Grammar Instruction at the Secondary School Level
Greetings. The following materials are intended to provide an introduction to Grammar Instruction at the Secondary School Level. They were assembled from the World Wide Web, ERIC Database, and a variety of other bibliographic resources. Instructions for acquiring the full text of the ERIC records are presented at the end of this file.
Zeynep B. Erdiller
Reference Specialist
Alphabetically arranged listing of bibliographies
Categorically arranged listing of bibliographies
Internet Sites
Grammar Resources on the Web
Guide to Grammar and Writing
Dr. Grammar - Grammar Resources
Online Grammar Resources
Writing & Grammar Resources
OWL - Online Writing Lab (Purdue University)-- Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation
Grammar and Its Teaching: Challenging the Myths
English Grammar Links
Grammar Lesson Plans
Citations from the ERIC Database
AN: EJ634627
AU: Dean,-Deborah
TI: Grammar without Grammar: Just Playing Around, Writing.
PY: 2001
SO: English-Journal; v91 n2 p86-89 Nov 2001
DEM: *Grammar-; *Instructional-Innovation; *Student-Attitudes; *Writing-Exercises; *Writing-Instruction
DER: Behavioral-Objectives; Secondary-Education; Teaching-Methods
AB: Describes the author's way of meeting grammar education learning objectives. Structures the class by presenting model sentences to the students and doing imitation writing activities, practicing different sentence constructions in class. Concludes that by using this "language play," students' sensitivity to language (and to what it can do) increases. (SG)
AN: ED454727
AU: Hassan,-Badran-A.
TI: New Trends in Teaching Grammar in the Secondary School: A Review Article.
PY: 2001
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC02 Plus Postage.
DL: http://www.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED454727
DEM: *Communicative-Competence-Languages; *Educational-Trends; *Grammar-; *Secondary-Education
DER: Applied-Linguistics; English-Second-Language; Foreign-Countries; Learning-Strategies; Second-Language-Instruction; Second-Language-Learning; Teaching-Methods; Trend-Analysis
AB: The purpose of this paper is to review new trends in teaching grammar at the secondary school level. With new developments in the fields of linguistics and psychology which resulted in the shift from structurally-dominated English-as-a-foreign-language methodology to a more communicatively-oriented one, new ideas have prevailed in language teaching in general and grammar instruction in particular. As a result, there has been a gathering momentum for a communicatively-based approach to grammar instruction that is more meaning-focused than rules-focused and is more learner-centered than subject-oriented. According to this approach, the need for introducing a certain grammatical rule arises in the first place because of the need of the learner to communicate. In this way, grammar instruction has also become more content-based, meaningful, and contextualized. Examples of this new approach to teaching grammar are provided in looking at Egyptian secondary schools in particular. Six trends that have emerged in the teaching of grammar at the secondary level are discussed in detail. Scholarly references appear throughout the text, though not in complete bibliographical form--that is author last name and year published only. (KFT)
AN: EJ624575
AU: Van-Horn,-Leigh, ed.
TI: Guideposts for Gainful Grammar.
PY: 2001
SO: Voices-from-the-Middle; v8 n3 p68-70 Mar 2001
NT: Theme: Contextualizing Grammar.
DEM: *English-Instruction; *Grammar-; *Language-Arts; *Writing-Instruction
DER: Class-Activities; Resource-Materials; Secondary-Education; Thinking-Skills; Writing-Improvement
AB: Discusses four books that will be useful to teachers who are rethinking how and why they teach grammar, and who want to connect and imbed the study of grammar in students' thinking and writing. (SR)
AN: EJ624574
AU: Patterson,-Nancy, ed.; Pipkin,-Gloria, ed.
TI: Grammar in the Labyrinth: Resources on the World Wide Web.
PY: 2001
SO: Voices-from-the-Middle; v8 n3 p63-67 Mar 2001
NT: Theme: Contextualizing Grammar.
DEM: *English-Instruction; *Grammar-; *Language-Arts; *Resource-Materials; *World-Wide-Web; *Writing-Instruction
DER: Elementary-Secondary-Education; Writing-Improvement
AB: Notes and discusses resources on the World Wide Web that deal with grammar and that may be useful to teachers. Lists traditional grammar websites, including online handbooks and style guides, but warns that the isolated teaching of grammar has little impact on student writing. Concludes that websites are needed that actually show teachers how to contextualize grammar instruction. (SR)
AN: EJ624573
AU: Burke,-Jim
TI: Developing Students' Textual Intelligence through Grammar.
