The Emphasis PrincipleThe Emphasis Principle

““Rethinking the Rethinking the Teaching of Grammar”Teaching of Grammar”

by Rei R. Noguchiby Rei R. NoguchiThe English Record,The English Record,

Vol. 52Vol. 52(2), 2002, pp. 22-26(2), 2002, pp. 22-26

PowerPoint Presentation Created by Elizabeth M. Hanson

Teaching Grammar,Teaching Grammar,

especially theespecially the ““drill and kill”drill and kill”

type of instruction,type of instruction, may not improvemay not improve

thethe qualityquality of grammarof grammar..

Principles of WritingPrinciples of Writing,,

Not Rules of GrammarNot Rules of Grammar,,

should be stressedshould be stressed

when teaching when teaching

expository writingexpository writing..

Grammar rulesGrammar rules

have limited effects.have limited effects.““NeverNever place a preposition place a preposition

at the end of a sentence.”at the end of a sentence.”““NeverNever use the passive use the passive

voice.”voice.”

Principles of Writing, Principles of Writing, however,however,hold truehold true

in many situations.in many situations.

TheThe Emphasis PrincipleEmphasis Principle

guides guides

the entire the entire

writing process, writing process,

from start to finish.from start to finish.

The Emphasis Principle:The Emphasis Principle:

AA key ideakey idea is givenis given emphasisemphasis by placing it at theby placing it at the

end end of a sentence.of a sentence.

Key Ideas are accentuatedKey Ideas are accentuated

1.1.Bill ate a ham sandwich Bill ate a ham sandwich yesterday for yesterday for lunchlunch..

2.2.For lunch, Bill ate a ham For lunch, Bill ate a ham sandwich sandwich yesterdayyesterday..

3.3.Yesterday for lunch, Bill Yesterday for lunch, Bill ate aate a ham sandwich ham sandwich..

The Emphasis Principle:The Emphasis Principle:

When the When the key ideakey idea

needs to be placed needs to be placed

at the end of a sentence, at the end of a sentence, the the passive voicepassive voice is is

permissible.permissible.

Active versus Passive VoiceActive versus Passive Voice

The active voice is not The active voice is not always right.always right.

““Don’t write in the Don’t write in the passive”passive” can violate can violate the Emphasis Principle.the Emphasis Principle.

Active versus Passive VoiceActive versus Passive Voice CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER:CHOOSE THE BEST ANSWER:

The audience wondered The audience wondered whowho would get the would get the science award. science award.

a.a. Maria won it.Maria won it.b.b. It was won by Maria.It was won by Maria.

Answer B is correctAnswer B is correct

b. It was won by Maria.b. It was won by Maria.ItIt refers to the science refers to the science

award, which is award, which is

old informationold information..MariaMaria refers to the winner, refers to the winner,

which is which is new informationnew information..

Prepositions and EmphasisPrepositions and Emphasis

Pre + position Pre + position meansmeans

““not last not last

in the sentencein the sentence.”.”

This is theThis is the old Latin ruleold Latin rule..

Prepositions and EmphasisPrepositions and Emphasis

““Where is heWhere is he atat?” ?” violates this Latin rule.violates this Latin rule.

““Where is heWhere is he?” seems to ?” seems to solve the mystery.solve the mystery.

Prepositions and EmphasisPrepositions and Emphasis

Yet, “Where is he?” canYet, “Where is he?” can

bebe vaguevague or or ambiguousambiguous..““Where is heWhere is he nearnear?”?”““Where is heWhere is he behindbehind?”?” ““Where is heWhere is he next tonext to?” ?”

The Emphasis PrincipleThe Emphasis Principle

is an overarching principle is an overarching principle that:that:

(1)(1) overrides Latin overrides Latin grammatical rulesgrammatical rules

(2)(2) guides sentence guides sentence formationformation

The Emphasis PrincipleThe Emphasis Principle

(3)(3) guides information in a guides information in a paragraphparagraph

(4)(4) guides the arrangement guides the arrangement of paragraphs within an of paragraphs within an essay; andessay; and

The Emphasis PrincipleThe Emphasis Principle

(5)(5) ensures that the entire ensures that the entire essay is driven by the essay is driven by the correct placement of new correct placement of new informationinformation in the most in the most salient positions so that salient positions so that the essay supports the the essay supports the thesis.thesis.

The Emphasis PrincipleThe Emphasis Principleorganizes paragraphsorganizes paragraphs

so the so the best ideabest idea

is presented last is presented last

to build to build

an effective climaxan effective climax..

The Emphasis PrincipleThe Emphasis Principle

organizes essays so organizes essays so the the best ideabest idea is is

presented last to presented last to concludeconclude the essay the essay..

The Emphasis PrincipleThe Emphasis Principle

is an is an integrative guideintegrative guide for arranging for arranging information, andinformation, and

is a is a holistic explanationholistic explanation for the informational for the informational structure of an essay.structure of an essay.

The Emphasis PrincipleThe Emphasis Principle

has more potential for has more potential for improvingimproving the overall the overall

writing qualitywriting quality than any single than any single grammar rule.grammar rule.

Most importantly,Most importantly,

the the

Emphasis Emphasis Principle Principle

is is teachableteachable..