ENG 3203.01
Advanced Grammar and Composition
Summer II 2009
Course Name, Number, and Description: Catalog Description: “ENG 3203. Advanced Grammar and Composition. Concentration on the basic terminology and procedures of English grammar and composition, with intensive practice in both. Prerequisites: Nine hours of English. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.”
Location and Time: 10:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. M-Th in HDB 101.
This course satisfies a degree plan requirement for the Bachelor of Arts in English (or for an upper-level English course for the English minor or in the General Studies degree plan with a concentration in English). This course does NOT fulfill the requirements for English credit in the core curriculum. If you are taking this course for the Bachelor of Arts in English leading to 8-12 certification, you must make a "B" or better to receive credit on that degree plan. This course will be taught entirely in a traditional classroom setting and format.
The focus of this course will be grammar and composition usage errors.
Instructor Contact Information: Office Location, Phone, Office Hours, Email Address:
Russell Greer, Ph.D. Associate Professor. Office: CFO 803. E-mail:
rgreer@twu.edu.
Fax: (940) 898-2297. Office telephone: (940) 898-2346.
Website: www.russellgreer.com
I will host office hours in CFO 803 from 9-10 a.m. M-Th and by appointment. Typically, if I cannot hold those regularly scheduled office hours, I will make an announcement in class the day before, post that information on my web site, and/or leave a note on my office door.
To contact me, you may also leave a voice mail for me at (940) 898-2346. I check for messages once a day (M-Th) and try to return calls promptly, often in the evening.
Required textbooks:
(1) Grammar and Usage in the Classroom by Mark Lester (546 pages, Longman. 2nd edition. ISBN: 978-0205306558);
Supplementary: They Say/I Say by Gerald Graff (81 pages. W.W. Norton. ISBN: 0393924092). We will not have required readings from a handbook, but for reference purposes only, you may also wish to purchase or have access to a traditional English handbook such as The Bedford Handbook (7th edition) by Diana Hacker (Bedford/St. Martins, 2006. ISBN: 978-0312419332 ).
Please note that Grammar and Usage in the Classroom is available in the TWU library.
Course Goals and Student Learning Outcomes:
Course Goal: To understand the eight parts of speech, the basic sentence, verb forms, phrases, clauses, verb complements, and key composition usage errors. Student Learning Outcome: To demonstrate this knowledge in five examinations and one student presentation.
Academic Dishonesty Statement:
“Honesty in completing assignments is essential to the mission of the university and to the development of the personal integrity of the student. Cheating, plagiarism, or other kinds of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in appropriate sanctions that may include failing an assignment, failing the class, or being suspended or expelled. Suspected cases in this course may be reported to Student Life. The specific disciplinary process for academic dishonesty is found in the TWU Student Handbook. Tools to help you avoid plagiarism are available through the TWU Libraries’ “Quick Links” under “Research Help” (http://www.twu.edu/library/literacy/index.htm)”
This statement was authorized and mandated by the TWU Provost on November 10, 2005.
Plagiarism
The following definition of plagiarism appears in Joseph F. Trimmer’s A Guide to MLA Documentation (Sixth Edition), published by Houghton Mifflin Company (2004): “Plagiarism is theft. It is using someone else’s words or ideas without giving proper credit—or without giving any credit at all—to the writer of the original. Whether plagiarism is intentional or unintentional, it is a serious offense…You can avoid plagiarism by taking notes carefully, by formulating and developing your own ideas and by using quotes responsibly to support, rather than replace, your own work” (25). Note that I have used this quotation from a source and have given it full attribution. You should do the same with your sources. I strongly urge you to read the discussion of academic dishonesty that appears in Section Four of The Student Handbook 2008-2009 (pages 154-156). I intend to follow the TWU policy as outlined in this handbook exactly. It defines plagiarism in this way: “Plagiarism occurs when a student obtains portions or elements of someone else's work, including materials prepared by another person or agency, and presents those ideas or words as her or his own academic work. The intentional or unintentional use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement shall constitute plagiarism. Students are responsible for following guidelines of the appropriate course or discipline (ie; MLA, APA)" (154). In this course, we will use the Modern Language Association (MLA) format. Penalties for first-time offenses include, at the instructor’s discretion, any of the following: (1) “Written reprimand”; (2) “Assignment of a 0 on an assignment"; (3) "Assignment of a lower grade on the test/paper/project in question, with an explanation from the instructor"; (4) “Assignment of a grade of F in the course" (155). A discussion of the more severe penalties for second offenses appears on pages 155-156. If you have any questions about whether or not a practice constitutes plagiarism, please contact me before you turn in the assignment.
Disability Support Policy Statement: "If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the office of Disability Support Services (CFO 106, 940-898-3835, dss@twu.edu) in order to obtain the required official notification of your accommodation needs. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss approved accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate"
[This statement provided by the office of Disability Support Services].
Grading policy, major course assignments and examinations, and attendance policy:
Class Attendance: The Texas Woman's University Handbook 2008-2009 states the following about attendance: "Consistent and attentive attendance is vital to academic success, and is expected of all students. Grades are determined by academic performance, and instructors may give students written notice that attendance is related to specific classroom activities is required and will constitute a specific percentage of a students' grades.