PY: 2001
SO: Voices-from-the-Middle; v8 n3 p56-61 Mar 2001
NT: Theme: Contextualizing Grammar.
DEM: *English-Instruction; *Grammar-; *Language-Arts; *Thinking-Skills
DER: Class-Activities; Middle-Schools; Reading-Strategies; Reading-Writing-Relationship; Secondary-Education; Text-Structure; Writing-Improvement; Writing-Instruction
AB: Discusses "textual intelligence": knowledge of how texts of all kinds work. Describes how the author uses grammar in his classroom to help students understand how to read and write better and how to think with greater clarity. Describes activities used before and after students read or write. Argues that grammar is a process that helps students develop and convey ideas. (SR)
AN: EJ624572
AU: Patterson,-Nancy-G.
TI: Just the Facts: Research and Theory about Grammar Instruction.
PY: 2001
SO: Voices-from-the-Middle; v8 n3 p50-55 Mar 2001
NT: Theme: Contextualizing Grammar.
DEM: *English-Instruction; *Grammar-; *Instructional-Effectiveness; *Language-Arts
DER: Integrated-Activities; Middle-Schools; Reading-Writing-Relationship; Teacher-Effectiveness; Theory-Practice-Relationship; Writing-Improvement; Writing-Instruction
AB: Summarizes five important studies that teachers should be aware of, which offer direction about how grammar should or should not be taught. Summarizes useful theory as well, concluding that the teaching of grammar in the language arts classroom must happen within the context of larger lessons and experiences with written and spoken language. (SR)
AN: EJ624571
AU: Berger,-Joan
TI: A Systematic Approach to Grammar Instruction.
PY: 2001
SO: Voices-from-the-Middle; v8 n3 p43-49 Mar 2001
NT: Theme: Contextualizing Grammar.
DEM: *English-Instruction; *Grammar-; *Language-Arts; *Writing-Improvement; *Writing-Instruction
DER: Integrated-Activities; Middle-Schools; Reading-Writing-Relationship
AB: Describes a two-year grammar sequence that the author uses with the seventh- and eighth-grade reading and writing program, in an approach that combines grammar instruction with what students are reading and writing. Describes how systematic grammar and usage instruction is connected to what students are reading and writing. (SR)
AN: EJ624569
AU: Weaver,-Constance; McNally,-Carol; Moerman,-Sharon
TI: To Grammar or Not To Grammar: That Is Not the Question!
PY: 2001
SO: Voices-from-the-Middle; v8 n3 p17-33 Mar 2001
NT: Theme: Contextualizing Grammar.
DEM: *English-Instruction; *Grammar-; *Instructional-Effectiveness; *Revision-Written-Composition; *Writing-Improvement; *Writing-Instruction
DER: Editing-; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Language-Arts; Teacher-Effectiveness
AB: Argues that, taught in the context of writing, grammar can enhance and improve students' writing. Offers classroom examples showing how: good preparation for writing fosters good grammar and detail; students can use grammatical and syntactic constructions used by professional authors as models for their own writing; and how to help students learn revision strategies at the sentence and paragraph level. (SR)
AN: EJ624568
AU: Noden,-Harry
TI: Image Grammar: Painting Images with Grammatical Structures.
PY: 2001
SO: Voices-from-the-Middle; v8 n3 p7-16 Mar 2001
NT: Theme: Contextualizing Grammar.
DEM: *English-Instruction; *Grammar-; *Imagery-; *Language-Arts; *Writing-Improvement; *Writing-Instruction
DER: Class-Activities; Grade-8; Middle-Schools
AB: Argues that writers view grammar as a method of image construction. Describes image painting techniques from four grammatical perspectives: images of style, form, content, and convention. Describes how to teach these to eighth graders, offering numerous examples of class writing activities that use images as a doorway into the writer's art and engage students in the imaginative world of grammar. (SR)
AN: EJ622812
AU: Engel,-Melissa-J.
TI: "What Will Labeling the Parts of Speech Ever Do for Me?"
PY: 2001
SO: English-Journal; v90 n4 p105-07 Mar 2001
NT: Theme: And Language for All.
