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My thesis aims at showing that explicit grammar teaching related to writing practice in meaningful contexts may advance students´ writings. Research is scarce on this specific area in Norway, though the question whether grammar teaching is useful has remained a controversial issue for decades. The main objective of my research has been to find out whether knowledge of syntax is a useful tool for Norwegian students to improve their English writing skills.From previous teaching experience, I believe in giving clear instructions and teaching grammar, and I think this type of approach will improve students´ written production. During my teacher education, I experimented with teaching how to structure an essay and how to use various strategies to create coherence and cohesion when writing. There was significant improvement in the students´ writing during the six weeks I taught them.This experience inspired me to start a research project in order to document that giving clear instruction and teaching grammar are useful strategies when teaching a foreign language.

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The author, May Olaug Horverak, born in 1977, is a teacher at Moeglestu Upper Secondary School in Norway, and teaches English and Norwegian classes.

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