to teach is junior highers. At that level, you had better have the ability to simplify 500 level course work down to 100 level course work. Over the years, I have simplified a lot of things that were given to me in a complex package. Emotions and logic are just one more.
My favorite example (if you read my other posts) is changing a complex computer language laden method of TEAR into ARWAT with the simple language of any adult - 13 years old and up. Elsewhere, I simplify this laboratory curiosity and foreign field tool into a powerhouse for everyday language use. Check out some of my other posts, if you want to see how I do this.
The second reason is because I respect the higher levels of learning and only desire to take the high level learning and make it useful to the average Joe or Jill. I'm acting in the function of a collaborator with what is already written by psychologists. I am NOT expert enough to enter into the grand debate on emotions at the 500 level, but I am smart enough to discern the basics from experts on a 100 level. It pays to know who knows at the highest levels. By-passing their research is a cardinal mistake.
My favorite examples of highly recognized psychologists who deal directly with the emotions are: Daniel Goleman, Robert Plutchik, Richard S. Lazarus, and Paul Ekman. Goleman wrote the most ground breaking book as far as the public is concerned in his book, Emotional Intelligence. I just think we should take what these guys have learned and use it in the classroom, etc. and not only in the therapist's office.
The third reason is that I am a teacher. As a teacher, I feel the primary part of my job is to deal with a mind and therefore with the brain of my students. I have read up in the area of brain science and find Goldman's work to be particularly convincing that the emotions respond before the logic does in the human brain. My view is we need to catch up to the latest in brain science. The other part of brain science is that emotions were at one time associated with social health. That is why the emotions were primarily assigned to psychologists over teachers. That view is now daily being proven to be unfounded. It is not so much a part of the psyche, the soul, or social health as it is part of mental health and the entire nervous system. I find that to be also the lesson of the latest biological advances. So teachers need to deal with emotions before logic.
I have tons of examples to share here. But I am just going to say that in many instances when I as a coach, a teacher, or a minister first addressed the emotions and then the logic, the results were much better than any other options. Logic alone or logic first only works in certain cases, but not on a routine basis. My greatest moments as a coach, teacher, or minister included both together and in that order. My favorite example from the bible is "the fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom" in contrast to the fictional character Spock in Star Trek who says that "logic is the beginning of wisdom".
The fourth reason and not the least is that while I'm speaking about mental health, I think we have to remove a major stigma associated with this topic. The problem for psychology is their association with abnormal psychology more than normal psychology. There is a stigma that many people would not to go to a counselor to get help, because of their unfortunate associations. The other thing too is that it still is associated with having a social problem, assuming then that there is some breakdown in a person's family upbringing. These associations may be unfair, but they are not going away soon. I was told by a member of one of the minority groups that in those populations the stigma is far worse.
The advantage I have as a coach, a teacher or a minister is that the stigma is not there to the same degree. It is normal to need a coach, it is normal to need a teacher, and it is normal to need a minister's counsel at least now and then. Psychologists, again maybe unfairly, are associated with higher level problems and many people don't like the social stigma that goes with it. Suicidal people, for example, would much rather talk to a friend than to a therapist, though the friend may be totally unequipped for such a deep topic or a topic that deals with the emotions of the nervous system. They may be unable to really help, but at least it is considered within the norm.
Finally, I think associating emotions with the brain is the big breakthrough of psychology as a science, so I think professional teachers need to "buy back" this part of teaching. There was a fairly famous teacher of a fairly famous leader who did not agree with the negative views of emotion that were passed down to him. I am speaking here of Aristotle and Alexander the Great. Why can't teachers teach emotions as related to the mind and the logic of differing kinds that are associated with the mind and brain? I don't see any reason not except that they might feel they are outside their area of specialization. That has to change.
As a coach, I was always dealing with emotions. I grew up in a tradition in sports that took a more positive rather than negative view of emotions. I think the real issue is to re-establish the positive regard for emotions rather than a primarily negative one. This is not the first time in history that negative regard held a society back from its promise. Let's break open a new area of promise with teachers who want to tackle emotions and psychologists who agree their handling it alone is overwhelming their system of treatment and help.
