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And now I wish I'd waited to read this before responding...
Hindsight, wunnerful innit!
Suffice to say, well said Sean.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+gordon -dot- mclean=ciboodle -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+gordon -dot- mclean=ciboodle -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Sean Brierley
Sent: 23 September 2008 14:14
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: "and then," or simply "then"?
I get the sense that, in academia, there is a strong movement that believes
the teaching of grammar adds nothing useful to the teaching of reading and
writing.
However, the information I've seen on the subject is unclear and seems to
focus on extremes, such as that teaching only grammar is bad. Well, sure,
teaching only grammar and not its application lacks context. So, while I
would agree that teaching grammar by itself does little good, teaching a
foundation of grammar in conjunction with how to apply grammar might be
worthwhile.
So, I don't react to academics who poo-poo the teaching of grammar without
learning the context of their disdain. And, if the context of their disdain
is that teaching of only grammar doesn't work, then I don't bother with the
argument. If the context of their disdain is that teaching the basics of
grammar in context of larger text doesn't work, then they have an argument
on their hands and I need to see some proof.
Like so many things in life, I see the structure of grammar as necessary but
not independent. So, take what you learn of grammar and apply it to the
larger body of work, and I think you'll do fine.
Cheers,
Sean
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+sbrierley=accu-time -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+sbrierley=accu-time -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On
Behalf Of Gordon McLean
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2008 6:05 AM
To: 'Caroline Tabach'
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: RE: "and then," or simply "then"?
He didn't go into great detail, but he was "despairing" of the grammar rules
section of the book.
Caveat being that he was despairing of most such books, he wasn't just
picking on Strunk and White (I won't even mention what he said about Lynne
Truss!)
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