GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT

A few concepts taught well and a few pieces

done well can be much more important for a
student writers growth than many concepts
and lessons taught superficially and many
pieces of writing assigned without much
guidance.
~Constance Weaver
Grammar to Enrich and Enhance Writing

FRAMEWORK FOR TEACHING GRAMMAR

THROUGHOUT THE WRITING PROCESS
1.

Share a model text depicting a grammatical concept based on common student

errors.

2.

Generate new text reflecting the grammatical concept; encourage discussion and
reflection about the grammatical structure that you are highlighting.

3.

(Optional): Have students compose in small groups or in pairs.

4.

Have students individually compose a sentence or sentences reflecting the

grammatical concept and share their work.

5.

Ask students to apply the grammatical concept in their daily writing.

6.

Examine the students work, individually as well as collectively, to see what

scaffolding is needed in the revision process, or processes.
Grammar to Enrich & Enhance Writing

GRAMMATICAL CONCEPT MODEL

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
A prepositional phrase consists of a preposition (the first word in
the phrase) and other words that make up the phrase (including
the object). Prepositions are words that show physical relations
(like above, within, after, along, on, in, of, etc.).
The angry man chased Mikey and mearound the yellow

houseandup a backyard path,under a low tree,up a

bank,through a hedge,down some snowy steps,
andacross the grocery store's delivery driveway. Annie
Dillard,An American Childhood
"Stridingacross the squarewas the shortest policeman Milo

had ever seen."Norton Juster,The Phantom Tollbooth

 Model Text:

The angry man chased Mikey and mearound the

yellow houseandup a backyard path,under a low tree, up a
bank,through a hedge,down some snowy steps, andacross the
grocery store's delivery driveway. Annie Dillard,An American
Childhood

Class Generated Text: She followed him down the darkened hallway

and up three flights of stairs , beneath the flickering florescent lights

toward the illuminated exit sign.

PARALLEL STRUCTURE
Parallel structure is evidenced by two or more words, phrases, or
clauses that are similar in grammatical form or function.
Ill givemy jewels for a set of beads,/ My gorgeous palace for a

hermitage,/ My gay apparel for an almsmans gown,/My figured

goblets for a dish of wood.
Shakespeare,Richard II
"His leg still hurt, it was still dark, he was still alone and the self-pity

had accomplished nothing.

Gary Paulsen,Hatchet

FRAMEWORK FOR TEACHING GRAMMAR

THROUGHOUT THE WRITING PROCESS
1.

Share a model text depicting a grammatical structure based on common student

errors.

2.

Generate new text reflecting the grammatical structure; encourage discussion and
reflection about the grammatical structure that you are highlighting.

3.

(Optional): Have students compose in small groups or in pairs.

4.

Have students individually compose a sentence or sentences reflecting the

grammatical structure and share their work.

5.

Ask students to apply the grammatical structure in their daily writing.

6.

Examine the students work, individually as well as collectively, to see what

scaffolding is needed in the revision process, or processes.
Grammar to Enrich & Enhance Writing

RESOURCE FOR TEACHING

GRAMMAR THROUGHOUT THE
READING PROCESS