Three questions:

 

(1) What essays, books, or articles would you recommend to an undergraduate English major who is writing a senior honors project on the history of the grammar wars? She wants to put together a notebook of information that will be helpful to her and other future secondary English teachers. It will include an introductory essay tracing the history of grammar instruction—from “drill and kill” through “teach no grammar” to the present-day acknowledgment that there is, indeed, a connection between an understanding of syntax and better writing. It will also include an annotated bibliography of 8-10 works “for further reading.” Finally, she is going to describe our state’s grade-level standards for teaching grammar and mention those forces (SAT essay, etc.) that are currently driving an increase in grammar instruction—despite the lack of training that most English teachers now have.

 

I thought I remembered reading an essay by Rebecca Wheeler called “Exploring the Grammar Wars,” but all I can find now is a link to a slide show presentation—not an essay.

 

(2) In what year did ATEG publish “On the Value of Systematic Grammar Study”?

 

(3) Who is working on the “scope and sequence” project, and when might it be published?

 

Thanks for your help,

Nancy

 

Nancy L. Tuten, PhD

Professor of English

Director of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Program

Columbia College

Columbia, South Carolina

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