“I’ll Take Commas for $200”: An Instructional Intervention Using Games to Help Students Master Grammar Skills

Authors

Sue Burzynski Bullard, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Nancy Anderson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

Published in Journalism & Mass Communication Educator (2014), 1–12; doi: 10.1177/1077695813518778

Comments

Copyright © 2014 Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication. Published by Sage Publications. Used by permission. http://jmce.sagepub.com

Abstract

Effective writing requires mastering grammar. For journalists, this mastery is critical because research shows poor grammar erodes media credibility. College writing instructors say students do not understand basic grammar concepts, and greater numbers of students are enrolling in remedial writing classes. This quasi-experimental mixed methods study examines whether using games to teach basic grammar skills helps college students understand and retain grammar concepts. It also examines student perceptions of learning.