At 10:35 AM 3/15/97 EST, you wrote:
>---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
>Sender:       Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
>              <[log in to unmask]>
>Poster:       Carolyn Kirkpatrick <[log in to unmask]>
>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.  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.
 
 
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Sharon Schwartz
Salisbury Township School District
1140 Salisbury Road
Allentown,  PA  18103
(610) 797-2062 (work)
(215) 345-4217 (home)
FAX (610) 791-9983
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