306B W22 Lamont

ENGL 306B

How English Grammar Works

Revised Dec. 30th, 2021

Instructor: Dr. George Lamont

Section: 01

Online: See learn.waterloo.ca.

Email: glamont@uwaterloo.ca.

Office hours: Online, Microsoft Teams drop-in During COVID-online: Mon., Wed., 2:30-4pm After COVID-online: Mon., Wed., 12:45-2:15pm. I will create a video call for those times. If no one shows after 15 mins., I’ll end the call, but video/audio call me anytime during office hours.

Office location: Online.

How will this course work online?

The course will accomplish all the main goals in a regular class. However, here are the essentials of what you will need to do:

• Working online: Go to learn.uwaterloo.ca, sign in, and find our course.
• Download/install Microsoft Teams: this free software is available to you through the University of Waterloo. We will use this to meet online.
  • Learn about Teams here: Microsoft Teams at the University of Waterloo.
  • Download Teams here: Download link for Microsoft Teams.
• Lessons: Lessons will be “asynchronous” (I won’t lecture live). Technical issues cause too many problems with live learning. Find new lessons online on Mondays (except the first week).
• Activities:
  • Each week has its own folder, with everyone you need for that week.
  • Video lesson: There will be a video or more. Watch it.
  • Textbook readings: read the relevant readings from the textbook.
  • Activities: any activities and dropboxes will be in that week’s folder.
• Assignments: Assignments or weekly learning tasks are due on Fridays, but can be handed in by Sunday evening.
• Submitting documents: Don’t e-mail me your submissions. Upload them to the specific dropbox for that item. You’ll find the dropboxes in the weekly folders.
• Office hours: I will sit in my video call for office hours for the first 15 minutes. If no one shows, I’ll end the video call, but just call me in MS Teams anytime during office hours.
• Communicating with me:
  • Come to office hours or call me during office hours.
  • Chat message me in MS Teams anytime.
  • E-mail me.
  • We can set up a phone call if you prefer.
  • We can set up a meeting at another time. I’m happy to do it.

Official Course Description and Outcomes

Course Description

This course analyzes English grammar structures, "grammar rules," and the reasoning behind them. The course then examines English-language change, and considers grammar in pedagogical and multicultural contexts.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should be able to do the following:

1. Understand a thorough representation of the most common conventions of English written and oral communication.
2. Identify and access reliable sources to determine and study common conventions of English.
3. Analyze a diversity of English communications to ascertain the structure and infer the intended effects of communicator’s grammatical choices.
4. Evaluate English communications for their use of common grammatical conventions.
5. Compare and describe the grammatical structure of texts written in different styles and varieties of English.
6. Apply common grammatical conventions to combine and compose English written communications.
7. Explain the difference between prescriptive and descriptive approaches to grammatical analysis of sample communications.
8. Critique grammatical feedback for its application of common conventions and its reflection of understanding vs. perceived correctness.
9. Write persuasive and well-informed arguments about the grammatical structure of a communication, its use of common conventions, and to what extent the communicator’s choices influence the intelligibility of the communication.

Textbook and Reading:

1. Fee, Margery & Janice McAlpine. Guide to Canadian English Usage. 2nd edition. Oxford University Press.
2. Additional readings will be provided in class or posted to the LEARN website.

Course Assignment and Requirements

How and Where to Submit Written Assignments: Electronic format: PDF, online through LEARN.

Weekly assignments

After each weekly lesson, you will complete a task that reviews previous material and asks you to practise the material from the week. These tasks will require you to have access to the textbook so that you can look up grammar conventions, report them, and apply them. Question types include short analyses, multiple-choice questions, and written arguments.

Final culminating assignment

This final task assigned in the final week will function in place of a final exam. This task will require you to show your understanding of material learned throughout the course. Question types will include analyses, multiple-choice, and written arguments. This task will also prompt you to analyse your own use of grammar in English or other languages.

Contributions

Some weekly lessons will include non-synchronous activities that you will complete in a discussion board or other medium. The purpose is to give you opportunities to practise your skills and help other students do the same. These activities also give me an opportunity to observe your progress in the course and interact with you.