Instructors are strongly encouraged to keep a record of student attendance. They should note absences due to documented student illness, serious illness or death in the students' immediate family, official school activity, state-recognized religious holiday, or other verified absences deemed appropriate by the instructor. Students must consult with instructors regarding the completion of make-up work.
Absences are verified through the Office of Student Life. Absences do not exempt students from academic requirements. Excessive absences, even if documented, may result in a student failing the course. An incomplete may be granted if the student has passing grades in 2/3 of assigned work, but only if the instructor determines that extenuating circumstances prevent the student from being able to complete all course work by the end of the semester or term" (143-144).
For each unexcused absence, I will deduct five points from your final grade (since each class meeting represents about three percent of the class time). Excused absences, as defined by TWU, must be documented through Student Life. If you miss more than fifty percent of any particular class period, you will be counted absent. When I return each test, I will indicate the number of absences I have recorded for you to date.
Grading policy, major course assignments, and examinations
Grades
You will have five tests, each worth 20% of your final grade.
You are also required to give a presentation on a usage errors (individually or in a group). Failure to give this presentation effectively will result in a deduction of ten points from your final grade.
Tests
Each test will consist of 20 questions taken directly from Grammar and Usage in the Classroom. The final examination will be comprehensive and slightly longer, but it will also only include questions taken directly from the textbook (with the possible exception of extra credit opportunities). If you do the exercises in the text, you will be preparing for the examinations.
Letters of Recommendation
I am often asked to write letters of recommendation for my students. I do not mind writing these letters. I consider it a professional duty, but please note that I will only write letters of recommendation for students who have received an "A" in at least one of my classes, and I always require that the request be accompanied by a copy of a paper written for one of my classes (it can be as heavily revised as you wish). When you make the request, be sure to note my deadline for writing the letter and to whom I should send it.
Tentative calendar of classes, assignments. The Fall 2008 academic calendar can be found here:
Please note that this daily syllabus is for planning purposes only and is subject to change.
Week ONE
Monday, July 13: Introduction to the course. Lester: Chapter 1 (Teaching Grammar and Usage) and Chapter 2 (Parts of Speech).
Tuesday, July 14: Chapter 2 (Parts of Speech).
Wednesday, July 15: Chapter 2 (Parts of Speech). Presentation: Christina Rainey (Apostrophes)
Thursday, July 16: Test #1 (Chapter 2). Chapter 3 (Basic Sentences and Their Diagrams. Presentation: Jennifer Frazier (Comma Splices).
Week TWO
Monday, July 20: Chapter 3 (Basic Sentences and Their Diagrams. Presentation: Lisa Hockenberry (Commas and Appositives).
Tuesday, July 21: Chapter 3 (Basic Sentences and Their Diagrams. Presentation: Ramona Dollison (commas and Adjective Clauses).
Wednesday, July 22: Chapter 3 (Basic Sentences and Their Diagrams. Presentation: Hope Thankham (Commas and Coordinate Adjectives).
Thursday, July 23: Test #2 (Chapter 3: Basic Sentences and Their Diagrams). Chapter 4 (Verb Forms, "Tense," and Helping Verbs). Presentation: Michaela Nadeau (Commas and Coordiating Conjunctions).
Week THREE
Monday, July 27: Chapter 4 (Verb Forms, "Tense," and Helping Verbs).Presentation: Tawny Lebeouef
Tuesday, July 28: Chapter 4 (Verb Forms, "Tense," and Helping Verbs).
Wednesday, July 29: Chapter 4 (Verb Forms, "Tense," and Helping Verbs. Presentation: Michelle Weese (Dangling Modifiers).
Thursday, July 30: Test #3 (Chapter 4: Verb Forms, "Tense," and Helping Verbs). Chapter 5 (Phrases). Presentation: Kimberli Nyberg (Conjunctive Adverbs).
Week FOUR
Monday, August 3: Chapter 5 (Phrases). Presentation: Tierra Moorefield (Fused Sentences).
Tuesday, August 4: Chapter 5 (Phrases). Presentation: Amanda McClain and Aleisha Reid (Pronoun Errors: I/me; we/us; he/him; she/her; they/them.
Wednesday, August 5: Chapter 5 (Phrases). Presentation: Tanya: (Pronoun Errors: who and whom).
Thursday, August 6: Test #4 (Chapter 5: Phrases). Chapter 6 (Clauses).
Week FIVE
Monday, August 10: Chapter 6 (Clauses). Presentation: Vernella Verdell (Subject/Verb Agreement).
Tuesday, August 11: Chapter 6 (Clauses). Presentation: Deborah Kabwang and David Noblin: ESL: Articles, Participles used as Adj; Progressive Usage).
Wednesday, August 12: Chapter 6 (Clauses). Presentation: Qua'Nysha Wheeler (Fragments).
Thursday, August 13: Test #5 (Final Examination: Comprehensive) 10:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.
Last updated on 30 July 2009