The Structure of Knowledge

Part of becoming a self-confident learner is to understand the content (specifics) of what you must learn. For example, if you are learning to bake a cake, you must at least (at a minimum) understand that you need ingredients, a baking pan and an oven. Of course, it would also be nice to know the amounts (proportion) of each of these ingredients and when to add each, otherwise your cake might not be very tasty.

Similarly, as a student in academia, as a member of the workforce, or as a professional you need to understand how to communicate in formal English. You will do this in person, with professors, colleagues, customers, clients and patients. You will read books, essays, articles and other sources. You will write: essays, answers to test questions, reports, evaluations, presentations, and research papers. This skill extends to communication on the job: with co-workers, bosses, and subordinates (people whom you supervise). Formal language is required in business, in law, and in any activity that requires communication of complex, technical, legal or otherwise important information.

In order to communicate with each other, as we have discussed, there must be an agreed upon standard set of sounds and symbols with distinct meanings. We call this 'language'. The formal language of America requires some understanding of American culture, American symbolism and American idiom (see Critical Grammar for a discussion of idiom - the Greek word for 'unique'). This chapter begins to introduce you to some of the aspects of American culture, symbols and language necessary for your success.