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 L. Tuten, PhD
Professor of English
Director of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Program
803-786-3706