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Author
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Comment
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Karen
Unregistered User
(4/19/02 3:33:30 pm)
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Off topic- for the teachers
Apologies for straying from the main topics, but there is quite
a lot of pedogogical wisdom here!
My question- do any of the teachers know of electronic and print resources for grammar and writing (especially syntax) which would be helpful to first year university/college students?
Thanks,
Karen.
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Kerrie
Registered User
(4/19/02 5:39:37 pm)
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Style Guides?
If you mean style guides, I'd suggest Elements of Style by Strunk and White. I still have the copy my high school English teacher gave me- with personally addressed bits of wisdom! Also, MLA and Chicago Manuals of Style, for the more in-depth guides.
Soft whispers and valley blossoms,
Kerrie
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Jess
Unregistered User
(4/19/02 7:08:28 pm)
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I second Kerrie
I am on my third copy of Strunk and White; the fourth edition just came out. I got my first copy after it was suggested to me by a partner at my law firm. Chicago Manual of Style (is there an s?) is a classic and I prefer it to Harbrace College Handbook, but the latter is an acceptable option as well. Harbrace isn't used so much for style as pure grammer.
Hope this helps.
Jess
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catja1
Registered User
(4/19/02 7:26:03 pm)
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Re: Print Resources
For all things grammar, I like Diana Hacker's _A Writer's Reference_; it's spiral bound (to lay flat on a desk), and has handy tabs for each section. For writing guides, _Sin Boldly!_ (Williams) is fun; _Good Reasons_ (Faigley and Selzer) and _Everything's an Argument (Lunsford)_ are also good.
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Karen
Unregistered User
(4/21/02 1:24:09 am)
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sentence structure
Thanks for your help, Kerrie, Jess and Catja!
I meant grammar and writing resources- not style guides. Sorry I didn't make that clearer- I think I'm a little delirious from all this marking!
One of the things which is distinguishing the better papers is syntax- many students are really struggling with sentence structure, to the point where it hampers their ability to articulate their ideas. So I was wondering if anyone had found particular resources especially helpful in this regard.
Thanks again for your help!
Karen.
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tlchang37
Registered User
(4/22/02 9:36:38 am)
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sentence structure
I'm not sure if this fills your needs, but have you seen the books written by Karen Elizabeth Gordon? She has a number of them - they are humorous, but incredibly concise in showing the 'rules' of writing. I think she has been re-printed recently. Some examples of her titles include:
The Transitive Vampire : The Ultimate Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed
Sin and Syntax : How to Craft Wickedly Effective Prose
The Well-Tempered Sentence:a punctuation handbook
The Disheveled Dictionary : A Curious Caper Through Our Sumptuous Lexicon
Her examples are hilarious - and sometimes rather 'adult', but her books are worth reading for fun, if not for grammatic enlightenment.
Tara
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Kate
Unregistered User
(4/22/02 4:11:04 pm)
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Yes!
I second the Gordon books for grammar and such. Students love them so much. Not recommended for under eleventh grade, I bet? The Transitive Vampire is especially useful. And probably more so, now that Buffy is so hot. (I used it pre-Buffy in a class! Showing my age.)
I think the Hacker is also good for grammar--it's not just a style guide at all. Very simple to use.
--Kate
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Helen
Registered User
(4/23/02 6:46:35 am)
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Re: Yes!
Dear Karen:
I've assigned the _Oxford Essential Guide to Writing_ as a good all-around guide to grammar and syntax. It's clearly written and cost-efficient.
Best,
Helen
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Karen
Unregistered User
(4/24/02 5:57:50 pm)
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Thankyou all!
I'll look at those Gordon books especially- they sound promising and not so dry that it will be torture for the students to read them.
Ta,
karen.
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tlchang37
Registered User
(4/25/02 12:17:51 am)
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Karen Elizabeth Gordon
Speaking of Gordon's books, has anyone read her "The Red Shoes, and Other Tattered Tales"? It actually looks like *tales* rather than grammer...? I haven't seen a copy in person however.
Tara
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SPW
Registered User
(5/2/02 7:30:09 pm)
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Re: Karen Elizabeth Gordon
Capital Community College in Hartford, Connecticut has a great online site. It comes complete with instruction and online quizzes. I have found a few errors in the quizzes, but as a whole the site is great. The web site is listed below.
ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
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