Teaching Syntax to Improve Writing Skills in Upper Secondary School

My thesis aims at showing that explicit grammar teaching related to writing practice in meaningful contexts may advance students' writings. Research is scarce on this specific area in Norway, though the question whether grammar teaching is useful has remained a controversial issue for decades. The main objective of my research has been to find out whether knowledge of syntax is a useful tool for Norwegian students to improve their English writing skills.From previous teaching experience, I believe in giving clear instructions and teaching grammar, and I think this type of approach will improve students' written production. During my teacher education, I experimented with teaching how to structure an essay and how to use various strategies to create coherence and cohesion when writing. There was significant improvement in the students' writing during the six weeks I taught them.This experience inspired me to start a research project in order to document that giving clear instruction and teaching grammar are useful strategies when teaching a foreign language.

Autorentext

The author, May Olaug Horverak, born in 1977, is a teacher at Moeglestu Upper Secondary School in Norway, and teaches English and Norwegian classes.