Beyond Grammar: Linguistics in Language and Writing Courses

Most of my students arrive in my required freshman writing class full of ideas but lacking the mastery over language needed to express them. Introducing core linguistic concepts can sharpen their writing skills by illustrating how language works, and by heightening their awareness of the role language plays in their lives. These concepts could be seamlessly introduced over a year-long, daily high school class. Lacking that, they could be tucked into university level semester-long classes.