Course Outline for English As A Second Language 16B
Advanced ESL Grammar: Mastery of Sentence Structure

Effective: Fall 2021
SLO Rev: 10/01/2018

Catalog Description:

ESL 16B - Advanced ESL Grammar: Mastery of Sentence Structure

3.00 Units

Advanced grammar and editing instruction in English sentence structure. Students perfect their understanding and usage of phrases and clauses. Grammar is applied to academic reading, writing and editing tasks. Designed for students who are taking ESL 15A/B bridge sequence, but open to all students who meet the prerequisite. ESL 16A and 16B are non-sequential and can be taken in any order.
Prerequisite: ESL 110C.
CB03: TOP Code 4930.84 - English as a Second Language - Writing
Course Grading: Pass/No Pass
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Total 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00

Measurable Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. demonstrate mastery of the parts of speech, gerunds/infinitives, and dependent clause types (noun, adjective and adverb) and the syntactical relationships between them;
  2. demonstrate comprehension and production of gerunds and infinitives, including use with common academic writing connectives (because of/despite/in spite of, in order to);
  3. demonstrate comprehension and production of noun clauses including reported speech, embedded questions and use of the subjunctive;
  4. demonstrate comprehension and production of adjective clauses, including restrictive and nonrestrictive with correct punctuation;
  5. demonstrate comprehension and production of the reduced forms of adjective clauses and adverb clauses (e.g. Wanting to learn how to solve this math problem, my classmates and I formed a study group with a student who regularly scores high on the tests given in our math class);
  6. identify and analyze in reading material the grammatical structures taught in the course, using standard grammar terminology;
  7. Identify and edit errors in the use of these grammatical structures in their own writing and that of others;
  8. Edit writing for academic writing style, clarity and flow.

Course Content:

  1. Analyzing syntactic relationship of 
    1. nouns to gerunds/infinitives and noun clauses
    2. adjectives to adjective clauses
    3. adverbs to adverb clauses
  2. Gerunds and infinitives
    1. in subject position
    2. in direct object position
    3. as object of the preposition
    4. including use with common connectives (because of/despite/in spite of, in order to) 
  3. Noun clauses, including 
    1. reported speech
    2. embedded questions 
    3. use of the subjunctive
  4. Adjective clauses, including 
    1. restrictive
    2. nonrestrictive
    3. correct punctuation
  5. Reducing clauses 
    1. adjective clauses to adjective phrases
    2. to adverb clauses to adverb phrases
  6. Combining ideas into a compound sentence with 
    1. a semi colon and 
    2. conjunctive adverb 
  7. Combining ideas into a complex sentence using 
    1. a subordinate clause (adjective, adverb, or noun clause) 
    2. a reduced form of an adjective/adverb clause  
  8. Analysis and discussion of reading materials 
    1. containing the grammatical structures taught in the course 
    2. using standard grammar terminology
  9. Editing strategies 
  10. Writing and editing all grammatical structures taught in this course
    1. in sentences
    2. in short compositions
  11. Edit writing for
    1. academic style
    2. clarity
    3. flow

Methods of Instruction:

  1. Lecture/Discussion
  2. Group Activities
  3. One-on-one coaching
  4. Hands-on Activities
  5. Distance Education
  6. Short written assignments

Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:

1. Typical Assignments
  1. Read the article and write 5 comprehension questions for your partner about the article. First write them as direct questions. Then change your questions into the form of embedded questions.
  2. The following sentences are taken from student writing. Now you are the editor. Rewrite the sentences by correcting errors with adjective, adverb and noun clauses.
  3. Read the passage that your classmate found in a magazine, newspaper, etc. Underline all the adjective clauses and draw an arrow to the noun they modify. Identify them as reduced, unreduced, restrictive and nonrestrictive.
  4. After reading belief statements from This I Believe, you will write your own 1 page belief statement. Start your statement with I believe that. Provide examples and reasons for your belief.
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
  1. Assigned activities
  2. Class Participation
  3. Exams/Tests
  4. Final Examination
  5. Homework
  6. Midterm Examination
  7. Quizzes
  8. Class Work
  9. Written assignments
3. Student Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Correctly interpret the meaning of the grammatical structures taught in this course and previous ESL courses.
  2. Correctly use these grammatical structures in their writing.
  3. Identify and correct at least 70% of the errors in their own writing and that of others.

Textbooks (Typical):

  1. Azar, B. S. (2017). Understanding and Using English Grammar with Essential Online Resources (5th). Pearson.
  2. Freeman, D. L. (2007). Grammar Dimensions 4 (4). Cengage.
  3. Steer, J., et al. (1998). The Advanced Grammar Book (2nd). Cengage/National Geographic.
  4. Blunting, J. D., et al. (2013). Grammar and Beyond 4 (1st). Cambridge.
  5. Maurer, J. (2016). Focus on Grammar 5 (5th). Pearson.
Additional Materials:
  • None.

Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:

Advanced grammar and editing instruction in English sentence structure, phrases and clauses.
Prerequisite: ESL 110C.

Discipline:
English as a Second Language (ESL)*