Instructor:        Tara Sanchez
E-mail:              tsanchez@babel.ling.upenn.edu
Office hours:     by appointment

This is an introductory course in English grammar. Traditional topics will be covered through a (socio-) linguistic approach. We will examine the basics of
sentence formation from a linguistic perspective, then consider prescriptive grammar rules in their social and historical contexts. We will consider
discourse-level issues such as pronoun reference, information structure, and conversational rules. We will also consider some "rules" which are properly tenets
of usage and style, though are often mistaken for "grammar" rules. Finally, we will relate course topics to the use of English in modern society and consider the
implications for language teaching/learning.

This course will teach you not only what is "correct English", but why it's correct, and in what contexts. It will prepare you to be a savvy language user.

COURSE TEXT:        Strunk and White, "The Elements of Style"            purchase anywhere

                                         Bulkpack        will be available from SEAS copy center

GRADING: The grades for this course will be composed of the following:

Term Paper 30% (10% oral presentation; 20% written version)
Mid-term Exam 20%
Final Exam 20%
Homework/Quizzes 20%
Participation 10%

Term Paper: You will write a 10 page paper on a grammatical topic of your choice. Describe a rule
                  and write about the history of the rule in the English language. Next, collect
                  examples of rule violations (i.e. from newspapers, magazines, internet, or spoken
                  language) and comment on these in light of the history of English and of the
                  particular rule. EXAMPLE: There is a prescriptive grammar rule that states, "Do
                  not split infinitives." Was there ever a time in the history of English when no one
                  split infinitives? How did this ?rule? become a grammar rule of English? How
                  many examples of split infinitives can you find in the press? In television? In
                  daily life? Comment on the "errors" in light of the history of the rule.

Exams: There will be a mid-term and a final. You will be asked to identify parts of
                  speech, apply grammatical rules to written English, as well as demonstrate
                  knowledge of the history and social aspects of the rules.

Homework/Quizzes: You will complete homework assignments in addition to course readings. These
                           mainly involve practice applying grammar rules, but may also consist of searching for rule violations. I will give
                           occasional in-class quizzes about readings and/or lecture topics.

Participation: Students are expected to attend class regularly, complete all assignments
                  (including readings), and participate in class discussions.

Absences: Attendance is mandatory. Absences will be excused only under extenuating
                  circumstances (i.e. verifiable death in the family, severe illness, hospitalization,
                  etc.) If circumstances permit, I would rather you miss part of a class rather than
                  an entire class. Inform me before class if you will be late, leaving early, or absent
                  (when possible). If you are absent, whether the absence is excused or not, it is
                  your responsibility to keep up with course material, pursue make-up
                  quizzes/exams, etc.
 
 

Date	Class Topics	Readings	Assignments Due
May 21	Introduction to the Course What is Linguistics? What is Grammar? What is Style?	Brinton Ch 1  Fromkin & Rodman Ch 1 Wolfram/Schilling-Estes Ch 1 Language Files 12.7
May 28	Grammatical Categories and Word Classes (aka Parts of Speech)	Brinton Ch 5 Woods Part 1	Classwork
June 4	Linguistic Views of Grammar Syntax Linguistic Diagramming	Fromkin & Rodman Ch 4 Language Files 6.1-6.6 Brinton Ch 7-9	Homework 1
June 11	More on Syntax Prescriptive vs. Descriptive Linguistics History of Prescriptive Grammar in English	Pinker Ch 12 Baugh & Cable Ch 9
June 18	Prescriptive Issues: Misplaced Modifiers  Dangling Participles Split Infinitives Comparisons  Exam Review	Woods Ch 19-21	Prescriptive Practice
June 25	MID-TERM EXAM		STUDY GUIDE
July 2	Review exam Pronoun reference Recent changes in English grammar	Woods Ch 10, 23
July 9	Pragmatics Discourse level grammar	Language Files 8  Brinton Ch 11	Homework 2 DUE
July 16	Usage & Style (e.g. Passive) Mechanics	Strunk and White	Homework 3 DUE
July 23	Grammar in Society Teaching Grammar/ Learning Standard Grammar STUDENT SELECTED TOPICS	Wolfram & Schilling-Estes Ch 10 Labov
July 30	FINAL STUDENT PAPERS Review for exam	FINAL PRESENTATION DUE
August 6	FINAL EXAM	FINAL PAPER DUE

Useful Links

On writing...

Elements of Grammar

American Heritage Book of English Usage
 
 

Bulkpack Table of Contents:

Baugh and Cable  The History of the English Language.

Brinton, Laurel J.   The Structure of Modern English: A Linguistic Introduction.

Fromkin and Rodman  Introduction to Linguistics.

Labov, William    Stages in the Acquisition of Standard English.

Language Files  The Ohio State Unversity.

Pinker, Stephen   The Language Instinct.

Wollfram, Walt and Schilling-Estes, Natalie  American English.

Woods   English Grammar for Dummies.