So that is why I think I as a coach, a teacher, and a minister can say something about emotions without being a full-blown psychologist. I think it is central to all three and it has to be applied at a younger age level than when people are already in serious trouble. I hope this encourages especially teachers to take back their responsibility. Let's get this done. Our schools need great teachers again.
Sincerely,
Jon
I really appreciate you asking. You are breaking the silence, so now we can move forward. There is a number of great reasons. But silence on your question does not speak, words do. So let me answer your great question.
The first reason to listen to me is that I have been simplifying difficult things for younger students for years. My favorite school age to teach is junior highers. At that level, you had better have the ability to simplify 500 level course work down to 100 level course work. Over the years, I have simplified a lot of things that were given to me in a complex package. Emotions and logic are just one more.
My favorite example (if you read my other posts) is changing a complex computer language laden method of TEAR into ARWAT with the simple language of any adult - 13 years old and up. Elsewhere, I simplify this laboratory curiosity and foreign field tool into a powerhouse for everyday language use. Check out some of my other posts, if you want to see how I do this.
The second reason is because I respect the higher levels of learning and only desire to take the high level learning and make it useful to the average Joe or Jill. I'm acting in the function of a collaborator with what is already written by psychologists. I am NOT expert enough to enter into the grand debate on emotions at the 500 level, but I am smart enough to discern the basics from experts on a 100 level. It pays to know who knows at the highest levels. By-passing their research is a cardinal mistake.
My favorite examples of highly recognized psychologists who deal directly with the emotions are: Daniel Goleman, Robert Plutchik, Richard S. Lazarus, and Paul Ekman. Goleman wrote the most ground breaking book as far as the public is concerned in his book, Emotional Intelligence. I just think we should take what these guys have learned and use it in the classroom, etc. and not only in the therapist's office.
The third reason is that I am a teacher. As a teacher, I feel the primary part of my job is to deal with a mind and therefore with the brain of my students. I have read up in the area of brain science and find Goldman's work to be particularly convincing that the emotions respond before the logic does in the human brain. My view is we need to catch up to the latest in brain science. The other part of brain science is that emotions were at one time associated with social health. That is why the emotions were primarily assigned to psychologists over teachers. That view is now daily being proven to be unfounded. It is not so much a part of the psyche, the soul, or social health as it is part of mental health and the entire nervous system. I find that to be also the lesson of the latest biological advances. So teachers need to deal with emotions before logic.
I have tons of examples to share here. But I am just going to say that in many instances when I as a coach, a teacher, or a minister first addressed the emotions and then the logic, the results were much better than any other options. Logic alone or logic first only works in certain cases, but not on a routine basis. My greatest moments as a coach, teacher, or minister included both together and in that order. My favorite example from the bible is "the fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom" in contrast to the fictional character Spock in Star Trek who says that "logic is the beginning of wisdom".
The fourth reason and not the least is that while I'm speaking about mental health, I think we have to remove a major stigma associated with this topic. The problem for psychology is their association with abnormal psychology more than normal psychology. There is a stigma that many people would not to go to a counselor to get help, because of their unfortunate associations. The other thing too is that it still is associated with having a social problem, assuming then that there is some breakdown in a person's family upbringing. These associations may be unfair, but they are not going away soon. I was told by a member of one of the minority groups that in those populations the stigma is far worse.
The advantage I have as a coach, a teacher or a minister is that the stigma is not there to the same degree. It is normal to need a coach, it is normal to need a teacher, and it is normal to need a minister's counsel at least now and then. Psychologists, again maybe unfairly, are associated with higher level problems and many people don't like the social stigma that goes with it. Suicidal people, for example, would much rather talk to a friend than to a therapist, though the friend may be totally unequipped for such a deep topic or a topic that deals with the emotions of the nervous system. They may be unable to really help, but at least it is considered within the norm.
Finally, I think associating emotions with the brain is the big breakthrough of psychology as a science, so I think professional teachers need to "buy back" this part of teaching. There was a fairly famous teacher of a fairly famous leader who did not agree with the negative views of emotion that were passed down to him. I am speaking here of Aristotle and Alexander the Great. Why can't teachers teach emotions as related to the mind and the logic of differing kinds that are associated with the mind and brain? I don't see any reason not except that they might feel they are outside their area of specialization. That has to change.
