PEMARKAHAN

TAJUK ESEI

READING ASSIGNMENT 1

DISEDIAKAN OLEH
NAMA

NO. MATRIK

KUMPULAN UPSI01 (A122PJJ)

NAMA TUTOR E-LEARNING:
TARIKH SERAH: 15 APRIL 2013

CONTENTS

PAGE

QUESTION 1
Article 1 : How To Teach Grammar By Glenda Race
3 Article 2 : How To Teach Grammar By Micheal Swan
5
QUESTION 2
(a)

Briefly summarize the main issues discussed in the articles

(b)

Describe the strengths and weaknesses of the articles

(c)

General

comments

10
References

12

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

ARTICLE 2 : HOW TO TEACH GRAMMAR BY MICHAEL SWAN

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 Race

In 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 Swan

In the article How To Teach Grammar, the author, Michael Swan explained his
opinion about rules for successful grammar teaching. The first step is to explain the grammar
in 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 selfaccess 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)

(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 Race
The strengths
The 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 weaknesses
The 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)

(ii) Strengths and weaknesses of article 2 : How To Teach Grammar By Micheal Swan
The strengths
The 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 weaknesses
The 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)

(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 by
Glenda Race.
As a teacher, I tend to feel disappointed when students are not able to grasp what is being
taught. 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 my

daily 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 Race
The writer should had written the Thesis Statement clearly in the first paragraph. She should
not 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 Swan
The writer, Michael Swan should not had used or written Three Golden Rules as a
subtopic 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 to

My

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.

said statement should had been written as

Teachers should

The

not 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

References
1.

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.html

2.

Michael S., (2011) How To Teach Grammar (website), retrieved on March 26 from
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/blogs/michael-swan/how-teach-grammar-0

3.

Heidi E. (1995), Writing A Process Essay (website), retrieved on March 29 from

http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/process.html

4.

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.htm

5.

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-5Paragraphs/1ypn6b7h/

12