A Defense to Teaching Grammar

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Brittany Parks ENG 450:Essay 1 October 16, 2013 Dr. George A Defense to Teaching Grammar Part 1: When people talk about “teaching grammar,” what they usually mean is teaching descriptive and prescriptive grammar (Weaver 7). Descriptive grammar is the systematic study and description of a language. It refers to the structure of a language as it is actually used by speakers and writers. It also examines the principles and patterns that teach how words, phrases, clauses, and sentences are used. Prescriptive grammar refers to the set of rules and examples dealing with the syntax and word structures of a language as people think it should be used. It is what they believe to be the correct or incorrect answer. In Constance Weaver’s book Teaching Grammar in Context, Chapter 2, there are many chief objections to teaching grammar such as the authors of the Encyclopedia of Education Research article. They could not find a connection between the study of grammar and “functional grammar” (Weaver 9). In the Chapter, it states that no more relation exists between the knowledge of grammar and the application of the knowledge in a functional language situation then exists between any two totally different and unrelated school subjects (Weaver 9). Another chief objection to teaching grammar in the Encyclopedia of Educational Research article is that they could not find a connection with any reading skills. The book also states that the study of grammar has been justified because of its possible contribution to reading skills, but the evidence does not support this conclusion (Weaver 10). Overall, the summary statements in the article gave absolutely no support to the idea that teaching grammar would benefit and help students. On the other hand, I also read some articles on why grammar is important and should be taught. The article, The Importance of Grammar in Schools

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