English 2810a: English Grammar (Spring 2008)
Summary
This document contains the class goals, reading list, schedule, and basic administrative policies for English 2810a: English Grammar (Spring 2008). It is required reading for all students enrolled in the class. Although paper versions of this material will be provided on request, the on-line version is authoritative. Students are also required to be familiar with my general administrative policies and guidelines.
About this course
Calendar description
The basic structures of English: word classes, sentence elements and basic aspects of syntax and morphology. Primary emphasis on descriptive grammar, though some attention will be paid to prescriptive approaches (Course description, University Calendar).
Learning goals
The goal of this course is to introduce students to the morphology and syntax of the English language. By the end of the course students should have a good grasp of English Grammar. This knowledge should be of use to students of foreign languages, or those considering careers in professions, such as teaching, advertising, or law, that require practitioners to have a solid awareness of the mechanics of the English language.
Texts
- van Gelderen, Elly. 2002. An Introduction to the Grammar of English. Amsterdam: John Benjamins (Required).
- Course Packet (Required).
- Class web pages (Required).
Evaluation
| Assignment | Value |
| First test (WebCT). | 20% |
| Second test (WebCT). | 20% |
| Final exam (WebCT). | 45% |
| Home Work Assignments | 15% |
Please note: All tests and exams are cumulative. All tests open and close with the WebCT testing centre on the days. No aids are allowed in the examination except scrap paper which will be provided by the invigilators. Students are strongly advised not to wait until the end of the testing window. If you cannot write your test or exam because the Centre is full or was closed you will receive a grade of 0%.
Readings, lectures, and assignments.
I reserve the right to adjust this schedule during the course of the semester.
| Week | Date | Unit | Topics | Readings/Due |
| 1 | 3/1 | Welcome | Introduction to Syllabus and Instructor | |
| 2 | 8/1 | Introduction | What is Grammar and How do We Know? | |
| 10/1 | Overview | Elements of Grammar: Morphemes and Word Classes | ||
| 3 | 15/1 | Elements of Grammar: Phrases, Clauses, and Sentences | ||
| 17/1 | Morphology | What is a morpheme? Free vs. bound morphemes. Inflectional vs. derivational | O’Dwyer, Chapter 2 and associated exercises. | |
| 4 | 22/1 | Morphemes | ||
| 24/1 | No Class due to Instructor Illness | |||
| 5 | 29/1 | Exercises in O’Dwyer | �A0; | |
| 31/1 | Inflectional Endings; Morphemic Analysis | |||
| 6 | 5/2 | Word Categories | Nouns | Vangelderen Chapter 2 |
| 7/2 | Nouns Exerccise; Verbs: finite and non-finite. | Vangelderen Chapter 2 | ||
| 7 | 12/2 | Non-finite and auxiliary verbs; adjectives and adverbs | Vangelderen Chapter 2 | |
| 14/2 | Verbs Con’t. | Vangelderen Chapter 2 | ||
| 19/2 | Reading Week: No classes | |||
| 21/2 | ||||
| 8 | 25/2-2/3 | First Term Test | ||
| 26/2 | Categories, con’t | Vangelderen Chapter 2 | ||
| 28/2 | Categories, con’t | Vangelderen Chapter 2 | ||
Comment [3]
Edith Fehr (Tue Jan 8, 2008 (23:58:45)) [PermLink]: Hi Dan,
Are you going to add to the schedule month by month or something like that?dan (Wed Jan 9, 2008 (00:03:49)) [PermLink]: As the new lessons are ready. We’re completely rewriting the course.
Terry Smith (Fri Mar 14, 2008 (10:03:40)) [PermLink]: Hey Dan,
I just had a quick thought, is the grading in this class the same as it is in all English courses?
