ENG309: Traditional Grammar (section 1, class number 72389, meeting time MW 5:99-6:15, classroom Duke 240) James Madison University

Description: In this course, we will explore the shapes that English sentences may take and learn the traditional rules for building and identifying those shapes. In other words, we will work on developing the kind of conscious understanding of the structure of our language that permits us to edit and analyze our own grammar and the grammar of others. In doing so, we'll focus on lexical and syntactic structures with some attention to semantic and cultural issues that affect these structures. While the course focuses on understanding how English grammar works rather than on memorizing a large number of unexplained prescriptive rules for "proper" English, we will, in fact, discuss a number of prescriptive issues as we study the relevant aspects of English grammar. We will also practice using our knowledge of grammar to identify syntactic paraphrases and to remold ungrammatical or awkward sentences into acceptable or more elegant new shapes.

Required Texts: Greenbaum, Sidney and Gerald Nelson (2002). An Introduction to English Grammar, 3rd edition.
Emery, Donald W. (1961). Sentence Analysis.

Recommended Text: Garner, Bryan A. ed. (1996). Garner's Modern American Usage.

Work and Grading: Ungraded Assignments and Participation (15%), Graded Assignments (18%), tests(35%), Final Exam (32%). All work must be completed BEFORE class time on the day it is due and must submitted on time and in-class except in cases where permission for late submission or an alternative submission method is given in advance. (In rare, well-justified circumstances that make it impossible to contact me beforehand, I may consider requests after a due date.) If an assignment is described as "ungraded", this means thatyou must make an acceptable effort on all parts of the assignment and on all examples to receive credit for the assignment. The good news is that an acceptable effort will be given full credit regardless of the number of mistakes! You may also skip or miss one ungraded assignment without affecting your overall assignments grade for the course. You should have assigned readings done before the first class date on which they will be discussed. Most students find that regular attendance in this course is crucial for keeping up with the class. Note, too, that tentative test dates (and the final exam date) have already been posted; you should be particularly careful not to schedule anything else for those times.
Of course, all your work for this course is subject to the JMU Honor Code. If you have questions about any aspects of the honor code or about how any aspect of the code relates to this course, see me for clarification.

Daily Schedule: Note that this is a tentative schedule of grammatical topics to be discussed in each class period. We may end up spending a bit more time on one topic and a bit less on another, so check for revisions. Some issues in punctuation, usage and style will be addressed as they relate to particular topics. Time allowing, others will be discussed at the end of the semester.

"Language is the most massive and inclusive art we know, a mountainous and anonymous work of unconscious generations." Edward Sapir

Look here for assignments:

• Due 8/31/11 (ungraded)