Grammar

When I was in middle school and high school I was definitely one of the students who was good at figuring out what the teacher wanted in a piece of writing.  As a result i was really good at getting A's but i a probably didn't learn much.  I'm glad "Why Revitalize Grammar" brought this up because i think a lot of students get through school this way and that's unfortunate.  All i can really remember writing in school is research papers.  Even when i was given the chance to choose a more creative project, i always chose to write a paper because i had become so good at it.  As a result i still have difficulty with other styles of writing.  In a sense, it's like creativity was stifled by the "proper" form of writing.  I agree with the texts that this is unfair.

However, as a product of heavy grammar instruction, i have a lot of difficulty accepting some of the texts' arguments refuting it's importance.  "Why Revitalize Grammar" specifically noted that teaching one form of English as "proper" suggests that some students' home language will be "dismissed as rule-breaking slang".  As a huge supporter of encouraging diversity and individual differences, i agree with this statement.  I think students should express themselves in the way that best suits them.  However, i also strongly believe that there is a time and a place for grammar and "standard English".  We can say that people shouldn't be judged by their speech or writing, but in some situations they will be whether it is right or not.  I think it is our job as English teachers to help students understand when "Standard English" may be the better option.

As a result, i agree that grammar should be taught within the context of writing.  Grammar may be boring to some students no matter how it is taught, but they may have a better chance of understanding it's importance if they see it in context.  I also liked the readings' idea to have grammar debates that discuss the controversy surrounding grammar.  This can also lead to a higher appreciation of writing.