Institution:
Majma'ah University.....
Academic Department : English Department...
English
Programme :
Eng. 424
Course :
Samah Abdel-Karim Ibrahim
Course Coordinator :
Programme Coordinator : Dr. Mohanad Sabha
/ / 1436 H
Course Specification Approved Date :
A. Course Identification and General Information
1. 1 - Course title : Transformational
Course Code: Eng. 424
Grammar .
(3 hours.)
2. Credit hours :
3 - Program(s) in which the course is offered: In English
4 – Course Language : English .
2. 5 - Name of faculty member responsible for the course: Samah Abdel-Karim
Ibrahim
3. 6 - Level/year at which this course is offered :
Level 8
7 - Pre-requisites for this course (if any) :
 Eng. 423
8 - Co-requisites for this course (if any) :
 None
9 - Location if not on main campus :
( None )
10 - Mode of Instruction (mark all that apply)
A - Traditional classroom
B - Blended (traditional and online)
D - e-learning
E - Correspondence
F - Other
What percentage?
100 %
What percentage?
……. %
What percentage?
……. %
What percentage?
……. %
What percentage?
……. %
Comments :
...........................................................................................................
B Objectives
What is the main purpose for this course?
1. Identify the main principles of various syntactic theories
2. Explain the historical development of the syntactic theory
from traditional syntax, to Structuralism, to T-G grammar.
3 Explain the earlier transformational theory, Chomsky's aspects of the
theory ofsyntax and later transformational theory, interpretive and
generative semantics
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4. Explain modern theories of TG: (X-Bar Theory; Theta Theory
5. Apply transformational grammar to varied language data
Briefly describe any plans for developing and improving the course that are
being implemented (eg. increased use of IT or web based reference
material, changes in content as a result of new research in the field)
1. There is a suggestion of a better choice of textbook.
2. Include e-books such as those from Gutenberg.
C. Course Description
1. Topics to be Covered
List of Topics
Introduction to the topics to be covered in Transformational Grammar
– I. Introduction
No. of Contact
Weeks Hours
1
3 hours
week
–
– II. Theories in Linguistics
(Traditional, Structural, andTransformational-GenerativeLinguists)
– III. Language is Innate, Universal, Abstract and creative
1
week
3 hours
– IV. The TG Model of Language
– V. Ambiguity ; Deep and Surface Structure
VI. Phrase Structure Grammar
– VII. The Noun Phrase (Noun;Articles)
1
week
1
week
3 hours
– VII. The Verb Phrase (The auxiliary; Tense; Modals; Perfect; Progressive;
Two-Word Verbs).
- VIII. The Transformational Framework:
1. Helping Verbs
2. Questions
1
week
2
weeks
3 hours
3. Negatives
4. Passives
1
week
3 hours
- IX. Embedded Sentences:
1. Sentences embedded in the Verb Phrase
Complement: Clauses
1
week
3 hours
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3 hours
6 hours
2. Sentences embedded in the Verb Phrase
Complement: Phrases
3. Noun Modification (Noun modification; Adjectival
2
weeks
6 hours
Clauses; Adjectives, Appositives
2
weeks
1
week
1
week
6 hours
Prepositional Phrases; Participial Phrases)
Revision and Class Discussions
3 hours
3 hours
2. Course components (total contact hours and credits per semester):
Lectures
Tutorial
Laboratory
Practical
Other:
Total
Contact
Hours
33 hours
............
............
12
hours
............
45 hours
Credit
33 hours
............
............
12
hours
............
45 hours
3. Additional private study/learning hours expected for
students per week.
None
4. Course Learning Outcomes in NQF Domains of Learning and
Alignment with Assessment Methods and Teaching Strategy
NQF Learning Domains
And Course Learning Outcomes
1.0 Knowledge
1.1 Affixation in word position is discussed in relation to
grammatical categories
1.2 Students are familiarized with English sentence
patterns.
1.3 Many kinds of modifiers are examined
in detail.
1.4 .....................................................................
2.0 Cognitive Skills
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Course
Teaching
Strategies
Course
Assessment
Methods
Lectures
Two midterms
Presentations
Exercises
In-class
exercises
..................
Presentations
Final exam
NQF Learning Domains
And Course Learning Outcomes
2.1 Develop students’ analytical thinking
2.2 Examine different approaches to grammar
2.3 .....................................................................
2.4 .....................................................................
3.0 Interpersonal Skills & Responsibility
3.1 Making sure students are responsible for taking
exams when scheduled.
3.2 Students ability to participate with in class in
exercises that encourage analytical thinking.
Course
Teaching
Strategies
Course
Assessment
Methods
Clarify/ teach
significant
points.
Engage
student
to
think
creatively by
participating
in
presentations.
Bring
and
explain
morphological
and syntactic
data
from
other
languages.
..................
Midterms and
final exam.
Class
participation
in
solving
exercises.
Quizzes.
Presentations
Time-limit for ..................
mid- terms.
