Discusses five "rules" of language use that can be broken: (1) don't use contractions in formal writing, (2) every paragraph should have a topic/clincher sentence, (3) never end a sentence with a preposition, (4) Avoid "I" and "you" in formal writing, and (5) never begin a sentence with "and" or "but." (EL)

This study assesses the relationship of student performance using two microcomputer instructional application software designs, one with graphics and the other without graphics, as a teaching aid in comma usage. Results indicated that there was no significant difference in performance between the graphic and nongraphic treatment groups. (CT)

Letter poems make poetry accessible, meaningful, and fun. Letter poems are also an apt medium for exploring a defining characteristic of poetry--line breaks. Students explore letter poems and experiment with writing letters as poems, using the placement of line breaks to enhance rhythm, sound, meaning, and appearance. During the two 40-minute…

This self-paced text/workbook is designed for the adult learner who needs a review of grammar and writing skills in order to write clearly and concisely on the job. It offers career-minded students 14 individualized instructional modules on grammar, paragraph writing, report writing, letter writing, and spelling. It is designed for both self-paced…

A step-by-step account of a direct, different, and individualized method of teaching the use of commas and semicolons to high-school students. (SP)

Suggests that by reading aloud, students may come to a greater awareness of the three subsystems of the English punctuation system--inclusion, sentence stops, and sentence marks. (HOD)

Describes a business English hotline, staffed by faculty members, which serves to augment the instructional aims of Los Angeles Pierce College, and keeps faculty members in touch with the office world and its problems. (JOW)

Outlines methods for presenting grammar and punctuation in a one-semester community college classroom. Discusses misconceptions often held by students and misconceptions occasionally held by instructors. (RS)

Notes that, although linguistics has had little influence on composition pedagogy, the study of functional grammar or linguistic performance (how language is actually used) is of direct value to composition theory. Offers an extended discussion of a functional approach to punctuation instruction, and proposes a functional approach in other areas…

Argues that grammar instruction is important and should begin early. Lists rules for using the comma, colon, and semi-colon. Notes 10 tips for top-notch writing. Notes grammatical areas often troublesome to students. Includes a short quiz. (SR)

Business communication faculty (n=187) identified the top grammatical errors made by undergraduates as follows: subject-verb agreement, sentence fragments, subject-pronoun agreement, nonparallel series, and wrong word choice. Top punctuation errors included run-on sentences, comma splice, missing commas, and misuse of the possessive apostrophe.…

Describes an assignment in which students sharpen their punctuation skills by arranging poems without punctuation in a prose form with appropriate punctuation. Suggests using the poetry of a fictional character from Don Marqui's "archy and mehitabel." (TB)

Argues that the prohibition against the comma splice has no logical basis whatsoever, and offers numerous examples. Maintains that English teachers should relax prohibitions against comma splices, accept that usage is flexible, and allow students a freedom which more confident writers take for granted. (SR)