Saturday, 12 November 2016

Testing Yourself to Improve Grammar

A grammar quiz can be used to test one’s grammar and writing abilities. However, a quiz that tests your abilities and gives detailed feedback on the correct answer is a valuable resource. This grammar quiz has those features. Grammar is an important component of writing as it helps the writing have flow and so others can properly understand your work.  

What Does It Do?
The quiz specifically, is focused on proper tenses. The quiz tests you on your own grammar skills giving you a sentence where you choose the correct word or phrase with the proper tense for that sentence. This determines where your weaknesses are. If an answer is incorrect, it provides the correct answer and an explanation of why it is correct. This allows you to gain more knowledge about proper tenses and may result in an overall improved writing style. However, the website, English Grammar Pass contains many more quizzes testing numerous common grammar mistakes. These include, misused forms (wrong preposition, expressions), unnecessary words (prepositions, articles), and confused words (nouns, adverbs, verbs). 

Examples
As you can see, if you answer a question incorrectly, the quiz gives you a detailed explanation about the correct answer and why it is correct. 

English Grammar. (2016). Misused Forms-The Use of a Wrong Tense [Screenshot] 
Retrieved from http://englishgrammarpass.com/exercises/test/17/1.html
Even when an answer is correct, the quiz provides an explanation of the answer. This gives the individual an understanding of the specific grammar rule to confirm their knowledge about the grammar example. 

English Grammar. (2016). Confused Words-Adverbs Often Confused [Screenshot] 
Retrieved from http://englishgrammarpass.com/exercises/test/94/1.html

Useful in the Classroom
Grammar can be a complicated concept for a lot of students and even adults. Grammar quizzes will be helpful for students as they can test their grammar and be aware of their weaknesses. This quiz can also be helpful for teachers as they can see if there are certain areas of grammar that needs to be touched on in class. 

Technology
In the 21st century, technology is constantly growing in the classroom to engage students as they learn. Online quizzes will not only engage students as they test their knowledge but also give them the opportunity to learn while being productive. It is important for students to know their own strengths and weaknesses in writing so they can work on their weaknesses. Once they know their weaknesses determined from the quiz, they can search Google or social media like Twitter or Pinterest where they can find their own resources that would benefit them and help them better understand the grammar rules. For example, if an individual had trouble with the terms “their”, “there”, and “they’re”, students can research and find sources like this article to self-educate them. The big positive about using quizzes like this, is that it provides an explanation about the correct answer which will help educate them. This will result in an improvement in their writing as they gain more knowledge about grammar. 

Education to the Core. (2016). Poster [Anchor Chart]
Retrieved from http://bit.ly/1HKBp62

Curriculum Connection
This technique of using quizzes satisfies the overall expectations in the Ontario Curriculum of self-reflection. Based on the outcome of the quiz, students will able to identify their strengths and weaknesses in regards to grammar and determine the areas they need to improve on. They will then be able to apply this knowledge in critiquing and editing their peers’ work. Grammar mistakes can be corrected and students can educate each other about the grammar rules they may need help with as they provide feedback for each other.   


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