Cover not available
Article published In:
Australian Review of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 20:2 (1997) ► pp.33–50

English grammar in school textbooks

A critical survey

| University of New South Wales
| University of New South Wales
| University of New South Wales
This paper reports findings from a project involving the critical analysis of English grammar books (and language books with grammatical content) used at Primary and Secondary levels in NSW schools. The books surveyed betrayed a low level of awareness of developments in contemporary linguistics, and in particular, of the ‘structural’ approach to grammatical description. Such an approach, it is argued, has the potential to build on the insights of traditional grammar and to remedy many of its major shortcomings.
Published online: 1 January 1997
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/aral.20.2.03col
References (28)
AE Holland, M. (1994, repr. 1995) Art of English. Melbourne, Heinemann. {Secondary}Google Scholar
BE6 Bruce, B. J. and T. Y. Johnson. Rev’d M. J. Bruce. (1959, 10th repr. 1993) Let’s use better English. Melbourne, Nelson. {Primary}Google Scholar
EE Fox, M. and L. Wilkinson (1993) English essentials. Melbourne, Macmillan. {Reference}Google Scholar
ELUG Blaxell, G. and G. Winch (1995) The English language users guide. Albert Park, Vic, Phoenix Education. {Secondary}Google Scholar
ELW Blaxell, G. and G. Winch (1995) The English language workbook. Albert Park, Vic, Phoenix Education. {Secondary}Google Scholar
EM Morcom, M. (1994) English matters, Book 6. Melbourne, Macmillan. {Primary}Google Scholar
EU Ramsay, M. A. (1990, 2nd edn 1995) A shorter guide to English usage for Australian students. Melbourne, Moreton Bay Publishing. {Reference}Google Scholar
GIR Sadler, R. K. and T. A. S. Hayllar (1993, repr. 1994, 1995 (3 times)) Getting it right. Melbourne, Macmillan. {Secondary}Google Scholar
GTE Burgess, T. and P. Nightingale (1994) Gum tree English, Book 6. Kurri Kurri, Nightingale Press NSW. {Primary}Google Scholar
GW Collins, M. and A. Watkinson (1994) Grammar works. Melbourne, Nelson. {Secondary}Google Scholar
LIU Forrestal, P. (1987) Look it up. Melbourne, Nelson. {Reference}Google Scholar
LL Moseley, L. (1995) The language of language. Melbourne, Longman. {Reference}Google Scholar
ME Wheeler, P. (1991, repr. 1992, 1994, 1995) Mastery of English for senior students. Melbourne, Longman. {Secondary}Google Scholar
MG Down, E. (1991, repr. 1992, 1993 (twice), 1994) Mastering grammar. Melbourne, Longman. {Secondary}Google Scholar
NSE Sadler, R. K., T. A. S. Hayllar and C. J. Powell (1988, repr. 1989 (twice)) New senior English. Melbourne, Macmillan. {Secondary}Google Scholar
NSyllE Billing, M. (1994, repr. 1995) New syllabus English. Sydney, Braxus Press. {Primary}Google Scholar
PGH Winch, G. and G. Blaxell (1994) The primary grammar handbook. Sydney, Martin Education. {Primary}Google Scholar
PYG Howard, P. (1989, repr. 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995) Perfect your grammar. Melbourne, Longman. {Reference}Google Scholar
SE Sadler, R. K., T. A. S. Hayllar and C. J. Powell (1985, repr. 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990) Secondary English. Melbourne, Macmillan. {Secondary}Google Scholar
WH Beazley, M. and G. Marr (1992, repr. 1993, 1994) The writers handbook. Albert Park, Vic, Phoenix Education {Reference}Google Scholar
WW6 Winch, G. and G. Blaxell (1994) Write well 6. Sydney, Martin Education. {Primary}Google Scholar
Board of Studies (1994) A handbook of grammar for teachers of English K-6. North Sydney, Board of Studies.Google Scholar
(1996 (Aug)) English K-6 review report Part A: findings from the consultation. North Sydney, Board of Studies.Google Scholar
(“Eltis Report”) Focusing on learning: report of the review of outcomes and profiles in New South Wales schooling. Sydney, NSW Department of Training and Education Co-ordination.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1985, 2nd edn 1994) Introduction to functional grammar. London, Arnold.Google Scholar
Huddleston, Rodney (1984) Introduction to the grammar of English. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Huddleston, R. D. (1988) Constituency, multifunctionality and grammaticalization in Halliday’s Functional Grammar. Journal of Linguistics 241:137–74. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(1989) English grammar in school textbooks: towards a consistent linguistic alternative. (Occasional Paper no. 11) ALAA.
Cited by (4)

Cited by four other publications

Um, Tae-Kyung
2016. On the Notion of 5 Sentence Patterns in English Grammar Learning Materials. The Journal of the Korea Contents Association 16:6 ► pp. 283 ff. DOI logo
Woo-hyun Jung
2013. Grammatical accuracy and authenticity in EFL textbook dialogues. Journal of the Korea English Education Society 12:2 ► pp. 149 ff. DOI logo
Mulder, Jean
2011. Grammar in English Curricula: Why Should Linguists Care?. Language and Linguistics Compass 5:12 ► pp. 835 ff. DOI logo
Dyson, Bronwyn
2002. Focus on learnable form in a communicative context. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics 25:1 ► pp. 53 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 30 july 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.