Purpose
Generally speaking, it's easy to do grammar exercise after grammar exercise and still not be able to use what you've learned in your writing. This page will give an example of a grammar log that we will use throughout the semester so that you can improve your grammar not only in this class but in other classes and in your work after this semester ends. For good resources on grammar, see Guide to Grammar & Writing, Englishpage.com, and The Present Perfect.
Description
Grammar logs will have three parts:
- Grammar rule
- Examples of the rule
- Updating the rule
When you receive feedback on grammar, you will write down the rule and use your own corrected work as an example of the rule. It is possible that you will need to revise the grammar rule over time, as you understand better how it works in different situations.
Example for subject-verb agreement
Subject-verb agreement rule:
Subject-verb agreement is a problem mainly with the third person singular (he, she , it) in the present tense. When the third person singular is used, the verb adds an s.
Examples:
A successful writer usually re-writes his/her work many times before being satisfied with it.
A person who loves to write learns much from writing.
Updating the rule
To update a rule, either change it or add to it as needed. Consider this updating of the subject-agreement rule, along with an extra example.
Subject-verb agreement rule:
Subject-verb agreement is a problem mainly with the third person singular (he, she , it) in the present tense. When the third person singular is used, the verb adds an s. The verb be has three different forms--are, is, and am--so it affects all verb persons, not only third person singular.
Examples:
A successful writer usually re-writes his/her work many times before being satisfied with it.
A person who loves to write learns much from writing.
I am an excellent writer.
She is an excellent mathematician.
They are hard-working students.