As a coach, I was always dealing with emotions. I grew up in a tradition in sports that took a more positive rather than negative view of emotions. I think the real issue is to re-establish the positive regard for emotions rather than a primarily negative one. This is not the first time in history that negative regard held a society back from its promise. Let's break open a new area of promise with teachers who want to tackle emotions and psychologists who agree their handling it alone is overwhelming their system of treatment and help.
So that is why I think I as a coach, a teacher, and a minister can say something about emotions without being a full-blown psychologist. I think it is central to all three and it has to be applied at a younger age level than when people are already in serious trouble. I hope this encourages especially teachers to take back their responsibility. Let's get this done. Our schools need great teachers again.
Sincerely,
Jon
Communication Basics: Pondeing the Emotions of What and the Logic of Which
I have an idea that is worth pondering and might later be worthy of acceptance rather than rejection. The idea is that the emotions of the nervous system may deal more with the question of what and the logical part of the nervous system with the question of which. The emotions may be more connected with "know" and the logic with "discern". As an example, there is a Bible passage in Isaiah, where it refers to "before he knew to discern".
Here is another example of what I mean. Emotions like fear or confidence don't seem to distinguish between how and why questions. But logically these distinctions are important in the course of action. Could it be that the emotions simply indicate whether we appear strong or weak? If strong, then we feel confidence. If weak, we feel fear. Could it be that the logical aspect then looks more at the issue of opportunity or threat?
If these hints are on the right course, then it could be that the emotions and logic deal with both parts of a SWOT analysis, and also in the same order chronologically. Strengths and weaknesses would be the concern of our emotional assessment and opportunities or threats would be the concern of our logical assessment.
So it may be worth pondering, whether in fact emotions do address more the question of what: strong or weak. It also may be worth pondering whether logic does address more the question of which: opportunity or threat. In the end, we'll find out one way or the other if these ideas are the strong and courageous or of a weak and shrinking kind. Happy pondering.
Sincerely,
Jon
Here is another example of what I mean. Emotions like fear or confidence don't seem to distinguish between how and why questions. But logically these distinctions are important in the course of action. Could it be that the emotions simply indicate whether we appear strong or weak? If strong, then we feel confidence. If weak, we feel fear. Could it be that the logical aspect then looks more at the issue of opportunity or threat?
If these hints are on the right course, then it could be that the emotions and logic deal with both parts of a SWOT analysis, and also in the same order chronologically. Strengths and weaknesses would be the concern of our emotional assessment and opportunities or threats would be the concern of our logical assessment.
So it may be worth pondering, whether in fact emotions do address more the question of what: strong or weak. It also may be worth pondering whether logic does address more the question of which: opportunity or threat. In the end, we'll find out one way or the other if these ideas are the strong and courageous or of a weak and shrinking kind. Happy pondering.
Sincerely,
Jon
Communication Basics: My Common Sense Foundation and My Path to It
The foundation for my communication basics is in common sense that is not very technical, but my journey has taken me through some of the technical materials and I just want to share some of that journey that might provoke discussion among the specialist and the experts. The main thing is to follow the common sense argument. But before it developed, I learned quite a bit from the following teachers (only 2 -3 I never met or talked directly to) at higher levels of learning.
In the 80s, there was first John S. Piper, Tom Steller, William A. Smalley, Lois Malcolm, Donald N. Larson, and James Hurd. Later came B. Wayne Johnson, Claude Bowen, Dale Carnegie, Paul J. Meyer, and Peter F. Drucker.
In the 90s, it was Drucker (again), Daniel P. Fuller, Robert "Bobby" Clinton, Eugene A. Nida, Rick Warren, and Wooden. Later came David Schierenbeck, Robert Stein, Gary A. Smith, Thomas A. Schreiner, David Clark, and James Brooks.
In the 2000s, it was David Sulack, Galen Call, Rick Thoman, Roger Lutz, Millard Erickson, and Nils Friberg. Later it was Dwight Perry, Roger Buck, Tom Collins, Darrell Amacker , Steve Pedersen ,and Walter Kaiser.
Since 2010, it was Kaiser (again), Arnold Klukas, Allen P. Ross, Garwood Anderson, Stephen Peay, and Thomas L. Holtzen. The later remains to be seen the future. It will likely include Hopp, etc.
