Goth Specifics

       So my eleventh grade English teacher was Miss Gillette. There are things about her and the class that I still mention these days in conversation, not just when talking about high school memories. Miss Gillette was tall with dark hair and eyes – goth. This was before goth was a look for teenagers, and I don't think it has ever been a style for teachers – but Miss Gillette had it nailed, so to speak.

       When I watch political debates these days, I find myself invariably screaming at the television, “Specifics! Where are the specifics!” because candidates like to give generalizations in their responses – without specifics, they aren't really answering the question – saying you are going to end the war is not okay, tell me step by practical step the how you are going to end the war; saying you will dismantle the present health care system is giving ear candy to the masses - tell me precisely a health care plan that is going to work for the masses! And I get so frustrated, and the image of Miss Gillette comes to mind – she is sitting at her desk and saying one more time to the class, “Be specific!”

       Back in that class, I would roll my eyes when Miss Gillette said, “Be specific!” It was usually after an exam had just been graded and returned. She was disappointed in us – we did not back up our answers with enough examples from the literature we had read – we were not specific and she wanted more specifics! She sounded like a broken record.

Yet the message of the broken record did not sink in, was not appreciated until years later. Most of my college essays received full credit even if they were heavier on the generalizations than the specifics. One college classmate of mine even had this down to a formula that went something like this:

       “Say you have a five point question on a test that requires you to write out a short response, and you don't have a clue about the correct answer to the question. You give a three sentence response.The first sentence you write is a rewording of the question into the form of a statement. The last sentence is also a rewording of the question as a form of conclusion to your short essay. The sentence in the middle can be a stab at the correct answer or just a rambling of words. This is usually good for 3 of the 5 points that the question is worth!”

       Yeah, the image of Miss Gillette is now shuddering at her desk in my brain.

       And over time, I learned to appreciate specifics and I try to have examples ready when I express an opinion, although I do confess there are times when I do not have specifics on the tip of my tongue, but I no longer roll my eyes, instead I figuratively smack myself in the head and tell myself to do better next time!

279 20151006 Goth Specifics