Knowledge Of Grammar

Knowledge Of Grammar Resulting On Better Writing
By Sharon White

Until the 1960's the vast majority of schools in England, and at that other parts of the traditional English speaking world such as the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, taught grammar in schools. Deemed by some academics as pointless it was found that by 1980 the tradition of teaching grammar had disappeared in state funded comprehensive schools.

In the 1960's many reports were published which stated that the teaching of grammar does not benefit children's abilities to write in fact some research material adversely claimed that grammar had a detrimental affect on children.

In fact according to Dick Hudson from the University of Central London a list of studies through out the 60s and 70s were considered to be classic support for the view that grammar teaching does nothing for children's writing.

Since the 1990's schools have reintroduced grammar in the form of linguistics and many linguists have been able to contribute to grammar in the National Curriculum.

Upon delving into the essay question it can be noticed that the subject matter is rather wide. For the purpose of this essay in order to abstain from lengthening the paper it has been decided that certain words should be clarified and hence accordingly discussed. Points that need to be kept in mind have been listed below.

a. To begin with, the question uses the word 'grammar', for the purpose of this paper, in order to refrain from lengthening the paper; we shall exclusively concentrate on the grammar of the English language and at that as taught in schools in England. The history of English grammar in schools situated in Wales and Northern Ireland has been relatively different where as the education system in Scotland has been totally independent in relation to England. It should also be kept in mind that results of studies carried out abroad have been included at times.

b. Another issue which needs to be touched upon presently is regarding the meaning of the wording in the question 'ability to write'. The wording has two most obvious implications which I have listed below.