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. > ``````````````````````````` Sharon Schwartz Salisbury Township School District 1140 Salisbury Road Allentown, PA 18103 (610) 797-2062 (work) (215) 345-4217 (home) FAX (610) 791-9983 [log in to unmask]