Grammar for Writing
Grammar for writing is a strategy that helps students use what they know about speaking and communicating to improve writing. It not only provides techniques that improve communication but makes language and writing meaningful and functional. It emphasizes four basic parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, and adverb) as foundations for developing writing skills. Words are used to express feelings, express ideas, and stimulate imagination. Grammar is learned through the application of writing rather than in isolation as a set of discreet skills.
Two strategies for Grammar for Writing are described:
Morphology: As defined by Webster's Dictionary, morphology is a : a study and description of word formation (as inflection, derivation, and compounding) in language b : the system of word-forming elements and processes in a language.
How to: A Morphology Chart gives students the opportunity to brainstorm and classify words as parts of speech. Noun, Verb, Adjective, Adverb can be either written on the board or given out to students in handout form. This can be a whole class, partner, or individual activity to build vocabulary and develop an understanding of parts of speech. The activity can be used to generate words, classify words from a list or story, or to create words based on "root" words. The key is to note that some words created may be nonsense words, but consider English is an evolving language. That said the next Morphology strategy is Eponym. How to: A name becomes noun, verb, adjective, and adverb via a writing frame or creative writing task.
Uses for Writing for Grammar:
1. Build vocabulary
2. Improve vocabulary in writing
3. Add complexity and detail to sentences
4. Add description to written work
5. Classify and identify parts of speech
6. Create subject verb agreement
7. Vary sentence structures
8. Create writers who take compositional risks
Two strategies for Grammar for Writing are described:
Morphology: As defined by Webster's Dictionary, morphology is a : a study and description of word formation (as inflection, derivation, and compounding) in language b : the system of word-forming elements and processes in a language.
How to: A Morphology Chart gives students the opportunity to brainstorm and classify words as parts of speech. Noun, Verb, Adjective, Adverb can be either written on the board or given out to students in handout form. This can be a whole class, partner, or individual activity to build vocabulary and develop an understanding of parts of speech. The activity can be used to generate words, classify words from a list or story, or to create words based on "root" words. The key is to note that some words created may be nonsense words, but consider English is an evolving language. That said the next Morphology strategy is Eponym. How to: A name becomes noun, verb, adjective, and adverb via a writing frame or creative writing task.
Uses for Writing for Grammar:
1. Build vocabulary
2. Improve vocabulary in writing
3. Add complexity and detail to sentences
4. Add description to written work
5. Classify and identify parts of speech
6. Create subject verb agreement
7. Vary sentence structures
8. Create writers who take compositional risks