ENGL 0340 CRN 55113
Jean Wrench
Office phone #: 713-718-7750
email: jwrench12@gmail.com
Course Goals
The purpose of English 0340 is to help you learn very
basic English grammar and conversation skills. This
course will also prepare you for the next English class in
the sequence at HCCS: ENGL 0341 (Fundamentals of
English and Conversation II).
Course Prerequisite:
To remain in ENGL 0340, students must have a
minimum CELSA placement test score of 28 and
satisfactorily complete the diagnostic assessment during
the first week of classes.
Texts & Materials
Focus On Grammar: An Intermediate Course for
Reference and Practice, 3rd ed. by Fuchs and Bonner
Focus On Grammar Workbook: An Intermediate Course
for Reference and Practice, 3rd ed. by Fuchs and Bonner
An English Dictionary, preferably the Collins Cobuild
(recommended and available in the HCC bookstore)
Attendance
Houston Community College requires that students attend at
least 87.5% of all class hours to get credit for this course. This
means that in ENGL 0340, you can miss no more than 8 hours
of actual class time. Students who miss more than 8 hours may
be dropped from the class.
Grades
Quizzes
Homework
Participation
Final Oral Exam
Final Grammar Exam
40%
10%
10%
20%
20%
Grade Scale
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
A
B
C
IP or F
Homework
Homework is an important part of your learning and your grade.
Assignments that you complete at home give you the time and
the practice you need to learn English well. Most of the
homework exercises come from the Workbook. It is not enough
for you to study English only in the classroom. You must
become an active language learner outside of class, too.
Tests
There are at least 3 major tests on the grammar from the
textbook and workbook. Other quizzes may be given as
needed. Each test will assess your ability to comprehend
spoken English as well as to read and write.
Final Exam
The Final Exam in ENGL 0340 consists of two parts: a multiplechoice objective grammar test with listening comprehension and
written production sections; and an oral interview with your
instructor.
Academic
Honesty
Classroom
Policies
Participation
Learning
Assistance
Center (LAC)
Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty
are against college policy. Plagiarism means using the words
and ideas of another person without giving that person credit as
a source. Cheating includes copying from another student’s test
paper, using unauthorized materials during a test, such as
notes. A student who is caught plagiarizing or cheating may be
dropped from the course and given an F.
Students are expected to arrive on time, return from any breaks
during the class period, and remain in class until the session is
finished. In addition,(the instructor’s policies go here.)
When you come to class, you are expected to participate in
class group activities. Sometimes the activity will be a small
group discussion, sometimes the class will interact as a
whole group, and at other times the students will contribute
to the class individually. Participation is worth 10% of your
grade .
The Developmental Studies department has a computer lab
called the LAC. It is available for Academic ESL students to use
for extra practice on grammar software and for the Internet.
When a class is in the lab, you will have to wait until the
room is not in use. If you print anything in the lab, you
will need to pay 5 cents per page. A lab aide is there to
help you log-on to the computers and to show you how
to access the software.
ENGL 0340 GRAMMAR CALENDAR
This is a tentative schedule and may be changed to meet the needs of the class.
(See the Focus On Grammar Contents for page numbers.)
Week 1
Introduction to course and the AESL program; Diagnostic Assessment
Contrast Simple Present and Present Progressive (Unit 1)
Week 2
Past Progressive and Simple Past Tense (Unit 4)
Used to (Unit 5)
Week 3
Be going to (Unit 6)
Wh- Questions (Unit 8)
Week 4
Modals to express Ability: Can, Could, Be able to (Unit 11)
Modals to express Permission: May, Could, Can, Do you mind if . . .?
(Unit 12)
Week 5
Review and take Quiz 1 on units 1, 4, 5, 6, 8
Week 6
Go over Quiz 1
Modals to express Requests: Will, Would, Could, Can, Would you
mind ? (Unit 13)
Modals to express Advice: Should, Ought to, Had better (Unit 14)
Week 7
Modals to express Suggestions: Let's, How about. ..?,Why don't...Why
not. ..? (Unit 15)
Week 8
Present Perfect: For and Since (Unit 16)
Present Perfect: Already and Yet (Unit 17)
Present Perfect: Contrast Present Perfect & Simple Past (Unit 19)
Week 9
Infinitives after certain verbs (Unit 29)
Week 10
Review and take Quiz 2
Week 11
Go over Quiz 2; Comparatives and Superlatives
(Units 24--25)
Week 12
Modals to express Necessity: Must, Have to, Must not, Don't have to
(Unit 34)
Modals to express Future Possibility: May, Might, Could (Unit 36)
Week 13
Modals to express Conclusions: May, Might, Could, Must, Have to,
Have got to, Can't (Unit 37)
Week 14
Review and take Quiz 3
Week 15
Final Oral Exam; Final Exam Review
Week 16
Final Grammar Exam:
(See Schedule of Classes for date and time.)