Content vs. Grammar
“At what point should the focus shift from grammar to content
and critical thinking?” I asked a professor that I worked with. His reply was that the first 2 essays in a basic English
class should have marks that focus solely on grammar so that students will know
what is expected grammatically of them in college. My problem with this
strategy is that half the semester is gone before the first 2 essays are assigned,
drafted, revised and the grade back from the final version. Once students
receive their first essay back and notice what the instructor focuses on, that
is what they will focus on also. Midway through the semester seems late to
begin discussion of critical thinking and content in an essay. What is the most
effective way to combine both without overwhelming the student with data
overload? How do you introduce critical thinking along with grammar issues
without making one seem superior to the other, while at the same time letting
students know that content is indeed king?
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