Re: diagramming sentences

[Sara Kimball <skimball@uts.cc.utexas.edu>]

I use Martha Kolln's Understanding English Grammar in my undergraduate
grammar class, and it uses Reed-Kellog diagrams.  I find the diagrams a
fairly flexible, adaptable way of representing linguistic structure,
though they've got their disadvantages too (e.g. they don't reporduce word
order, and they're lousy at representing structures with raising verbs
like _persuade_).  this course is required for people in the
pre-certification sequence, and some of them may be called upon to teach
diagramming in high school or middle school.


A related question for anyone who uses diagrams:  how the heck to you
represent a clausal adjective complement in Reed-Kellog diagrams (e.g. Sam
is certain that it will rain today)?  Kolln is, btw, not good at all in
her treatment of adjective complements.


Sara Kimball
UT Austin  

On Mon, 26 Oct 1998, Beth Bir wrote:

> Just a quick survey:  how many people out there teach diagramming 
> sentences or know of people who do?  Is this considered a 
> contemporary method of teaching grammar?  
> 
> Beth Bir
> University College
> Fayetteville State University
> 1200 Murchison Road
> Fayetteville, NC  28301-4298
> (910) 486-1829
> 
>