Since children unconsciously absorb a knowledge of the grammar
of their native language, you may wonder why it is necessary to
teach any grammar in conjunction in teaching writing.
Grammar and composition skills must be taught together because
-
Written language has different conventions than spoken
language.
-
Writers must provide through words information that speakers
convey without words through vocal variety, gestures, and
body language.
If we are to be successful at teaching writing, we must teach
-
The right grammar topics
-
At the right time
-
To the right depth.
If that sounds to you like a rather tricky balancing act, you are
absolutely right. It's easiest to begin by working on the time element.
I'll help you identify the right topics and right depth later.
Competence is the watershed
To figure out what kind of grammar instruction you need to give,
sort your class roster into two groups:
A competent piece of writing is
-
Unified to make one clear point (its thesis)
-
Organized clearly in support of that thesis.
-
Developed with adequate detail to make readers think
the thesis is plausible.
-
Presented clearly enough that readers need not guess
at the writer's meaning.
Throw anybody you have a question about in with the not-yet-competent
group.
I consider a student competent when he or she meets all my criteria
on three formal expository writing assignments in a row. That's
like getting three base hits in three times at bat: it rules out
flukes.
Why expository writing?
Expository writing developed on the thesis and support (persuasive
pattern) is easier to teach and to learn than any other writing
genre. It also is the writing genre ordinary people are most
often required to do.
Why competence?
Students who haven't achieved competent status have their hands
full remembering everything they need to do to write even one expository
paragraph. They cannot cope with thinking about writing and thinking
about formal grammar at the same time.
Once students are competent at one genre of writing, they don't
need more instruction in writing in that genre. Their writing in
that genre will improve through practice alone. The time their teachers
previously devoted to writing instruction can be spent on other
topics.
Mixed class strategies
Mixed class? Teach to the majority.
When you are using students' own writing as their "worksheets,"
you will find it relatively easy to give advanced students more
challenging material while aiming your formal presentation for the
majority.
Not-yet-competent get basics
Instead of overloading the not-yet-competent writers with formal
grammar, support them with instruction in the basics of grammar
and composition. You will need to teach a few lessons perhaps a
couple dozen times.
Use short (5-10 minute) grammar lessons that
Once students are in the competent group,
you can shift your focus gradually
from basic grammar and composition to more upscale grammar
and to techniques
for composition fluency.