DEM: *English-Instruction; *Form-Classes-Languages; *Grammar-; *Writing-Improvement; *Writing-Instruction
DER: Class-Activities; Secondary-Education
AB: Describes how the author developed her own program for teaching grammar in the context of writing. Shows how, after laying some groundwork, she lets students' needs direct her teaching to specific usage areas. Shows how she gives specific instruction, supports it with examples, and then has students apply this to their writing. (SR)
AN: EJ614421
AU: Martinsen,-Amy
TI: The Tower of Babel and the Teaching of Grammar: Writing Instruction for a New Century.
PY: 2000
SO: English-Journal; v90 n1 p122-26 Sep 2000
NT: Theme: Teaching Writing in the Twenty-First Century.
DEM: *Grammar-; *Writing-Instruction
DER: English-Instruction; Instructional-Effectiveness; Secondary-Education; Writing-Improvement
AB: Considers the teaching of grammar and its importance in the writing classroom. Examines what grammar is; why writing instruction has moved away from grammar; differing opinions regarding grammar and writing instruction; and grammar's place in the writing classroom of the new century. Argues that grammar must be applied to students' own writing. (SR)
AN: ED439433
AU: Yates,-Robert; Kenkel,-Jim
TI: We're Prescriptivists. Isn't Everyone?
PY: 1999
NT: Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the National Council of Teachers of English Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar (10th, Somerville, New Jersey, July 16-17, 1999).
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED439433
DEM: *Diagnostic-Teaching; *English-Instruction; *English-Teachers; *Grammar-; *Language-Standardization; *Language-Variation
DER: Case-Studies; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Higher-Education; Student-Educational-Objectives
AB: Noting that the National Council of Teachers of English Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar is working towards formulating national goals for grammar instruction at all levels of schooling, this paper explores what teaching English grammar is all about. The paper contends that, acknowledge it or not, English teachers are engaged in a prescriptivist enterprise. It also finds that linguists, educated in a tradition which prides itself in being empirical and scientific, find it easy to look down on prescriptive rules and the unaccountable importance which the lay public attaches to them. The paper discusses the historical motivation for standardization, which began with the advent of printing, and considers the ideas of the American structural linguists in the 20th century. It also looks at some recent arguments which appear to deny much value for a Standard. The paper describes the "iron fist" type of prescriptivism and the "velvet glove" type of prescriptivism. It concludes by illustrating the insecurities experienced by an ordinary, educated speaker of English in the face of the realities of sociolinguistic variation and proposes that the goal of teachers of English grammar should be that all students consciously know the most important principles of Standard English. (Contains 14 references.) (NKA)
AN: ED438552
AU: Einarsson,-Robert
TI: The Place of Grammar in the Language Arts Curriculum.
PY: 1999
AV: For full text: http://www.artsci.gmcc.ab.ca/people/einarssonb/elac.html.
NT: Paper presented at the English Language Arts Council of the Alberta Teachers Association (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, May 1999).
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED438552
DEM: *English-Instruction; *Grammar-; *Holistic-Approach; *Traditional-Grammar; *Writing-Composition
DER: Elementary-Secondary-Education; Higher-Education; Language-Arts; Writing-Skills
AB: The history of grammar instruction includes two approaches: the handbook approach, which is practiced today, and the textbook approach. The handbook approach focuses on rules for correct writing and is an error-based view, while the textbook approach would treat grammar holistically and interpretively and would systematically explain new concepts in light of previous ones. If grammar is to survive in today's classroom, it will need to return to the textbook approach. One current example related to the textbook approach envisions a creative, activity-based classroom, but asserts that no theory should be taught. Knowing grammar in a holistic and theoretical way, however, cannot be a harm to student writing, and studies are showing benefits of heightened awareness of language on student composition. Contains 15 references. (EF)
AN: EJ593284
AU: Mohammed,-Abdulmoneim-M.
TI: Learner-Centered Grammar Instruction.
PY: 1997
SO: Forum-; v35 n1 Jan-Mar 1997
AV: For full text: http://e.usia.gov/forum/
DEM: *English-Second-Language; *Grammar-; *Learning-Strategies; *Teaching-Methods
DER: Foreign-Countries; Metalinguistics-; Second-Language-Instruction; Second-Language-Learning; Secondary-Education
AB: A study carried out with Sudanese secondary school students on different approaches to grammar instruction indicates that an approach that attempts to approximate learners' strategies can be more effective than the traditional technique based on metalanguage and elaborate analysis. (Author/VWL)
AN: EJ585470
AU: Phillips,-Kay
TI: Grammar Gremlins Haunt Writers.
