Topic 3: Grammar Notes

At this point in the term, you have started taking note of problematic grammar, mechanics, and style in your essays and in the essays of your peers. You have written reports on your problems, and you have read the reports of others. The point of the exercise is for you and your classmates to assist one another collectively in ridding yourselves of grammar problems that may have persisted over time.

Everyone makes mistakes. Even the Grammar Girl makes them! Listen to her story about slipping up on National Public Radio (NPR) when she uses the word "fun" as an adjective!

Indeed, it is not the mistakes you make but what you learn from them that counts. Think of tackling writing errors as building a new set of grammar skills (a grammar tool belt, if you will) that will assist you in all aspects of writing during college and your future career.

You may have found in your research that some rules of writing are in conflict. How can this be? Aren't the rules of grammar, mechanics, and style hard and fast? Well, for the most part, they are. But there's always healthy debate.

Take the serial, or Oxford comma, for example. You are probably familiar with the concept of using the comma when you include several items in a series. But you may not know that academics actually argue about the usage—and that they've been doing so for years. Read Maria Kari’s article for The Nation and NPR: "Semicolon, Hyphen and No Serial Comma."

Assignments

Take the Module 5 Quiz. You will have 10 minutes to complete a 20-question multiple-choice assessment. Be sure that you have read all topics and assigned readings, and have viewed all media before you start the quiz.
Complete Essay 4. The Descriptive Essay (Final Draft). After completing all of the assignments in Module 5 (all readings and discussion posts), Revise your Descriptive Essay and save the final copy in your writing portfolio.
Grammar Report 3. As with previous grammar assignments, research a grammar problem that you've been assigned and create a teaching report to share with your classmates. Submit your report and post a copy of it to the appropriate forum.