Hello, all,
Phil makes a good point here regarding subject/verb agreement and all the
other parts of traditional grammar that go along with it.
I've been following this thread with interest since I returned from
vacation, and I have a practical sort of question to ask. Pardon my lack of
experience - I'm still in the process of my Master's Degree and am not yet
teaching.
Here is my question: As a whole, is it easier for students to grasp the
details of grammar after being presented with the "big picture?"
Also: Can we give students a theoretical structure in which to hang grammar
as they learn it? If so, what seems to work best, in your experience?
Personally, I do believe that both prescriptive and descriptive means are
necessary and indeed complimentary in the teaching of grammar. However -
I'm still at the "theory" phase, having not dealt with the actual practice
of teaching (again, not yet!) and am struggling to develop my own paradigms.
Am I making sense here, or do I need more coffee?
-patty
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Phil Bralich
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 10:33 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Traditional Grammar
And this is the point that grammar advocates need to make. You cannot do
s/v agreement without being introduced to subjects and predicates, internal
clauses (the man from whom mary got the books is/are here), person, number,
(throw in gender), participles, gerunds, a little on tenses -- Each of these
beg questions in other areas. In short the whole of traditional grammar is
required. This is also true of parallel structure, the correct use of
passive and so on. The whole is hopelessly interlocked and when you are
recommended to teach "just what is necessary" for anyone of these, that
means the whole of traditional grammar. This is why the NCTE position and
the whole of the war against grammar so phenominally stupid. Its as those
the whole field were taken over by C- students looking to avoid work.
Phil Bralich
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