PY: 1999
SO: Communication:-Journalism-Education-Today; v32 n4 p14-16 Sum 1999
DEM: *Grammar-; *Journalism-Education; *Punctuation-; *Writing-Instruction
DER: Secondary-Education; Writing-Improvement; Writing-Skills
AB: Argues that grammar instruction is important and should begin early. Lists rules for using the comma, colon, and semi-colon. Notes 10 tips for top-notch writing. Notes grammatical areas often troublesome to students. Includes a short quiz. (SR)
AN: EJ579737
AU: Klapper,-John
TI: Language Learning at School and University: The Great Grammar Debate Continues (II).
PY: 1998
SO: Language-Learning-Journal; n18 p22-28 Dec 1998
DEM: *Educational-Change; *Grammar-; *Second-Language-Instruction; *Teaching-Methods
DER: Change-Strategies; Higher-Education; Second-Language-Learning; Secondary-Education; Theory-Practice-Relationship; Vocabulary-Development
AB: Considers various theoretical and practical issues in language teaching that could help bridge the current methodological divide and proposes several reforms to the way that languages are currently taught in secondary schools and higher education. The paper emphasizes contemporary approaches to grammar, use of the first and second language in the classroom, and learning of grammar and vocabulary. (SM)
AN: EJ577157
AU: Burkhalter,-Nancy
TI: Assessing Grammar Teaching Methods Using a Metacognitive Framework.
PY: 1996
SO: Journal-of-Teaching-Writing; v15 n2 p259-83 1996
DEM: *Cognitive-Style; *Grammar-; *Teaching-Methods
DER: Elementary-Secondary-Education; English-Instruction; Induction-; Instructional-Effectiveness; Metacognition-; Sentence-Combining; Traditional-Grammar
AB: Discusses acquiring knowledge implicitly, versus explicitly, as it relates to learning grammar. Codifies three grammar-teaching methods (traditional grammar, sentence combining, and the functional/inductive approach) by plotting them on a metacognitive model of language skills that examines analyzed knowledge and cognitive control. Shows how this approach can help decide which methods are appropriate for which students. (SR)
AN: EJ562773
AU: Collis,-Peter; Hollo,-Carmella; Mar,-Juliet
TI: English Grammar in School Textbooks: A Critical Survey.
PY: 1997
SO: Australian-Review-of-Applied-Linguistics; v20 n2 p33-50 1997
DEM: *English-; *Grammar-; *Structural-Analysis-Linguistics; *Textbook-Content
DER: Educational-Strategies; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Foreign-Countries; Instructional-Materials; Language-Research; Linguistic-Theory; Second-Language-Instruction; Teaching-Methods
AB: Reports findings from a critical analysis of English grammar books and language books with grammar content used in New South Wales (Australia) elementary and secondary schools. Books surveyed showed a low level of awareness of developments in contemporary linguistics, particularly the structural approach to grammar instruction. (Author/MSE)
AN: EJ535487
AU: Petruzzella,-Brenda-Arnett
TI: Grammar Instruction: What Teachers Say.
PY: 1996
SO: English-Journal; v85 n7 p68-72 Nov 1996
NT: Theme: The Great Debate (Again): Teaching Grammar and Usage.
DEM: *English-Teachers; *Grammar-; *Teacher-Attitudes
DER: Classroom-Techniques; Language-Usage; Research-Methodology; Secondary-Education
AB: Presents the comments of six English teachers concerning grammar instruction. Finds that teachers seldom think of grammar as a description of the structure of the language but rather as mechanics and usage, subject-verb agreement, and spelling. Suggests that researchers do not always clearly distinguish between the formal study of descriptive grammar and the practical application of usage skills. (RS)
AN: EJ535483
AU: Tchudi,-Stephen; Thomas,-Lee
TI: Taking the G-r-r-r Out of Grammar.
PY: 1996
SO: English-Journal; v85 n7 p46-54 Nov 1996
NT: Theme: The Great Debate (Again): Teaching Grammar and Usage.