In 2010, I first began to use materials directly addressing the issue of emotions. Before that time, I was mostly familiar with Dan Goleman's book, Emotional Intelligence. In 2010, I began using the emotion wheel developed by Plutchik and even tried to develop my own emotional charts based on my logic tool that I learned over a period from the early 80s and began to use very frequently from 2004 forward.
Here is how I viewed the emotions in 2010:
[intentionally left out until after my book is published later in 2014]
Here is how I would chart them today:
[intentionally left out until after my book is published later in 2014]
It is in late 2013, that I realized the common sense level support for my ideas. It was November 18th, 2013 to be more exact. The idea is that the greatest words are in one sense the least when it comes to foundational support and that the least words are the greatest whose very high frequency we take for granted makes them the real basis especially for the logic of language, but also for the emotions.
For the emotions a great example is that of anger and our use of the words "let" and the words "not ... let". For any one of the emotions there are basic words like these that show the great importance of addressing not only the logic of the brain, but also its emotion.
So the next time someone says that this is all so simple, or why didn't I see it sooner, they need to consider sometimes you travel through the complex and high level to reach the simple and low level. I only hope that from this point forward more can find the simple and low level road first. I took the high road, but taking the low road first is the best way to learn. The other route nearly killed me a few times! Take care.
Sincerely,
Jon
In the 80s, there was first John S. Piper, Tom Steller, William A. Smalley, Lois Malcolm, Donald N. Larson, and James Hurd. Later came B. Wayne Johnson, Claude Bowen, Dale Carnegie, Paul J. Meyer, and Peter F. Drucker.
In the 90s, it was Drucker (again), Daniel P. Fuller, Robert "Bobby" Clinton, Eugene A. Nida, Rick Warren, and Wooden. Later came David Schierenbeck, Robert Stein, Gary A. Smith, Thomas A. Schreiner, David Clark, and James Brooks.
In the 2000s, it was David Sulack, Galen Call, Rick Thoman, Roger Lutz, Millard Erickson, and Nils Friberg. Later it was Dwight Perry, Roger Buck, Tom Collins, Darrell Amacker , Steve Pedersen ,and Walter Kaiser.
Since 2010, it was Kaiser (again), Arnold Klukas, Allen P. Ross, Garwood Anderson, Stephen Peay, and Thomas L. Holtzen. The later remains to be seen the future. It will likely include Hopp, etc.
In 2010, I first began to use materials directly addressing the issue of emotions. Before that time, I was mostly familiar with Dan Goleman's book, Emotional Intelligence. In 2010, I began using the emotion wheel developed by Plutchik and even tried to develop my own emotional charts based on my logic tool that I learned over a period from the early 80s and began to use very frequently from 2004 forward.
Here is how I viewed the emotions in 2010:
[intentionally left out until after my book is published later in 2014]
Here is how I would chart them today:
[intentionally left out until after my book is published later in 2014]
It is in late 2013, that I realized the common sense level support for my ideas. It was November 18th, 2013 to be more exact. The idea is that the greatest words are in one sense the least when it comes to foundational support and that the least words are the greatest whose very high frequency we take for granted makes them the real basis especially for the logic of language, but also for the emotions.
For the emotions a great example is that of anger and our use of the words "let" and the words "not ... let". For any one of the emotions there are basic words like these that show the great importance of addressing not only the logic of the brain, but also its emotion.
So the next time someone says that this is all so simple, or why didn't I see it sooner, they need to consider sometimes you travel through the complex and high level to reach the simple and low level. I only hope that from this point forward more can find the simple and low level road first. I took the high road, but taking the low road first is the best way to learn. The other route nearly killed me a few times! Take care.
Sincerely,
Jon
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Communication Basics: Seeing the Unseen
I've got a great question: "How do I get people to see something that they don't see?" I'm not sure exactly what is the best way to make it happen. It gets at: "Why is it that they can't see and how is it that I came to see something that I previously did not see?"
How does that happen? It seems possible that analogies, similies, allegories, fables, and parables are ways it happens Could it be that the familiar (something we see everyday) can help us see something unfamiliar (something we miss everyday)?
Could that be why Jesus resorted so frequently to parables and to asking people to "behold" what they were missing in plain view? He said one of the reasons he came was to give sight to the blind.
