Carolyn Kirkpatrick <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
 
> >Subject:      Still troubled by 'mechanics'
> >-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> In response to the term "mechanics"...
 
> I have begun to use the word "conventions" since I adapted my writing rubric
> to coincide with the major elements of the Pennsylvania Writing Assessment
> rubric.
> There are 5 major focus areas, with conventions covering spelling,
> punctuation, capitalization, complete sentences,and no run-ons.
 
 
I'm perplexed at why spelling, punctuation and capitalization should be grouped
with complete sentences and "no run-ons". The former deal with rather
superficial matters of the written (as opposed to spoken) form while the latter
deal with grammaticality and issues of what makes a utterance/grammatical unit
in the language. Mixes apples and oranges, seems to me.
 
 
 
 
rebecca wheeler
 
dept. english
weber state university
ogden, utah 84408-1201
 
 The other
> areas are: FOCUS, CONTENT, ORGANIZATION, STYLE.
 
 
 
 
> I find that young writers (grades 7-9) spend too much time on the
> conventions at the revision stage.  I prefer to have them skip the
> convention section of the rubric until they are ready to write the final
> draft. While I do not wish to diminish the importance of the conventions,
> young writers seem to find them a distraction or an excuse to avoid the work
> needed to develop the necessary skills in the other focus areas.  We get to
> them, and they do count in the end.
 
 
> >
> ```````````````````````````
 
> Sharon Schwartz
> Salisbury Township School District
> 1140 Salisbury Road
> Allentown,  PA  18103
> (610) 797-2062 (work)
> (215) 345-4217 (home)
> FAX (610) 791-9983
> [log in to unmask]