Course Schedule

The following schedule is tentative and may change to suit class needs. Additional readings may be posted to LEARN, and you will be responsible for these.

1. Lesson materials released: Mondays (except first week)
2. Assignments or learning tasks due: Sundays with exception of Reading Week

Important Dates: Travel plans NOT accepted reasons for absence.

Terms:

1. 1. “Drop, no penalty”: no record of the course appears on your transcript.
   2. “WD”: this means the word “Withdrawn” will appear on your transcript. This will let readers know that you attempted the course but decided to leave the course.
   3. “WF”: this means “withdrew/failure.” This will let readers know that your withdrawal constitutes a failure in the course. This course will be calculated as a grade of 32% and will be included in your overall grade average.

Course Policies

Late work, missed work, grade concerns, “incomplete” courses

• Extension requests: You must request an extension 48 hours or more before a due date, and provide a reasonable justification, subject to verification by me. Last-minute extension requests will be denied unless there is medical documentation, an accommodation, or a counselling referral to support the need.
• Late submissions: 5% penalty per day unless the late submission is justified by medical documentation.
• Missed tests, quizzes, contributions: If your absence is supported by medical documentation, your grade will be re-weighted to your other quizzes or contributions. Otherwise, you will receive a grade of 0 for the quiz or contribution.
• Medical documentation: You must submit a “University of Waterloo Verification of Illness” form, available at https://uwaterloo.ca/campus- wellness/sites/ca.campus-wellness/files/uploads/files/VIF-online.pdf.
• No “incomplete courses”: I will not grant an “incomplete course”. All course work is due by the final day of lectures (December 3rd).
• Grade challenges: You may re-submit an assignment for regrading only if you provide a detailed letter explaining why the concepts and criteria of the course justify a different grade. I do not accept any requests to challenge a grade while I am returning any papers in class. Please make an appointment to visit me, and we will have a fair conversation about your concerns.
• Grade concerns: If you are struggling, I want to help you. However, don’t procrastinate. The sooner you consult with me, the sooner we can address the problems.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism—Official Policy

Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. See the UWaterloo Academic Integrity webpage and the Arts Academic Integrity webpage for more information.

Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline.

For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline. For typical penalties check Guidelines for the Assessment of Penalties.

Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4. When in doubt, please be certain to contact the department’s administrative assistant who will provide further assistance.

Appeals: A decision made or penalty imposed under Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances (other than a petition) or Policy 71 - Student Discipline may be appealed if there is a ground. A student who believes he/she has a ground for an appeal should refer to Policy 72 - Student Appeals.

Using Turnitin in this Course

Text matching software (Turnitin®) will be used to screen assignments in this course. This is being done to verify that use of all material and sources in assignments is documented. Students will be given an option if they do not want to have their assignment screened by Turnitin®. In the first week of the term, details will be provided about arrangements and alternatives for the use of Turnitin® in this course.

Services and Additional Support

If you are struggling, do realize that there are services here that will help you and protect your privacy.

Accommodations for Students with Learning Challenges

If you have any concern about a learning challenge or learning disability, please feel free to consult with me about how to support you. You may also wish to register with the AccessAbility Services office. This office is located on the first floor of the Needles Hall extension (1401), and collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the AS office at the beginning of each academic term.

Counselling Services

Counselling Services provides support free-of-charge and protects your privacy. Find them at https://uwaterloo.ca/counselling-services/.

Student Success Office

The Student Success Office also provides support free-of-charge and protects your privacy. This office provides academic and personal development services, resources for international students, as well as study abroad and exchange support. They are located at South Campus Hall, second floor. Office hours: Monday,

Wednesday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; and Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

The Writing and Communication Centre

The Writing and Communication Centre works with students as they develop their ideas, draft, and revise. Writing and Communication Specialists offer one-on-one support in planning assignments, synthesizing and citing research, organizing papers and reports, designing presentations and e-portfolios, and revising for clarity and coherence. You can make multiple appointments throughout the term, or drop in at the Library for quick questions or feedback. To book a 50-minute appointment and to see drop-in hours, visit www.uwaterloo.ca/writingand-communication-centre. Group appointments for team-based projects, presentations, and papers are also available.