(ROOT (S (NP (DT Every) (NN year)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ first) (NN week)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ English) (NN class))))) (, ,) (NP (DT some) (NNS students)) (VP (VBP inform) (NP (PRP me)) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NN writing)) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (RB too) (JJ hard)))))) (. .)))
Every year in the first week of English class, some students inform me that writing is too hard.
det
every
Every
DET
DT
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
year
year
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos|NumType=Ord
first
first
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
week
week
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
English
English
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
class
class
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
some
some
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
inform
inform
VERB
VBP
iobj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Sing
writing
writing
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advmod
too
too
ADV
RB
ccomp
Degree=Pos
hard
hard
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP They)) (ADVP (RB never)) (VP (VBP write) (, ,) (SBAR (IN unless) (S (NP (NN homework)) (VP (VBZ requires) (NP (PRP it)))))) (. .)))
They never write, unless homework requires it.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
They
PRON
PRP
advmod
never
never
ADV
RB
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
write
write
VERB
VBP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
mark
unless
unless
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Sing
homework
homework
NOUN
NN
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
require
requires
VERB
VBZ
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP They)) (VP (VBP find) (S (NP (DT the) (NN writing) (NN process)) (ADJP (JJ painful) (CC and) (JJ difficult)))) (. .)))
They find the writing process painful and difficult.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
They
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
find
find
VERB
VBP
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
writing
writing
NOUN
NN
obj
Number=Sing
process
process
NOUN
NN
xcomp
Degree=Pos
painful
painful
ADJ
JJ
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Degree=Pos
difficult
difficult
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (SBAR (WHADJP (WRB How) (JJ awful)) (S (NP (NP (PRP it))) (VP (VBZ is) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (UCP (ADJP (JJ able) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB speak) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT a) (NN language))))))) (CC but) (RB not) (VP (TO to) (VP (VB write) (PP (IN in) (NP (PRP it))) (, ,) (PP (ADVP (RB especially)) (IN with) (NP (PRP$ its) (JJ rich) (NN vocabulary))))))))))) (. .)))
How awful it is to be able to speak in a language but not to write in it, especially with its rich vocabulary.
advmod
PronType=Int
how
How
ADV
WRB
root
Degree=Pos
awful
awful
ADJ
JJ
expl
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
cop
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
csubj
Degree=Pos
able
able
ADJ
JJ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
speak
speak
VERB
VB
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
language
language
NOUN
NN
cc
but
but
CCONJ
CC
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
mark
to
to
PART
TO
conj
VerbForm=Inf
write
write
VERB
VB
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
especially
especially
ADV
RB
case
with
with
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
its
its
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
rich
rich
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
vocabulary
vocabulary
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (VP (VBG Being) (ADJP (JJ able) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VP (VB speak)) (CC but) (RB not) (VP (VB write)))))))) (VP (VBZ is) (PP (IN like) (S (VP (VP (VBG living) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT an) (JJ enormous) (NN mansion)))) (CC and) (ADVP (RB never)) (VP (VBG leaving) (NP (CD one) (JJ small) (NN room))))))) (. .)))
Being able to speak but not write is like living in an enormous mansion and never leaving one small room.
cop
VerbForm=Ger
be
Being
AUX
VBG
csubj:outer
Degree=Pos
able
able
ADJ
JJ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
speak
speak
VERB
VB
cc
but
but
CCONJ
CC
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
conj
VerbForm=Inf
write
write
VERB
VB
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
mark
like
like
SCONJ
IN
root
VerbForm=Ger
live
living
VERB
VBG
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
enormous
enormous
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
mansion
mansion
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
advmod
never
never
ADV
RB
conj
VerbForm=Ger
leave
leaving
VERB
VBG
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
one
NUM
CD
amod
Degree=Pos
small
small
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
room
room
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB When)) (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP meet) (NP (NP (NNS students)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP who)) (S (VP (VBP think) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (MD ca) (RB n't) (VP (VB write)))))))))))) (, ,) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP know) (, ,) (PP (IN as) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN teacher)) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP$ my) (NN duty)) (VP (VBZ is) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB show) (NP (PRP them)) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN rest)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NNS rooms))))))))))))) (. .)))
When I meet students who think they can't write, I know, as a teacher my duty is to show them the rest of the rooms.
advmod
PronType=Int
when
When
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
meet
meet
VERB
VBP
obj
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
nsubj
PronType=Rel
who
who
PRON
WP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
think
think
VERB
VBP
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
ca
AUX
MD
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
ccomp
VerbForm=Inf
write
write
VERB
VB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
know
know
VERB
VBP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
case
as
as
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
teacher
teacher
NOUN
NN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
nsubj:outer
Number=Sing
duty
duty
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
ccomp
VerbForm=Inf
show
show
VERB
VB
iobj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
them
PRON
PRP
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
rest
rest
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Plur
room
rooms
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP$ My) (NN task)) (VP (VBZ is) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB build) (NP (NN fluency) (CC and) (NN accuracy)) (SBAR (IN while) (S (VP (VBG providing) (NP (DT the) (NN opportunity)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT any) (NN writing) (NN activity))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB enhance) (NP (NP (DT the) (ADJP (JJ moral) (CC and) (JJ emotional)) (NN development)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP$ my) (NNS students)))))))))))))) (. .)))
