Diagramming Step by Step: One Hundred and Fifty-Five Steps to Excellence in Sentence Diagramming

by Eugene Moutoux

Eugene Moutoux, educator and author, taught at four universities and three high schools prior to his retirement in 2004. He has written books on sentence diagramming, Latin derivatives, and the German language and maintains a large web site that includes, among other things, a German course, Latin derivatives, and sentence diagrams. Around the turn of the century, Gene's penchant for grammar led him to a thorough study of sentence diagramming, the rudiments of which he, like Kitty Burns Florey, author of Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog , learned as a child from an elementary-school teacher. About the Author Gene R. Moutoux lives in New Albany, Indiana, just across the river from Louisville, Kentucky. He is the father of three children and the grandfather of seven. He has a Ph.D. in German from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Genres: Writing

312 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2013

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUMMARY OF REVIEW: Diagramming Step by Step is a five star superior, advanced textbook/workbook for sentence diagramming. I was compelled to buy this book because I remember how fun and demystifying sentence diagramming can be for the student. Similar to crosswords, sentence diagramming can be a fun and challenging game. For students preparing for SATS, ACTS or other standardized tests, this textbook/workbook will hone your grammar skills, preparing you for your test(s). Note, this book is no 4th grade walk in the park, for that you’re better off with Eugene Moutoux’s Drawing Sentences: A Guide to Diagramming, which starts with the absolute basics, slowly but thoroughly building a solid knowledgebase. In contrast, in this book (Diagramming Step by Step) Moutoux rapidly covers the basics, moving the student along at a challengingly fast but equally rewarding pace. Reiterating the true value of this teaching tool and standardized test prep workbook, the “Writing Correctly” section after each sentence diagramming lesson is my absolute favorite gem, teaching students how to properly use adverbs, when to you “whom,” and so much more.

FULL REVIEW: As a professional writer, I bought this book to improve my grammar and writing. I’m always looking to perfect my writing skills, whether it’s learning how to write a compelling story, down to correctly applying grammar rules. So far, I'm enjoying the lessons in this workbook/textbook. I find each lesson to be informative, providing several examples for each lesson, including many sentences for the student to practice diagramming. The book covers all the basics of grammar, but moves quickly. It's great for a refresher for people who generally know proper grammar; it is not a book for a student just learning grammar rules. If you’re still learning the basics of grammar, this book is a bit too advanced - it moves too quickly.

What this book does masterfully is teach you how to DIAGRAM SENTENCES. It gives 6-10 examples ("steps") of diagramed sentences expressing the new rules for each lesson, than it provides 10 or more sentences for you, the student, to diagram. There is ample space to write answers in the book, so one doesn't even need an extra pad of paper. I sat on my couch listening to music while diagramming away with nothing more than this book and a pen.

The answer key is excellent, and is large enough to easily be read. (The answers are at the end of the book - teachers and homeschoolers be aware!) The amount of provided examples increases as the lessons increase in complexity. There are 155 steps in all, as the title states. By lesson five, the student is diagraming sentences like, "Not surprisingly, the fatuous man loves a diffident woman." Lesson twenty-two has sentences like, "A year and a half after they moved to Cincinnati, they moved back to California." There are 100-word sentences, 145 word sentences, and larger.... Basically, this book moves rapidly and will challenge the reader, even if the reader happens to be a grammar teacher or professional writer! Further emphasizing the power of this book as a teaching tool, Moutoux constantly reinforces lessons taught in prior chapters, helping to solidify in the students’ minds this dense workbook/textbook of grammar rules.

By the way, I really love the "Writing Correctly" lessons following each section. These little teaching gems quickly (often on one side of a page) remind the reader of frequent grammar mistakes, little know grammar rules and peculiarities, and often overlooked editorial blunders. Here’s an example: “Everyone must bring [“his or her” or “their”] pens and pencils.”)

If you’re on the fence whether you should buy Diagramming Step by Step or Moutoux’s Drawing Sentences , here’s a word from the author:
"Should you buy this book if you already have 'Drawing Sentences'? Not necessarily, but if you are looking for additional diagramming challenges for yourself or your students, you will find plenty in this book. Should you buy this book instead of 'Drawing Sentences'? Again, not necessarily. In general, I think 'Drawing Sentences' is a better choice for younger learners and 'Diagramming Step by Step" a better choice for older teens and adults...."

I’m giving Diagramming Step by Step five stars because it’s an exceptional teaching tool, and for me it’s a fun little brainteaser. When crosswords get old, and Sudoku isn’t doing it for you, maybe you should give Diagramming Step by Step a try.

Tags: Workbook, Grammar, Textbook, Sentence Diagramming, Standardized Test Prep, College Prep, Grammar Practice, Homeschooling, Writing Tools, English Language, ESL Learners, Students, High School, Word Games, SAT Prep, ACT Prep

[Dainius Šileika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should not be your first book on grammar or sentence diagramming.

While it might be possible to teacher yourself using this book, the onus is on your: you will have to study, and study hard, to score higher than 50% correct on the exercises by the time you read the middle.

That being said, if you're already confident in your grammar knowledge and diagramming skill, this book will enlighten and challenge you further; it might be one of the last grammar or sentence diagramming books that you'll need to read before feeling yourself close to mastery.

Prior to reading this book, you should at least read Moutoux's other book, "Drawing Sentences," and probably also "Practical English" by Semmelmeyer, or "Grammar By Diagram" by Vitto.