It just might be that the best way to offer sight is to offer a good story that has all the elements of familiarity to teach us to see the unfamiliar. Who knows?
Sincerely,
Jon
How does that happen? It seems possible that analogies, similies, allegories, fables, and parables are ways it happens Could it be that the familiar (something we see everyday) can help us see something unfamiliar (something we miss everyday)?
Could that be why Jesus resorted so frequently to parables and to asking people to "behold" what they were missing in plain view? He said one of the reasons he came was to give sight to the blind.
It just might be that the best way to offer sight is to offer a good story that has all the elements of familiarity to teach us to see the unfamiliar. Who knows?
Sincerely,
Jon
Communication Basics: Being Clever in our Communication
A part of speaking well is to have a good catch phrase that captures the audience's attention. There is one that has caught on in Christian circles in recent years. It is memorable, so it is often quoted (though in the middle of summer, it is out of season). It is: "We need to put Christ back into Christmas". This statement is very clever whether true or false.
I can think of an opposing catch phrase for those who love Jesus more than Christians. They might say: "We need to put Christ back into Christian". That is equally clever. What might be even better is: "We need to put Christ back into Christianity". I have to agree with both of these statements personally.
I recently heard a Christian video series that wanted to eliminate the use of Christian, because it was a name from outsiders and because Christian was not defined. How can a word be better defined? Christ is the central part of the word Christian. He defined a lot of things as to what a Christian should be. Sometimes we can be a bit too clever.
So back to my point. We can be very clever in our communication by using catchphrases that are very memorable. I think that remains true whether or not the catchphrase itself is true. A few thoughts here to ponder, but don't miss the importance of being clever in a helpful way for our audiences.
Sincerely,
Jon
I can think of an opposing catch phrase for those who love Jesus more than Christians. They might say: "We need to put Christ back into Christian". That is equally clever. What might be even better is: "We need to put Christ back into Christianity". I have to agree with both of these statements personally.
I recently heard a Christian video series that wanted to eliminate the use of Christian, because it was a name from outsiders and because Christian was not defined. How can a word be better defined? Christ is the central part of the word Christian. He defined a lot of things as to what a Christian should be. Sometimes we can be a bit too clever.
So back to my point. We can be very clever in our communication by using catchphrases that are very memorable. I think that remains true whether or not the catchphrase itself is true. A few thoughts here to ponder, but don't miss the importance of being clever in a helpful way for our audiences.
Sincerely,
Jon
Communication Basics: Revising the Class Names of Dr. William A. Smalley and Dr. Donald N. Larson
When I was an undergrad, I sat under two geniuses. They both were very brilliant in their own respective ways. They both had their strengths. Dr. Smalley was able to mediate differing parties. Dr. Larson was able to make was seemed complex, simple. That is what their teaching colleagues at least said about them. I want to share a part of their genius again, but this time I want to make some improvements and make explicit why I think their genius was better than realized.
So let's begin with how I would organize their class names based on my ARWAT method (pronounced "Are what?")
Amounts
Continuity and Change
Relationships
Bond and Barrier
Wholes
Models and Theories
Actions
Rule and Freedom
Things
Sense and Nonsense
These classes in this type of arrangement were the core classes of their curriculum minus introductory classes and specialty classes. In my view, since no one who knew these gentlemen, who unfortunately are no longer available to question, can explain their class organization, I think the best guess is that they used the TEAR method.
TEAR is the technical precursor for my ARWAT organizational method. That is why I think my layout of their courses works really well.
I also think they got some of their ideas for these class names from anthropological materials. I think they may have especially relied upon Spradley and McCurdy's writings in anthropology.
So why do I think there needs to be some improvement? In American culture there are certain culture values that receive a great deal of positive press. Those words that have a positive connotation in our culture are: change, theories (since Thomas Kuhn), and freedom. There is a problem with two other second members of their grouping. Those do not fall into the category of positive values. They are: barrier and nonsense. So what I want to do is replace these two negatives with two positives to fit with the other three sets as far as establishing complete consistency. So here it goes. My attempt to improve on their brilliant work.
