Workshops > Academic Literacy

QCC Basic Skills Dept. Staff Development Workshop
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
41m:00s | 1298 views

Nitty Gritty Grammar: Why It Does and Doesn’t Matter
Best Practices Workshop
Basic Educational Skills Department
May 9, 2012

In this interactive workshop, we consider the extent to which explicit grammar instruction is beneficial in our Basic Skills writing classrooms.

We begin by exploring Michael Sharwood Smith’s article, “Input Enhancement in Instructed SLA,” in which he discusses the various ways in which language learners internalize and intellectualize explicit grammar instruction and the extent to which instructors can support students in developing awareness of grammatical structures through feedback.

Professor Jed Shahar then describes the approaches that instructors have taken in teaching grammar throughout the history of writing instruction in higher education. He describes his approach to teaching grammar in his writing classes and presents examples of grammar activities he does with his students.

Professor Jennifer Maloy facilitates a group discussion of a sample student paper, and workshop participants share the approaches they would take to providing feedback to the student in the form of written comments, one-on-one conferencing, and classroom activities.

Professor Cheryl Comeau-Kirschner concludes the workshop by sharing in-class activities she uses to help students understand and practice word form.

Website: http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/basicskills/

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