Houston Community College Intensive English Program
Southwest College
Advanced Grammar - ESOL 0355
Spring 2011 CRN Number 70638
Gulfton Center – Room 208
Days and Times: Tuesday and Thursday 8:30—10:10 Lab time: Tuesday 11:40—12:30
Credit hours: 3 lecture + 2 lab
Course contact hours: 80
Course length: 16 weeks
Type of instruction: Lecture and lab
Instructor: Robyn Gavrila
Instructor Contact details: Email: robyn.gavrila@hccs.edu
Gulfton Center office phone: 713-718-7750
Office Hours: Before and after class in Room 208
Please come to see me if you have any questions or concerns. It is better to ask questions before you have problems
with tests or the homework. Talk to me if you have been absent to arrange a time to hand in the homework and to discuss
what you missed.
Class Dates: 1/18/2011 – 5/12/2011
1. COURSE DESCRIPTION
A continuation of ESOL 0352, this course provides a review of both essential and finer points of the grammatical structural
features of formal written English. Emphasis is placed on active production and error analysis of standard English.
2. COURSE PREREQUISITES
Successful completion of Intermediate Grammar, ESOL 0352 or passing grades in the Intensive English Program’s
placement tests.
3. COURSE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
This course seeks to prepare students for college-level academic or workforce study by accomplishing the following
objectives:
• Students build on the syntactic knowledge that they have gained in previous study of English grammar, while
being introduced to more advanced structures as well as the finer nuances involving tense and aspect of English
verbs.
• Students strengthen their abilities to produce the new grammatical structures in a variety of communicative
contexts.
4. COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing this course, students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate a working knowledge of all of the English verb tenses;
2. Transform active sentences into passive sentences, and vice versa;
3. Transform discourse into complex sentences using noun clauses;
4. Combine simple sentences into complex sentences using adverbial clauses.
5. LEARNING OBJECTIVES LEADING TO THE COURSE OUTCOMES ABOVE
1.1 Demonstrate a working knowledge of simple tenses: present and past;
1.2 Demonstrate a working knowledge of progressive tenses: present, past and future;
1.3 Demonstrate a working knowledge of perfect tenses: present, past and future;
1.4 Demonstrate a working knowledge of combinations of tenses, e.g. past perfect progressive;
1.5 Demonstrate a working knowledge of combined tense forms using modal verbs, e.g. should have . . . , must have
. . . , etc.
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
Accurately describe the structure of the passive verb form;
Summarize the conditions in which the passive verb form is preferred;
Transform active sentences into passive sentences;
Transform passive sentences into active sentences.
3.1 Distinguish between direct quotation and indirect quotation (reported speech);
3.2 Accurately transform sentences using direct quotation into sentences using indirect quotation, using the
appropriate sequence of tenses, pronoun transformation and other required changes;
3.3 Accurately parse a sentence with an embedded quotation or question, identifying the basic parts of that sentence
(subject + predicate);
3.4 Transform two simple sentences into an appropriate complex sentence using the process of nominalization to turn
one sentence into a noun clause in the other.
4.1 Accurately distinguish classes of subordinating conjunctions according to function (time, causality, condition,
reason, concession, comparison, contrast, etc.);
4.2 Transform simple sentences into complex sentences using appropriate subordinating conjunctions;
4.3 Demonstrate a working knowledge of construction of conditional sentences according to their truth conditions (i.e.
real v. unreal) and time (i.e. present v. past);
4.4 Accurately distinguish between the meaning of sentences containing wish and that of sentences containing hope.
6. Spring 2011 COURSE CALENDAR, ESOL 0355, ADVANCED GRAMMAR
WEEK 1:
Chapters 1 and 2
WEEK 2:
Chapter 3
Test #1 Chapters 1--3
WEEK 3:
Chapter 4
WEEK 4:
Chapters 6 and 7
WEEK 5:
Chapter 9
WEEK 6:
Chapter 10
WEEK 7:
Chapters 8 and 11
WEEK 8:
Chapter 12
WEEK 9:
Chapter 13
WEEK 10:
Chapter 14
WEEK 11:
Chapter 15
WEEK 12:
Chapter 16
WEEK 13:
Chapter 17
WEEK 14:
WEEK 15:
Chapter 20
Review for final
WEEK 16:
FINAL EXAM Tuesday May 10
Test #2 Chapters 4,6, 7
Test #3, Chapters 9 and 10
Midterm Exam on March 10
Test #4 Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15
Test # 5 Chapters 16,17, and 20
Note 1: Exercises not covered in class are to be done by students as lab work or homework.
Note 2: This is an approximate schedule; I may make minor changes to it if necessary to cover the material.
7. IMPORTANT DATES
Week 5 Gulfton Blood Drive
Week 6 Presidents’ Day Holiday
Week 7 Gulfton Alumni Panel
Week 8 Go Western day
SPRING BREAK
Week 11 Gulfton International Festival
Week12 Last day to withdraw from classes
Week 15 Deadline for HCC scholarship application
Week 16 Final Writing Exam
Week 16 Final Grammar Exam
Wednesday February 16th
Monday February 21st
Wednesday March 2nd
Thursday March 10th
March 14th -19th
Thursday April 7th
Thursday April 14th before 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday May 4th
Monday May 9th
Tuesday May 10th
Week 16 Conversation Finals
Grades available on-line
By appointment
Friday May 20th
8. INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS: These may include:
Readings with a grammar focus
Listening activities to hear the grammar in spoken English
Writings whose purpose is to use the grammar
Student-produced dialogs using the language (pairs or groups)
Activities for spoken practice of grammar
In lab, grammar computer programs, writing activities using the grammar
In lab, grammar book exercises
Error correction exercises
Discover or recall the grammar from example sentences
Exercises in the course book or on handouts
Lecture
9. STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS:
Written exercises from the grammar book or handouts
Listening exercises for grammar and pronunciation of grammar
Dialogs and written work using the grammar
Homework exercises
Homework is due on the next class day unless otherwise stated by the instructor. Homework one day late will receive a
grade of 50%. If you are absent you are still responsible for the homework, so work missed while absent has to be done on
your return. Please get a classmate’s phone number or email me to find out what you missed to be well prepared for class.