When it comes to bond and barrier, I think the American value or virtue that should replace barrier (not a virtue) is independence. You might even have heard of the Declaration of Independence. Independence is certainly a positive break from the negative of a barrier. Independence and liberty are both pretty well written in granite as positive values that Americans treasure. So in line with that value, I would like to change things to read, "bond and break". One of the reasons for my choice of break over independence is the same first letter of "b" pattern as a memory tool. But let's face it, break is a good synonym for independence.
When it comes to sense and nonsense, I cannot think of an American who would say that they value nonsense. In fact, they probably would say that they would prefer some common sense in place of nonsense. Did I just hear an "Amen" to that? I thought so. Education is a great value in the United States that is supposed to stamp out nonsense. We all know that it doesn't always do that. But its intention is certainly to give sight through knowledge to the blind through ignorance. So in line with education as a value, I would like to change things to read, "sense and school". I like school over educate again because of the agreement of first letters in each word. It gives it a more pleasant and memorable ring.
So let me re-chart all of their core classes:
Amounts
Continuity and Change
Relationships
Bond and Break
Wholes
Models and Theories
Actions
Rule and Freedom
Things
Sense and School
This is just another demonstration of how ARWAT can be used as one tool to make a lot of improvements. The other thing is perseverance. It took me a long time to realize the genius of Smalley and Larson's class names. Please ponder these ideas in your heart, if initially it does not make sense to you. Enough patience and its genius will finally show itself. It did for me. I owe both of those teachers more than I could ever repay. I hope I can sufficiently honor their legacies, if that is even possible. Take care.
Sincerely,
Jon
So let's begin with how I would organize their class names based on my ARWAT method (pronounced "Are what?")
Amounts
Continuity and Change
Relationships
Bond and Barrier
Wholes
Models and Theories
Actions
Rule and Freedom
Things
Sense and Nonsense
These classes in this type of arrangement were the core classes of their curriculum minus introductory classes and specialty classes. In my view, since no one who knew these gentlemen, who unfortunately are no longer available to question, can explain their class organization, I think the best guess is that they used the TEAR method.
TEAR is the technical precursor for my ARWAT organizational method. That is why I think my layout of their courses works really well.
I also think they got some of their ideas for these class names from anthropological materials. I think they may have especially relied upon Spradley and McCurdy's writings in anthropology.
So why do I think there needs to be some improvement? In American culture there are certain culture values that receive a great deal of positive press. Those words that have a positive connotation in our culture are: change, theories (since Thomas Kuhn), and freedom. There is a problem with two other second members of their grouping. Those do not fall into the category of positive values. They are: barrier and nonsense. So what I want to do is replace these two negatives with two positives to fit with the other three sets as far as establishing complete consistency. So here it goes. My attempt to improve on their brilliant work.
When it comes to bond and barrier, I think the American value or virtue that should replace barrier (not a virtue) is independence. You might even have heard of the Declaration of Independence. Independence is certainly a positive break from the negative of a barrier. Independence and liberty are both pretty well written in granite as positive values that Americans treasure. So in line with that value, I would like to change things to read, "bond and break". One of the reasons for my choice of break over independence is the same first letter of "b" pattern as a memory tool. But let's face it, break is a good synonym for independence.
When it comes to sense and nonsense, I cannot think of an American who would say that they value nonsense. In fact, they probably would say that they would prefer some common sense in place of nonsense. Did I just hear an "Amen" to that? I thought so. Education is a great value in the United States that is supposed to stamp out nonsense. We all know that it doesn't always do that. But its intention is certainly to give sight through knowledge to the blind through ignorance. So in line with education as a value, I would like to change things to read, "sense and school". I like school over educate again because of the agreement of first letters in each word. It gives it a more pleasant and memorable ring.
So let me re-chart all of their core classes:
Amounts
Continuity and Change
Relationships
Bond and Break
Wholes
Models and Theories
Actions
Rule and Freedom
Things
Sense and School
This is just another demonstration of how ARWAT can be used as one tool to make a lot of improvements. The other thing is perseverance. It took me a long time to realize the genius of Smalley and Larson's class names. Please ponder these ideas in your heart, if initially it does not make sense to you. Enough patience and its genius will finally show itself. It did for me. I owe both of those teachers more than I could ever repay. I hope I can sufficiently honor their legacies, if that is even possible. Take care.
Sincerely,
Jon
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