Grammar Nerdfighters

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Comment by Marley on October 31, 2009 at 3:21am

My German teacher always talks about how important punctuation is. One day she was telling us about how teachers have 'in-trays' anyway, she was saying that with out punctuation 'Dick's in-tray' would read 'dicks in tray', I love my German teacher.

Comment by Mark Pennington on October 26, 2009 at 10:28am

It seems to me that the key lines of division within grammar instruction (meaning syntax, word choice, usage, punctuation, and even spelling—a catch-all term that most English language-arts teachers use to describe the “stuff” that we “have to , but don’t want to” teach) have been drawn between those who favor part to whole and whole to part instruction. As a brief aside… isn’t this much akin to the graphophonic (phonics-based) and whole language reading debate? Anyway, here is my take on the assumptions of both positions:

Advocates of part to whole instruction believe that front-loading instruction in the discrete parts of language will best enable students to apply these parts to the whole process of writing. Following are the key components of this inductive approach.

1. Memorization of the key terminology and definitions of grammar to provide a common language of instruction.
2. Identification of grammatical constructions leads to application.
3. Familiarity with the rules of grammar leads to correct application.
4. Teaching the components of sentence construction leads to application.
5. Distrust of one’s own oral language as a grammatical filter .

Advocates of whole to part instruction believe that back-loading instruction in the discrete parts of language, as is determined by needs of the writing task, will best enable students to write fluently and meaningfully. Following are the key components of this deductive approach.

1. Minimal memorization of the key terminology and definitions of grammar and minimal practice in identification of grammatical constructions.
2. Connection to one’s oral language is essential to inform fluent and effective writing.
3. Reading and listening to exemplary literature and poetry provides the models that students need to mimic and revise as they develop their own writing style.
4. Minimal error analysis.
5. Teaching writing as a process with a focus on coherence will best enable students to apply the discreet parts such as subjects, predicates, parts of speech, phrases, clauses, sentences, and transitions to say something meaningful.

Of course, how teachers align themselves within the Great Grammar Debateis not necessarily an "either-or" decision. Most teachers apply bits and pieces of each approach to teaching grammar. I take a stab on how to integrate the inductive and deductive approaches in How to Integrate Grammar and Writing Instruction.

Comment by Patrick on September 28, 2009 at 10:35pm

So, when typing comments and stuff I tend to punctuate incorrectly. So don't go all crazy on me. Anyways, I am all about some grammar. In fact, one of my friends sent me a bumper sticker on Facebook that read as follows:
Let's eat Grandma! (crossed out)
Let's eat, Grandma!
Grammar, it saves lives.

I thought it was pretty hilarious.

Comment by bloodyfranzes on September 15, 2009 at 12:54am

:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9_kahA_wQo

Comment by emma nilsson on September 11, 2009 at 10:51am

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Comment by Amy Leona on September 10, 2009 at 11:33pm

I hate the term Grammar Nazi.
Grammar "Nazis" do not try to whipe out entire races nor do they have ugly pants.

Comment by Jane Adams on September 9, 2009 at 5:00pm

My friends make fun of me because I never end sentences with prepositions, but good grammar is something for which I shall never apologize. I am so glad that I'm not alone that I could do cartwheels!

Comment by ebony smells on September 6, 2009 at 7:44am

Yes! I love the way there's people here keeping the English language from dying.

Comment by President Clive-φ-Davidson on September 4, 2009 at 5:32am

Congratulations! You have discovered a Nerdfighterian stamp for use in the game Postage.

Comment by Alyssa Whatsherface on August 16, 2009 at 6:16pm

Yes! I'm so glad there is a group for proper grammar! I aggravate my friends with my obsessiveness with correcting grammar all the time. Ah, refreshing to look down and see all the beautiful comments. (:

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