I apologize if this is in the wrong forum, but it seemed to me that this question did indeed have a factual answer. If this is not the case, please move it.
Anyhow, lately in my college English class, I’ve been writing several essays, persuasive, expository, the works. My teacher has been very adamant about never letting us use the first or second person in these essays, for reasons still unclear. Yet when I read other things published, I’ve noticed that this does not seem to apply everywhere. In addition to that, a few gripes by professors on the SDMB itself alluded to them being vexed by people being afraid to use the first and second person in this sort of essay. So, is the first or second person acceptable in most collegiate writing, and which catogories is it not acceptable in?
IANACWT (I Am Not A College Writing Teacher), but I was taught by one up until yesterday:)
The way I was taught is that 1st and 2nd person aren’t bad, but overuse is. So what teachers are trying to do is teach/convince you not to overuse them. Otherwise, your paper turns into a monologue, or the audience feels lectured at.
I agree with FDISK i don’t think there are any set rules for using 1st 2nd or 3rd person in writing. I
've had English professors that prefered both kinds. Some said that 3rd person made the paper sound more formal.
On the other hand I’ve had other professors say that using the 3rd person is just away to try and hide our personal bias, and is a waste of time for everyone who reads it.
It depends on the type and subject of essay. “What I did on my Vacation” would need to use the 1st person. A scientific treatise with no room for subjective opinion wouldn’t. OTOH, a discussion on a historical or political issue could require an expression like “…we need to see this in context…” if the passive voice isn’t appropriate. This writer sometimes uses “this writer”, but that’s because he has to switch on the pretentiousness from time to time. Read some good appropriate essayists to see how it’s they do it.
People often mistake a teacher’s policy with a hard and fast rule of English (sometimes teachers do this, too).
The teacher doesn’t want her students to use first or second person. This may be a hangover from the “objective” style scientists are supposed to use (where you never say “I” – not “I added water to the solution,” but “water was added to the solution.”). Or it may be a way to force you to write in a more disciplined way.
Do what the teacher says while you take the course, but don’t mistake it for a rule.
it is often harder to write in third person. reasons have been mentioned above, such as lack of personal bias and the use formal language. when you are barred from expressing your opinion directly it is more difficult to support a position. however, when you do succeed, your essay is more convincing because of the lack of that same personal opinion. your teacher is likely trying to force you to learn techniques for writing these objective essays in case you ever need to. first and second person writing comes more naturally, so there is less reason to teach it. once you have mastered the techniques (i.e. you have passed the class), you should feel free to write in whatever voice you deem appropriate to the piece of writing. also, if you decide that it is very important that a certain piece be written in first or second person, you should consider doing it anyway. if your prof is a reasonable person, s/he might agree with you and give you extra marks for courage.
of course, that’s just my opinion. i could be wrong.
And if you grow up into an english teacher, remember to explain to your students why you force them to follow whatever arbitrary rules you will decide to have them follow
I’m not sure about other disciplines, but I know that most historians shy away from using first-person. Why? I think it sounds more authoratitive not to. Writing “evidence suggests” sounds much more authoratitive than “based on the evidence, I think…” even though they mean pretty much the same thing.
I’ve noticed over the years that many (most?) people whose jobs involve writing feel that they alone possess the One True Path ™ to great writing.
Here’s my advice:
Don’t waste your time trying to understand your teacher’s goofy rules. If he or she hasn’t explained them, it’s likely because he or she doesn’t have a very clear idea about what the point is.
Look up some essays that your teacher has written and try to emulate his or her style. Then laugh about it with your buddies about how your teacher gives you an ‘A’ and tells you what a “gift” you have.
Jomo has written many essays speaking of himself in the first person. He has also written many essays in which he addresses the reader in the second person. In Jomo’s opinion, many of the greatest essay writers, for example Montaigne and Emerson, have violated that “rule” and their writing is none the worse for it. The reader of this essay will note at once how Jomo means to illustrate the artificiality of banning the first and second persons altogether. Does the reader see what Jomo means?
Y’all shall put pen to paper tonight, speculating within your little heads how best to carve words into term papers. You folks will focus on the materials we covered in class.
Second person plural future tense *
He had put his pen to paper on that night, speculating within his little head how best to carve words into term papers. He had been focusing on the materials covered in class.
Third person (male) singular past participle *
I am putting pen to paper tonight, speculating within my little head how best to carve words into term papers. I am currently focusing on the materials covered in my class.
First person singular present tense *
We put our pen to paper that night, speculating within our little heads how best to carve words into term papers. We focused on the materials we covered in class.
First person plural, past tense *
WEME3 place Ourselves as pen onto Ourselves as paper while We are night, speculating as within Our little head how best to carve Ourselves as words into Ourselves as term papers. WEME3 focus on Ourselves as materials we cover in Ourselves as class.
divine transcendant metaperson, omnipotent omnipresent tense *
Tell your teacher to get a grip.
