a:\doc\web\99\08\badgram.txt


>I've taken a look at an online document written by George Hillocks
>(http://www.ncte.org/teach/Hillocks8524.html) who says:
>
>"The study of traditional school grammar (i.e., the definition of parts of
>speech, the parsing of sentences, etc.) has no effect on raising the
>quality of student writing. Every other focus of instruction examined in
>this review is stronger. Taught in certain ways, grammar and mechanics
>instruction has a deleterious effect on student writing."
>
>Can anyone supply me with online, credible sources that contradict
>Hillocks' thesis? Any personal knowledge of Hillocks' work would also be
>appreciated.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Jeanne
From: "George K. Cunningham" <gkc@louisville.edu>
To: "ClearingHouse" <education-consumers@lists.dundee.net>
Subject: [education-consumers] Re: Need sources on writing assessment
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 00:21:42 -0400
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What you have here us an advocate of the "writing-process" method of
teaching writing.  It is the writing analogue to whole language.  Its
proponents believe that the ability to write, like reading,  is acquired
naturally like  language.  It is believed that if you were to actually try
to teach  your two-year old children to speak rather than having them learn
on their own you would stunt their language performance causing them to
stutter.  The analogy is of course entirely false.  Reading and writing are
not naturally acquired skills, but must be taught.


There is also a strong ideological aspect to this theory.  They believe that
the  purpose of writing is therapeutic and should be used to  emancipate
children from our oppressive society.   By writing about their victimhood
these children can be freed.   If a teacher focuses on grammar, spelling, or
punctuation, he or she is likely to stunt the child's free expression and
prevent the child's self actualization.


By the way, in Kentucky they have managed to enshrine this in law.  It is
illegal to correct a student's work in this state.  The putative reason for
the ethical standard that mandates writing-process is to protect the
sanctity of writing portfolios, but the head of the state education
department that sponsored this has asserted that it is "a pedagogically
sound practice."


George K. Cunningham
Professor
University of Louisville
-----Original Message-----
From: eca@fastlane.net <eca@fastlane.net>
To: ClearingHouse <education-consumers@lists.dundee.net>
Date: Thursday, June 10, 1999 5:46 PM
Subject: [education-consumers] Need sources on writing assessment