Open to all secondary students, Grammar Matters is a systematic grammar course that combines the flexibility of independent study with teacher oversight. Students will work through the assigned textbook and submit assignments for grading and feedback. Student-teacher video chats will be scheduled as needed for extra instruction on difficult concepts, and students will always have the option to discuss questions through email.
Students will be led through a scope-and-sequence that is tailored to their needs. Beginning concepts for this course will include cover as many of the following concepts as time allows:
* sentence vs. fragment
* comma splices and run-ons
* the eight parts of speech
* subject and predicate (complete and simple; single only)
* noun, verb, and prepositional phrases
* two types of complements -- predicate nominative and predicate adjectives
* the four types of sentences
* independent clause
* two sentence structures -- simple and compound sentences
If students master the beginning scope-and-sequence within the school year, we will progress through the intermediate scope-and-sequence until their end date.
Intermediate concepts will include as many of the following concepts as time allows:
* review of beginning concepts
* compound subject and predicate
* participial and gerund phrases
* remaining types of complements: direct and indirect objects
* subordinate (restrictive and non-restrictive) clauses
* remaining types of sentence structures--complex and compound-complex
* sentence combining
* simple diagramming
Textbook: Warriner's English Grammar and Composition: First, Third, or Fourth Course (choice based on student readiness)
The original Warriner's textbook series is one of the most highly-respected grammar programs ever published. I have not found another contemporary grammar textbook to match its thoroughness and coherence. However, because I prefer the original version of the series and it is out of print, our use of it requires me to rent copies to students only. Parents who would like to own a copy will need to contact me for the exact edition needed and vendor options.
Dates: 30 weeks total -- beginning and end dates TBD with parent upon registration. Students may accelerate the course if they wish.
Tuition: $100
Registration fee (non-refundable): $20
Book rental: $15 ($5 shipping/handling + $10 deposit) -- Note: The deposit will be refunded once the book is returned. Parents who choose to purchase their books will need to contact me for the ISBN# and vendor options.
HOW TO REGISTER : Fill out the registration form at the bottom of this page. Within three days a confirmation and tuition invoice will be emailed to you. If you do not receive a response, please email me in case of a technical problem.
Why a formal grammar course?
Grammar is the "math" of language, a logical system of words and concepts that make communication possible. Once upon a time, formal grammar study was an important component of English courses in the United States. Today, however, many educators have left formal grammar behind, integrating instruction into their courses as needed or teaching concepts through application only. They widely believe that formal grammar is too abstract to be of much practical use and that it doesn't help produce better writers.
Having seen the disappointing fruit of this philosophy, I disagree with the prevailing viewpoint. On the contrary, I believe that formal grammar instruction is an important part of a comprehensive writing program. Although it is true that grammar skills cannot produce better content and structure, they become very important in the editing and proofreading stages of a project. The more that writers understand their language and its conventions, the more power and control they have over their writing. They are able to spot even subtle grammar mistakes and know how to fix them; they understand how to use correct punctuation to convey the exact meaning they intend; they have a better understanding of how to craft smoothly-flowing sentences; and they develop a sense of style that will serve them well in everything they write.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Students will be led through a scope-and-sequence that is tailored to their needs. Beginning concepts for this course will include cover as many of the following concepts as time allows:
* sentence vs. fragment
* comma splices and run-ons
* the eight parts of speech
* subject and predicate (complete and simple; single only)
* noun, verb, and prepositional phrases
* two types of complements -- predicate nominative and predicate adjectives
* the four types of sentences
* independent clause
* two sentence structures -- simple and compound sentences
If students master the beginning scope-and-sequence within the school year, we will progress through the intermediate scope-and-sequence until their end date.
Intermediate concepts will include as many of the following concepts as time allows:
* review of beginning concepts
* compound subject and predicate
* participial and gerund phrases
* remaining types of complements: direct and indirect objects
* subordinate (restrictive and non-restrictive) clauses
* remaining types of sentence structures--complex and compound-complex
* sentence combining
* simple diagramming
Textbook: Warriner's English Grammar and Composition: First, Third, or Fourth Course (choice based on student readiness)
The original Warriner's textbook series is one of the most highly-respected grammar programs ever published. I have not found another contemporary grammar textbook to match its thoroughness and coherence. However, because I prefer the original version of the series and it is out of print, our use of it requires me to rent copies to students only. Parents who would like to own a copy will need to contact me for the exact edition needed and vendor options.
Dates: 30 weeks total -- beginning and end dates TBD with parent upon registration. Students may accelerate the course if they wish.
Tuition: $100
Registration fee (non-refundable): $20
Book rental: $15 ($5 shipping/handling + $10 deposit) -- Note: The deposit will be refunded once the book is returned. Parents who choose to purchase their books will need to contact me for the ISBN# and vendor options.
HOW TO REGISTER : Fill out the registration form at the bottom of this page. Within three days a confirmation and tuition invoice will be emailed to you. If you do not receive a response, please email me in case of a technical problem.
Why a formal grammar course?
Grammar is the "math" of language, a logical system of words and concepts that make communication possible. Once upon a time, formal grammar study was an important component of English courses in the United States. Today, however, many educators have left formal grammar behind, integrating instruction into their courses as needed or teaching concepts through application only. They widely believe that formal grammar is too abstract to be of much practical use and that it doesn't help produce better writers.
Having seen the disappointing fruit of this philosophy, I disagree with the prevailing viewpoint. On the contrary, I believe that formal grammar instruction is an important part of a comprehensive writing program. Although it is true that grammar skills cannot produce better content and structure, they become very important in the editing and proofreading stages of a project. The more that writers understand their language and its conventions, the more power and control they have over their writing. They are able to spot even subtle grammar mistakes and know how to fix them; they understand how to use correct punctuation to convey the exact meaning they intend; they have a better understanding of how to craft smoothly-flowing sentences; and they develop a sense of style that will serve them well in everything they write.
SPECIAL NOTE:
- All Denim Beret students and/or parents (mentoring students excepted) must agree to sign up for and use a Gmail account, and all students must have a working webcam, microphone, printer, and scanner (phone okay; .jpg images are not). We will use the following Google apps: Gmail, Hangout, Drive, and Classroom.