Traditional Grammar

Who should take this course?  Sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have problems in their writing and/or who lack a strong grammar background.  This is NOT the course for an English-as-a-Second-Language student.

Course focus/umbrella questions:  This course focuses on the mastery of English grammar.

Non-negotiable assignments required of all students who take this course:

• Completing all assignments in three programmed learning texts
• Taking all quizzes and tests that accompany the programmed learning assignments
• Writing approximately eight journals and two major papers

Required texts:  English 2200, 2600, & 3200 with Writing Applications by Joseph C. Blumenthal

Course-specific policies:

1. Students may retake a quiz on which they have earned a D or an F IF they…    Re-do the text exercises for that particular unit.                                               Retake the quiz (an alternate form) within 24 hours of the previous one.               The two scores will then be averaged to get the recorded score.
2. Quiz scores count as 40% of the grade; test scores count as 30% of the grade, and journals & papers count as 30% of the grade.

Student Expectations:

• Students must be present daily and must keep up with the workload and quizzes.  Quizzes occur approximately every other day.
• Students must be self starters and self motivated.

What makes this course different from companion courses?  The course focuses on independent, student-centered learning.  Students must be able to budget their time wisely and keep up with assignments.  They also must ask for help as needed.  This course is different from almost every other course in the Communication Arts Department.

Any other relevant and important course-related information?   If a student falls behind in this course, he will have great difficulty catching up.