My task is to build fluency and accuracy while providing the opportunity in any writing activity to enhance the moral and emotional development of my students.
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
My
PRON
PRP$
nsubj:outer
Number=Sing
task
task
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
root
VerbForm=Inf
build
build
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing
fluency
fluency
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Sing
accuracy
accuracy
NOUN
NN
mark
while
while
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
provide
providing
VERB
VBG
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
opportunity
opportunity
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
any
any
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
writing
writing
NOUN
NN
nmod
Number=Sing
activity
activity
NOUN
NN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
enhance
enhance
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
moral
moral
ADJ
JJ
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Degree=Pos
emotional
emotional
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
development
development
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
nmod
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (CD One) (JJ great) (NN way)) (SBAR (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB do) (NP (DT this))))))) (VP (VBZ is) (PP (IN by) (S (VP (VBG having) (SBAR (S (NP (NNS students)) (VP (VB write) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT a) (NN journal))) (PP (IN in) (NP (NN class))) (NP (DT every) (NN day))))))))) (. .)))
One great way to do this is by having students write in a journal in class every day.
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
One
NUM
CD
amod
Degree=Pos
great
great
ADJ
JJ
nsubj:outer
Number=Sing
way
way
NOUN
NN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
acl
VerbForm=Inf
do
do
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
PRON
DT
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
mark
by
by
SCONJ
IN
root
VerbForm=Ger
have
having
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
write
write
VERB
VB
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
journal
journal
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
class
class
NOUN
NN
det
PronType=Tot
every
every
DET
DT
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
day
day
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (VBG Writing) (NN ability)) (VP (VBZ is) (PP (IN like) (NP (NN strength) (NN training)))) (. .)))
Writing ability is like strength training.
csubj
VerbForm=Ger
write
Writing
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Sing
ability
ability
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
case
like
like
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
strength
strength
NOUN
NN
root
Number=Sing
training
training
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (NN Writing)) (VP (VBZ needs) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (VP (VBN done) (PP (ADVP (RB just)) (IN like) (NP (NN exercise))))))))) (: ;) (S (SBAR (ADVP (RB just)) (IN as) (S (NP (NNS muscles)) (VP (VBP grow) (ADVP (JJR stronger)) (PP (IN with) (NP (NN exercise)))))) (, ,) (NP (NN writing) (NNS skills)) (VP (VBP improve) (ADVP (RB quickly)) (PP (IN with) (NP (NN writing) (NN practice))) (ADVP (RB daily)))) (. .)))
Writing needs to be done just like exercise; just as muscles grow stronger with exercise, writing skills improve quickly with writing practice daily.
nsubj
Number=Sing
write
Writing
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
need
needs
VERB
VBZ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
aux:pass
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
xcomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
do
done
VERB
VBN
advmod
just
just
ADV
RB
case
like
like
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
exercise
exercise
NOUN
NN
punct
;
;
PUNCT
:
advmod
just
just
ADV
RB
mark
as
as
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Plur
muscle
muscles
NOUN
NNS
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
grow
grow
VERB
VBP
xcomp
Degree=Cmp
strong
stronger
ADJ
JJR
case
with
with
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
exercise
exercise
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
compound
Number=Sing
writing
writing
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Number=Plur
skill
skills
NOUN
NNS
parataxis
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
improve
improve
VERB
VBP
advmod
quickly
quickly
ADV
RB
case
with
with
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
writing
writing
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Sing
practice
practice
NOUN
NN
advmod
daily
daily
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP I)) (ADVP (RB often)) (VP (VBP see) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN rise)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NN student) (NN confidence) (CC and) (NN performance)))) (PP (IN after) (NP (NP (RB only) (DT a) (JJ few) (NNS weeks)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN journal) (NN writing)))))) (. .)))
I often see a rise in student confidence and performance after only a few weeks of journal writing.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
advmod
Degree=Pos
often
often
ADV
RB
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
see
see
VERB
VBP
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
rise
rise
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
student
student
NOUN
NN
nmod
Number=Sing
confidence
confidence
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Sing
performance
performance
NOUN
NN
case
after
after
ADP
IN
advmod
only
only
ADV
RB
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
few
few
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
week
weeks
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
journal
journal
NOUN
NN
nmod
Number=Sing
writing
writing
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (S (VP (VBG Expressing) (NP (PRP oneself)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NN writing))))) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (CD one)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (ADJP (RBS most) (JJ important)) (NNS skills)) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP teach) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB strengthen) (NP (DT the) (JJ whole) (NNS students)))))))))))) (. .)))
