Marshall,
I had in mind a test of learning where a student demonstrated knowledge of grammar, both identifying and producing the forms or structures taught. Counting T-units or their length wouldn't test a student's knowledge of specific forms, nor would it test their use of those forms in writing. The test of application I have in mind would compare a student's writing before and after writing instruction to identify the grammatical structures a student uses and their frequency. This test should be simple and quick enough that a classroom teacher could use it without undue burden. I also have in mind a reading test which would identify a student's difficulties with interpreting grammatical structures. For instance, many students have difficulty understanding relative clauses. The pre-test might have passages with questions answerable correctly only upon correctly understanding relative clauses. The
post-test performance would identify the degree to which a student's reading skill had improved through instruction in relative clauses. Student performance differences on the reading and writing tests could be compared to each student's pre and post-test performance on the grammar knowledge test. It might be especially useful to examine the effects of automaticity on transfer of knowledge, so the tests should have a fluency measure, not just an accuracy measure. That is, a student who can identify relative clauses at the same rate as the instructor is much more likely to be able to apply that knowledge than a classmate who is accurate but slow.
Scott Woods
Scott,
I suppose you're not talking about the use of
transformational-generative theory (in very simplistic form) as it
applied to sentence-combining, the panacea for teaching students how to
write more syntactic complex sentences. Sentence-combining was a hot
topic in the late 70's and early 80's and some still employ it. I use it
in my style classes, for example. Max Morenberg (of our list) wrote an
excellent text for that technique that many writing teachers like me use
today.
Researchers then used counting t-units as a way of measuring students's
acquistion of syntax skills.
Marshall
To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"
Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"
Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/