10. STUDENT ASSSESSMENT:
Chapter tests
Quizzes on homework or topics we have been studying
Homework, lab and in class assignments
Dictionaries and electronic devices are not allowed in tests and quizzes.
Make up policy: At the end of the semester, I drop the lowest test score but not the midterm or final. Be in class for all
tests to maximize your scores.
11. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Understanding and Using English Grammar ________ Edition by Betty S.Azar
Buy a NEW book. The Azar book is used for exercises as well as being a good reference text
12. HCC ADA POLICY:
Students with Disabilities: Students with a documented learning or physical disability which might affect their
performance in class should contact the HCCS South West College disabilities counselor, Dr. Becky Hauri at West Loop
campus. 713-718-7910. Faculty is only authorized to provide accommodations by the Disability Support Service. Please
see this website for more information: http://hccs.edu/student-rights
13. HCC POLICY ON ACADEMIC HONESTY: (Cheating)
Academic Honesty (Dishonesty = Cheating): Any form of cheating or copying, (plagiarism) will result in a 0 for that
assignment and possibly recommendation for probation or dismissal from the college system. Cheating includes copying
from another student during a test or giving another student answers in a test. Another form of cheating is copying from
the Internet or another text and handing it in as the student’s work.
14. HCC POLICY ON STUDENT ATTENDANCE:
If you exceed a total of 10 hours of absence in any class (4 days of any class including labs), you can be dropped from
ALL classes. This will make F1 students out of status and cause visa problems. Please email me if you are absent and
talk to me on your return to get homework. Tardiness and in-class time absence: Classes and tests begin promptly.
Lateness counts as class or lab absence. Three tardies (lateness) = 1 absence. Lateness after lunch, leaving early or
disappearing during class or lab also count as absences.
15. HCC POLICY ON STUDENTS REPEATING FOR A THIRD TIME:
Repeating students: Students who repeat a course three or more times will face a tuition fee increase at HCC and other
Texas public colleges and universities. If you are having trouble in class, talk to the teacher.
Students should get help so that they do not fail. Students who need extra help can see me after school or in break times
or find a class buddy. Also, they can go for tutoring. Tutoring is available after school Tuesday to Thursday from 1:30 to
2:30 in room 105 and Fridays from 9 -11 in the audio lab.
If a student fails a class for the second time, he or she will receive an F for that class. Get assistance from a
counselor before withdrawing if you are not receiving passing grades.
Note: International students will be out of status if they drop their classes and may have to return to their home
country. Speak with a counselor or the advisor before dropping classes to make sure of the procedures.
16. HCC POLICY ON SEXUAL HARRASSMENT:
Sexual harassment in any form is not tolerated at Houston Community College. It is a violation of HCCS policy for an
employee, agent, or student of the college to engage in sexual harassment as defined in the EEOC guidelines
(EEO/AA Compliance Handbook 47). See HCCS Student Handbook for more information.
17. HCC WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE:
To drop a class, you must see a counselor or advisor. Go to the office or front desk of your campus to find out where to
go. The last day students may withdraw or be dropped from a class with a grade of W is Thursday April 14th before 4:30
p.m. Students who have excessive absences after that date will receive the grades they earn. F1 students will be out of
status if they withdraw from classes. They should get advice from a counselor or advisor for help if they plan to withdraw.
18. INSTRUCTOR REQUIREMENTS
The teacher needs to:
• Create a rich learning environment for grammar learning and student interaction
• Give a variety of assignments on a range of topics connected to the course including online
• Make tests, classes, and assignments clear
• Provide grading scales and assessment
• Tell students about important HCC policies such as attendance policies and academic honesty (no cheating)
• Make a class calendar available
• Make arrangements to keep in contact with students when they need help or have questions
• Give help when needed
To succeed in college the students need to:
• Work hard and attend all classes and be on time. Good attendance + hard work = SUCCESS
• Pay attention in class. Listen to the teacher carefully and ask questions
• Be respectful. Listen to other students in the class and encourage everyone to contribute.
• Work with other students and enjoy learning for a good learning environment.
• For students to stay focused, turn off cell phones or use vibrate mode for emergencies and NO TEXTING.
• Concentrate. Use English only in class time. Sit next to someone not speaking your language.
• Eat well for energy. The brain needs good food. Eat breakfast at home and lunch in break times.
• Do homework. The brain learns by seeing new words and ideas many times in different ways.
• Do your own work and learn. Copying from the Internet and other sources is not learning.
• Have fun learning. Read, write, listen and speak English in daily life through: TV, neighbors, students and coworkers,
and volunteer in the community.
• Use technology for learning on-line in English learning sites.
19. PROGRAM DISCIPLINE REQUIREMENTS:
Students in 0355 Advanced Grammar will have to fulfill the following requirements in order to pass the class:
A minimum of three chapter tests + a midterm or four chapter tests, all of which must test for both recognition and
production of grammatical structures within a communicative context
A lab program consisting of grammar exercises correlated to the grammar presented in the classes
A final examination
20. HCC GRADING SCALE
A
90-100
B
80-89
C
70-79
IP
Below 70 In progress, but not passing
21. INSTRUCTOR’s GRADING CRITERIA:
45%
Chapter Tests
10%
Homework, quizzes, lab
20%
Midterm exam
25%
Final