Do Good Grammar Skills Predict Success in a Business-Communication Course?

Abstract

After reviewing the controversy over inclusion of grammatical instruction in composition and communication courses, this article details a data-based study that explored the relationship between grammatical proficiency and a number of variables in an introductory business-communication course. Em pirical data suggest a small, but significant correlation between grammatical proficiency and success in writing the formal report. The data suggest that a stronger correlation exists between grammatical proficiency and perform ance in the overall course, and that grammatical competency is a predictor of successful completion of the course. The article explores other minor correla tions, suggests the implications these correlations have for business- communication courses, and recommends other areas of study

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