Expressing oneself in writing is one of the most important skills I teach to strengthen the whole students.
csubj
VerbForm=Ger
express
Expressing
VERB
VBG
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
oneself
oneself
PRON
PRP
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
writing
writing
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
root
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
one
NUM
CD
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
advmod
Degree=Sup
most
most
ADV
RBS
amod
Degree=Pos
important
important
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
skill
skills
NOUN
NNS
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
teach
teach
VERB
VBP
mark
to
to
PART
TO
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
strengthen
strengthen
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
whole
whole
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB When)) (S (NP (PRP$ my) (NNS students)) (VP (VBP practice) (NP (NN journal) (NN writing))))) (, ,) (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP are) (VP (VBG practicing) (PP (IN for) (NP (PRP$ their) (JJ future) (ADJP (JJ academic) (, ,) (JJ political) (, ,) (CC and) (JJ emotional)) (NNS lives))))) (. .)))
When my students practice journal writing, they are practicing for their future academic, political, and emotional lives.
advmod
PronType=Int
when
When
ADV
WRB
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Plur
student
students
NOUN
NNS
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
practice
practice
VERB
VBP
compound
Number=Sing
journal
journal
NOUN
NN
obj
Number=Sing
writing
writing
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
root
Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part
practice
practicing
VERB
VBG
case
for
for
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
future
future
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
academic
academic
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Degree=Pos
political
political
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Degree=Pos
emotional
emotional
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
life
lives
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP They)) (VP (VBP build) (NP (NNS skills)) (SBAR (IN so) (IN that) (S (NP (DT some)) (VP (VBP say) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (MD might) (VP (VB write) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ great) (NN novel)) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN piece)) (PP (IN of) (NP (ADJP (RB sorely) (VBN needed)) (NN legislation)))) (, ,) (CC or) (NP (DT the) (JJ perfect) (NN love) (NN letter))))))))))) (. .)))
They build skills so that some say they might write a great novel, a piece of sorely needed legislation, or the perfect love letter.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
They
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
build
build
VERB
VBP
obj
Number=Plur
skill
skills
NOUN
NNS
mark
so
so
SCONJ
IN
fixed
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
some
some
DET
DT
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
say
say
VERB
VBP
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
might
might
AUX
MD
ccomp
VerbForm=Inf
write
write
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
great
great
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
novel
novel
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
appos
Number=Sing
piece
piece
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
advmod
sorely
sorely
ADV
RB
amod
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
need
needed
VERB
VBN
nmod
Number=Sing
legislation
legislation
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
or
or
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
perfect
perfect
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
love
love
NOUN
NN
conj
Number=Sing
letter
letter
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (SBAR (IN That) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP write) (PP (IN in) (NP (PRP$ their) (NNS journals))) (NP (DT every) (NN day))))) (VP (VBZ puts) (NP (PRP them)) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN step)) (ADJP (JJR closer) (PP (IN to) (NP (NP (NN fluency) (, ,) (NN eloquence) (CC and) (NN command)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN language)))))))) (. .)))
That they write in their journals every day puts them a step closer to fluency, eloquence and command of the language.
mark
that
That
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
csubj
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
write
write
VERB
VBP
case
in
in
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
obl
Number=Plur
journal
journals
NOUN
NNS
det
every
every
DET
DT
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
day
day
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
put
puts
VERB
VBZ
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
them
PRON
PRP
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl:npmod
Number=Sing
step
step
NOUN
NN
xcomp
Degree=Cmp
close
closer
ADJ
JJR
case
to
to
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
fluency
fluency
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Number=Sing
eloquence
eloquence
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Sing
command
command
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
language
language
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
Every year in the first week of English class, some students inform me that writing is too hard. They never write, unless homework requires it. They find the writing process painful and difficult.  How awful it is to be able to speak in a language but not to write in it, especially with its rich vocabulary. Being able to speak but not write is like living in an enormous mansion and never leaving one small room. When I meet students who think they can't write, I know, as a teacher my duty is to show them the rest of the rooms. My task is to build fluency and accuracy while providing the opportunity in any writing activity to enhance the moral and emotional development of my students.  One great way to do this is by having students write in a journal in class every day.  Writing ability is like strength training. Writing needs to be done just like exercise; just as muscles grow stronger with exercise, writing skills improve quickly with writing practice daily. I often see a rise in student confidence and performance after only a few weeks of journal writing.  Expressing oneself in writing is one of the most important skills I teach to strengthen the whole students. When my students practice journal writing, they are practicing for their future academic, political, and emotional lives. They build skills so that some say they might write a great novel, a piece of sorely needed legislation, or the perfect love letter. That they write in their journals every day puts them a step closer to fluency, eloquence and command of the language.