Diagraming: Yes or No?


    I realize that I come to this argument from a unique perspective. I teach at a classical charter school where sentence diagramming is introduced in lower school and enthusiastically embraced through the completion of upper school. My personal experience with sentence diagramming is a mixed bag at best. I *sort of* recall learning it in school, however I do not recall understanding why we were doing the exercise. Blame it on 1980’s progressive education practices, but it was put on the back burner by teachers at the time. I can attest to the fact that my grammar education suffered because of this. I find myself, at 46 years old, teaching and re-teaching myself so many things I would have learned if this piece of grammar would have been taught properly in my classes 35 years ago. Diagramming sentences is more than a rite of passage for students, it is an effective tool they will be able to use their entire lives; if taught correctly, they might even find it fun too.
    Bauer offers a great reason for learning this skill, “there’s an even more important benefit to diagramming: As the student moves on into high school, she can begin to use diagramming (as long as she’s studied it already) as a tool to fix weak sentences” (Bauer). But let's go back and think about the benefits for being able to diagram a sentence in elementary and middle schools too. I asked some of my students why they thought we learned to diagram sentences. These responses, coming from 7th graders, are an interesting tribute to their experience:

  • Understand the sentences
  • Grammar
  • Organize thoughts
  • Understand the purpose of the sentence
  • It’s fun, like a puzzle
    •     Burns Florey, in the NPR article, “A Picture of Language: The Fading Art Of Diagramming Sentences”, shared this insight: "When you're learning to write well, it helps to understand what the sentence is doing and why it's doing it and how you can improve it” (Summers). This supports my overall argument for learning the skill of diagramming, that it is a skill which students will come back to their entire lives, particularly those who are in professions where they must produce written media including reports, letters, emails, etc. Any situation where you must represent yourself or your company in a professional, well-spoken manner, diagramming sentences and a solid grammar education will be crucial.

    Works Cited

    Bauer, Susan White. “Why Diagramming Matters.” Well-Trained Mind Press, 7 Dec. 2021,              https://welltrainedmind.com/a/why-diagramming-matters/?v=7516fd43adaa.

    Summers, Juana. “A Picture of Language: The Fading Art of Diagramming Sentences.” NPR, NPR, 22 Aug. 2014,
    https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/08/22/341898975/a- picture-of-language-the- fading-art-of-diagramming-sentences.

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