TAJUK ESEIREADING ASSIGNMENT 1DISEDIAKAN OLEHNAMA

NO. MATRIK

KUMPULAN UPSI01 (A122PJJ)NAMA TUTOR E-LEARNING: TARIKH SERAH: 15 APRIL 20131

CONTENTSPAGEQUESTION 1Article 1 : How To Teach Grammar By Glenda Race 3 Article 2 : How To Teach Grammar By Micheal Swan 5QUESTION 2(a)Briefly summarize the main issues discussed in the articles7 (b)Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the articles8 (c)General comments 10References122

QUESTION 1ARTICLE 1 : HOW TO TEACH GRAMMAR IN PRIMARY SCHOOL BY GLENDA RACE3

4

ARTICLE 2 : HOW TO TEACH GRAMMAR BY MICHAEL SWAN5

6

QUESTION 2(a) Briefly summarize the main issues discussed in the article.(i) Summary of article 1: How To Teach Grammar In Primary School By Glenda RaceIn the article How to Teach Grammar in Primary School, the author, Glenda Race explained that students can learn grammar through their own words. Firstly, ask the students to write some nouns on an index card and list down some action verbs before constructing a complete sentence. Next, ask them to write their adjectives and describe the action verb with adverbs by using a conjunction where necessary. Next, teach them prepositional phrases and capitalize the proper nouns. Then, introduce them with pronouns. Teach them that each sentence ends with a full stop, question mark or exclamation point. Finally, help the students to string the final sentences together.(107 words)(ii) Summary of article 2 : How To Teach Grammar By Micheal SwanIn the article How To Teach Grammar, the author, Michael Swan explained hisopinion about rules for successful grammar teaching. The first step is to explain the grammarin their mother tongue. Some points can be learnt through an inductive 'discovery' approach with realistic examples. However, examples do not replace explanations. Then, give the learners some exercises and activities. Grammar practice will be needed in class, by self-access or by the coursebook. The problem is the difficulties in getting learners to carry over their grammar learning to spontaneous real-life use. So teachers need to revise them, practising them in speaking and writing activities.(103 words)7

(b) Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the articles.(i) Strengths and weaknesses of article 1: How To Teach Grammar In Primary School By Glenda RaceThe strengthsThe writer has successfully divided her points into three major sections. Each section is divided into a few steps so that the readers can easily understand the method that she has created. All the steps are perfectly arranged chronologically so as to avoid confusions.The writer has totally organized her ideas in this article. The first paragraph stating her opinion about students creativity can be used in learning to hit the readers. The topic sentence in each paragraph is clearly indicated. The supporting details are compactly included to strengthen the topic sentence.The weaknessesThe writer should give a detailed example for all the points she has suggested as she already knew that the targeted readers are mothers all around the world and not professionals in the said field. The readers might not have any clue on such words as pronoun, paraphrase and other grammatical terms. They might not find it useful.The teaching method used by the writer was not totally originated from her own idea. I believe that most of the concern mothers in this country already knew about this method as it is similar to other teaching methods over the internet. That made her way of teaching grammar less interesting.(205 words)8

(ii) Strengths and weaknesses of article 2 : How To Teach Grammar By Micheal SwanThe strengthsThe writer gave a very detailed explanation about rules for successful grammar teaching in his article. The writer wanted to pass on all his knowledge to the readers in order to teach grammar effectively. In my opinion, he has successfully conveyed the method of teaching clearly and concisely.I believe that the writer knew the targeted readers as the essay provided some useful help or hints to English Teachers. He has also tried to lessen the feelings of failing in teaching this subject.The writer has divided the steps into a few paragraphs where they were arranged in a chronological manner. This enable the readers to easily grasp his points through their reading.The weaknessesThe steps given by the writer on how to teach grammar were poorly arranged and they were not numbered. They were also mixed or jumbled up with other subtopics such as the introduction, the theory, all other steps and the conclusion.The subtopic in the introductory paragraph is definitely unsuitable. The subtopic Three Golden Rules in Teaching Grammar was mentioned to merely attract readers to continue reading his essay. Readers will realize this after reading a couple of sentences as there were no mention of the said Golden Rules anywhere in his article. I believe that most readers will be disappointed after a while and leave the page.(221 words)9

(c) General comments(i) Which article do you preferred? Why?I prefer the article on How To Teach Grammar written by Michael Swan to that written byGlenda Race.As a teacher, I tend to feel disappointed when students are not able to grasp what is beingtaught. This article has changed my view on the students performance and also of myself. This experienced writer said that we can leave the choice of being good or not to the students themselves as it is beyond our control. We should also respect their choice and stop blaming ourselves.This article is very informative and practical.I can apply the writers methodology in mydaily teaching to Year 4 and Year 5 pupils. On the other hand, the teaching method written by Glenda Race is more suitable for pupils in the lower grades.The statement made by Michael Swan that the best way to teach grammar is by using our mother tongue really surprised me. It has also never crossed my mind that there is a difference between examples and explanations.Good examples especially those that students can relate to coupled with clear and simple explanation will be very helpful to them. This new finding will definitely make teaching grammar more effective especially to children who are not familiar with the English language.(212 words)10

(ii) Provide suggestions on how the articles may be improved.Article 1: How To Teach Grammar In Primary School By Glenda RaceThe writer should had written the Thesis Statement clearly in the first paragraph. She shouldnot had lead the readers form their own thoughts about her essay and leave her web page the moment they could not find anything of interest. She should know her targeted readers and presented her essay accordingly as there are thousands of similar articles over the net.The writer should have included detailed examples of all the grammatical terms used in her article. There were only a few good website links included in her web page to support her article so as not to disappoint her readers.Article 2 : How To Teach Grammar By Micheal SwanThe writer, Michael Swan should not had used or written Three Golden Rules as asubtopic in the introductory paragraph and later explained that no one knows exactly what they are.As it was of no relevance to the topic, he should had just changed it toMy Golden Rules Of Teaching as the teaching method was actually created by him through his own observations or experiences.The writer should had been more professional and not show his personal feelings or emotions about teaching methods practiced by others. This was reflected in paragraph three of his article where he said I have little sympathy with people who are hostile to giving students rules. Readers or educators specifically, may feel offended by his statement even though there might be some truth in it.His teaching method already speaks for itself.The said statement should had been written asTeachers shouldnot be hostile in giving students rules. This simple twist or choice of words might get many educators change and adopt his teaching method.(285 words)11

References1. Glenda R., How To Teach Grammar In Primary School (website), retrieved on March 27 from http://www.ehow.com/how_6633202_teach-grammar-primary-school.html2.Michael S., (2011) How To Teach Grammar (website), retrieved on March 26 from http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/blogs/michael-swan/how-teach-grammar-03.Heidi E. (1995), Writing A Process Essay (website), retrieved on March 29 from http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/process.html4.Grace F., (2013), How to Write a Process or "How-To" Essay (website), retrieved on April 1 from http://homeworktips.about.com/od/essaywriting/a/howtoessay.htm5.Martin R., (2010), How to Write a Process Analysis Essay (website), retrieved on April 4 from http://writing.wikinut.com/How-to-Write-a-Process-Analysis-Essay-5-Paragraphs/1ypn6b7h/12

PEMARKAHAN