Explain in g to ..................
students that
they
are
responsible for
learning
the
material and
doing
additional
exercises
at
home.
..................
3.3 Allowing students to be responsible for working in Responsible
groups with their classmates on presentations.
for content of
presentations
and presenting
it
on
the
scheduled
time.
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NQF Learning Domains
And Course Learning Outcomes
Course
Teaching
Strategies
Course
Assessment
Methods
4.0 Communication, Information Technology, Numerical
Encourage
Performance
4.1 Develop students’ ability to use academic English.
students to use on
exams,
the internet
quizzes,
presentations
and exercises
4.2
Using the internet to supplement information in
lectures.
5.0 Psychomotor
5.1 Not applicable
Not
applicable
Not
applicable
5. Schedule of Assessment Tasks for Students During the Semester:
Assessment task
1 1st Mid-Term Exam
2 Participation, exercises quizzes
3 2nd Mid-Term Exam
4 Final
Week Due
Proportion
of Total
Assessment
................
20 %
................
10 %
................
20 %
End of term
50 %
D. Student Academic Counseling and Support
Arrangements for availability of teaching staff for individual student consultations
and academic advice. (include amount of time teaching staff are expected to be
available each week)
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E. Learning Resources
1. List Required Textbooks :
1. Required Text(s)
* Baker, C.L. Introduction to Generative-Transformational Syntax, Prentice-Hall,
INC.1978
* Carnie, A. Syntax: A Generative Introduction, Blackwell Publishing, 2007.
Radford, Andrew.1988. Transformational Grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge U
2. List Essential References Materials :
� Critical Books On Transformational Grammar:
- Ben Crane, L. et al. An Introduction to Linguistics, Little, Brown and Company,
1981.
- Fromkin, V, et.al. An Introduction to Language. Thomson, Heinle: United States,
2003.
- Haegeman, L. Government and Binding Theory, Blackwell Publishers, 1992.
- Kess, J.F. Psycholinguistics: Psychology, Linguistics, And the Study of Natural
Language,John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1992.
- Lester, M. Introductory Transformational Grammar of English, Holt, Rinehart
andWinston, 1976.
- Parker, F. et al. Linguistics for Non-Linguists, Allyn and Bacon, 1994.
- Radford, A. Transformational Syntax: A Student's guide to Chomsky's Extended
StandardTheory, Cambridge University Press, 1981.
- Tallerman, M. Understanding Syntax, Arnold, 1998.
 - Widdowson, H. G. Linguistics, Oxford University Press, 1996.
3. List Recommended Textbooks and Reference Material :
 Oxford Advanced Dictionary.
4. List Electronic Materials :
 http ://www.en.wikipedia.org /wiki/syntax
5. Other learning material :
 None
F. Facilities Required
1. Accommodation
Lecture rooms should be large enough to accommodate the number of registered
students
2. Computing resources
 Laptop computer - projector system
3. Other resources
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
None
G Course Evaluation and Improvement Processes
1 Strategies for Obtaining Student Feedback on Effectiveness of Teaching:
1. Midterm evaluation feed-back form to increase instructor’s awareness of the weak
and strong points of the class
2. End of term college evaluation of course by students ( to be collected by the
department)
3. End-of-term debriefing in class of students and teacher regarding what went well
and what could have gone better.
4. Small group instructional diagnosis (SGID) whereby instructors exchange classes
and gather information from each other's students on specific points outlined by the
department and the instructor being evaluated
2 Other Strategies for Evaluation of Teaching by the Program/Department
Instructor :
Peer observation to benefit from colleagues’ objective feedback and suggestions for
improvement
3 Processes for Improvement of Teaching :
1. Training sessions
2. Workshops to facilitate the exchange of experiences amongst faculty members
3. Regular meetings where problems are discussed and solutions given
4.Discussion of challenges in the classroom with colleagues and supervisors
5. Encouragement of faculty members to attend professional development
conferences.
6. Keep up to date with pedagogical theory and practice
7. Set goals for achieving excellence in teaching at the beginning of each new
semester after reviewing last semester’s teaching strategies and results
4. Processes for Verifying Standards of Student Achievement
1. Check marking of a sample of examination papers either by a resident or visiting
faculty member
2. Students who believe they are under graded can have their papers checked by a
second reader
5 Describe the planning arrangements for periodically reviewing course
effectiveness and planning for improvement :
1. Compare course description with other universities (including those on the net)
2. Bi-annual meetings of faculty members to discuss improvement.
3. Have a curriculum review committee to review the curriculum periodically and
suggest improvements.
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Course Specification Approved
Department Official Meeting No ( ….. ) Date … / …. / ….. H
Course’s Coordinator
Samah Abdel-Karim
Name :
Ibrahim
Signature : ...........................
Date :
15/ 2 / 1436 H
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Department Head
Name :
Signature :
Date :
Dr. Mohanad
Sabha
..........................
…./ … / …… H