DEM: *English-Instruction; *English-Teacher-Education; *Grammar-
DER: Course-Descriptions; Generative-Grammar; Higher-Education; Language-Acquisition; Secondary-Education; Teaching-Methods; Traditional-Grammar
AB: Describes a course for preservice English teachers on descriptive grammar. Discusses definitions and aims and what to do about traditional grammar; transformational-generative grammar; language acquisition; and applied grammar. Presents teaching strategies. (RS)
AN: EJ535479
AU: Weaver,-Constance
TI: Teaching Grammar in the Context of Writing.
PY: 1996
SO: English-Journal; v85 n7 p15-24 Nov 1996
NT: Theme: The Great Debate (Again): Teaching Grammar and Usage.
DEM: *Classroom-Techniques; *English-Instruction; *Grammar-; *Language-Usage; *Writing-Instruction
DER: Instructional-Effectiveness; Secondary-Education
AB: Suggests that students will not automatically make use of grammatical concepts, syntactic constructions, and language conventions no matter how they are taught such concepts. Argues that teaching "grammar" in the context of writing works better than teaching grammar as a formal system. Offers three examples of extended grammar minilessons. (RS)
AN: ED400545
AU: Halverson,-Jim
TI: Grammar Works! 15 Reproducible Skills Lessons That Teach Essential Grammar Rules.
PY: 1996
AV: Scholastic Inc., 2931 East McCarty Street, Jefferson City, MO 65102 ($14.95).
PR: Document Not Available from EDRS.
DEM: *Grammar-; *Punctuation-; *Writing-Skills
DER: Class-Activities; Educational-Games; Intermediate-Grades; Junior-High-Schools; Lesson-Plans; Middle-Schools; Sentence-Structure; Skill-Development; Tenses-Grammar; Verbs-
AB: Drawing on a program used successfully in the classroom for 20 years, this book presents 15 reproducible skills lessons that teach students in grades 4 through 8 essential grammar rules in an engaging, meaningful way. The book uses games, puzzles, mazes, and model sentences that tell amusing stories while teaching rules. Units in the book cover capitalization, commas, quotation marks, apostrophes, sentence fragments, tricky homophones, run-on sentences, subject and verb agreement, personal pronouns, apostrophes, and verb tenses. Answers to exercises are attached. (RS)
AN: ED396328
AU: Matzen,-Richard-N., jr.; and-others
TI: The Role of Traditional Grammar Instruction in the Teaching of Writing: A Selected, Annotated Bibliography.
PY: 1995
NT: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Conference on College Composition and Communication (46th, Washington, DC, March 23-25, 1995).
PR: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
DL: http://orders.edrs.com/members/sp.cfm?AN=ED396328
DEM: *Grammar-; *Writing-Instruction; *Writing-Research
DER: Annotated-Bibliographies; Elementary-Secondary-Education; English-Second-Language; Higher-Education; Writing-Skills
AB: This bibliography presents annotations of 38 journal articles, books, encyclopedia and handbook entries, and scholarly papers that discuss the role of grammar in the writing curriculum. Entries are organized under the following headings: selected overviews and position papers; research reviews; selected experimental research; grammar instruction in English as a Second Language; and historical perspectives. Materials in the annotated bibliography were published between 1927 and 1995. (RS)
 Intermediate GrammarThis book contains easy-to-understand definitions, examples of other students' writing that focus on common questions and errors, excercises to check understanding, and a comprehensive punctuation guide. |
Other Resources (available either for sale or via interlibrary loan)
Title: Language network: grammar, writing, communication Author: McDougal, Littell Year: 2001 Publisher: Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell,
Title: Winning ways of coaching writing: a practical guide for teaching writing, grades 6-12 Author: Warner, M. L. Year: 2001 Publisher: Boston: Allyn and Bacon
Title: Image grammar: using grammatical structures to teach writing Author: Noden, H, R. Year: 1999 Publisher: Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann
Title: Focus and secondary predication Author: Winkler, S. Year: 1997 Publisher: New York: Mouton de Gruyter
Title: Writer's choice: grammar and composition. Year: 2001 Publisher: New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
Title: Caught'ya! : Grammar with a giggle Author: Kiester, J. B. Year: 1990 Publisher: Gainesville, Fla.: Maupin House
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