Where have all the full stops gone? The dangers of striving for ‘University-level’ punctuation.

Authors

  • Mark Betteney University of Greenwich

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21100/compass.v10i3.518

Keywords:

Punctuation, up-levelling, adult literacy, primary education policy

Abstract

This opinion piece makes connections between common strategies currently being outworked in primary schools, and a growing perception amongst lecturers that a significant minority of undergraduate students have difficulty with punctuation, a difficulty which can render their written submissions very hard to read. This piece offers possible explanation, citing the punctuation pyramid, and the long term effects of a primary education policy that encourages primary-aged children to ‘up-level’ their writing, a practice which many students bring to their undergraduate studies.

Author Biography

Mark Betteney, University of Greenwich

Principal LecturerSenior Fellow, HEA,Deputy Head, Department of Lifelong Learning Teacher Education; Secondary Education; PE and Sport,

References

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Department for Education (2014) The national curriculum in England. Framework Document London: Crown copyright

Gillet, A., Hammond, H. and Martala, M. (2009) Successful Academic Writing. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education.

McDonald R. (2016) ‘Making effective language choices.’ English 4-11, 58. UKLA.

Morgan, N, (2015) The importance of a knowledge-based curriculum, and a vision for education. Winter Address at the Carlton Club, London, January 2015.

Rosen M. (1995) Walking the Bridge of Your Nose. London: Kingfisher.

Solomon, G. (2013) Just Write It! How to develop top-class university writing skills. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press.

Wilson R. (2009) The Criterion Scale. (Andrell Education Ltd, accredited by Edge Hill University.) Available at: http://satspapers.org/Resources/Levellingwriting/criterion%20scale.pdf (Accessed: 06th April 2017)

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Published

10/18/2017

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 3 (2017): Compass: Journal of Learning and Teaching

Section

Opinion Pieces

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