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Teach your students the rules behind language through a descriptive approach to grammar study.
Before they step into the classroom, students already know the basics of language. After all, they use it every day! But as with any other skill, there’s always room for improvement, especially for one that’s directly tied to success in school and beyond.
Unlike prescriptive grammar programs that focus on “correct” grammar usage, Grammar for Writing follows the descriptive approach to teaching—showing your students the logic and the reasons behind language rules.
When your students really understand how and why language works, their newly acquired language skills will naturally improve their writing.
This ready-to-use, hands-on guide is filled with reproducible activities and instruction to give students the practice they need to remember these rules for life.
Grammar for Writing includes lessons on:
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Parts of speech and units of thought
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The “how” and “why” of sentence structure
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The logic of punctuation
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Independent and subordinate clauses
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Common grammar problems and their solutions
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And more!
Learn more about teaching with Grammar for Writing.
How is Grammar for Writing different from other grammar programs?
Most grammar books assume that students will automatically apply whatever grammar, punctuation, and usage rules they learn to their writing. But when rules are learned and practiced in isolation, students never really see the connection between the book exercises and their own writing.
Grammar for Writing deals only with the conventions your students need to know to strengthen their writing. The explanations and exercises are geared toward the application of the convention in writing, not applying a rule out of context.
What does a “descriptivist approach” to teaching grammar mean?
Most grammar texts are written prescriptively. That is, they focus on defining established rules of language structure and usage. They simply tell the student, “This is the rule.”
Conversely, the descriptive approach to grammar examines first how educated, native speakers of the language communicate and then infers the conventions. Grammar for Writing uses the descriptive approach.
How is Grammar for Writing organized?
We want to show students that there’s a rationale behind the way language works, so we structured Grammar for Writing to approach the conventions in a logical order that allows one concept to build on the previous one.
The book begins with a study of the various units of thought (words, phrases, clauses, and sentences). From there, the lessons look at the mechanics of putting these units together into meaningful communication (capitalization, punctuation, etc.).
What are the exercises in Grammar for Writing like?
There are many exercises that encourage students to infer conventions from examples of proper usage, apply the conventions in guided practice settings, and even reflect on the language choices they are making.
How will this book improve my students’ writing?
Students can better avoid errors in their own writing when they understand why the error is an error and why the correct way is correct.
For example, instead of merely stating a comma rule and then presenting students with five sentences that show that rule, Grammar for Writing explains why native speakers of English put the comma there. When students write, they’ll understand how that comma will help the reader and will be more likely to remember to use it.
How will this book improve my students’ test scores?
Grammar for Writing uses all the same terminology as a traditional, prescriptive grammar program: parts of speech, types of phrases, sentences, and clauses. So, whenever students need to demonstrate knowledge of grammar, that knowledge will be there. Whenever they need to correct faulty sentences, they will have a strong understanding of how to correct them. Whenever students need to submit writing samples, they will be fully prepared.
Which student grade level is this book best suited for?
Grammar for Writing is intended for students in grades 8–10 working at a college-prep or above level. However, the book’s descriptive approach can also help intermediate and above English language learners (ELLs) better grasp grammar concepts.
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