RATIONALE

The course Brush Up Your English is designed for UniSey staff who want to improve their English grammar and writing skills. It caters for both foreign and local employees who use English as a tool of academic and administrative interaction. The course consists of 20 modules which focus on some challenging aspects of English grammar and writing applicable in university academic communication and administrative procedures.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

As a result of their participation in this course, it is anticipated that the learners will be able to:

Enhance their general English language competence.
Apply knowledge of some English grammar aspects to improve accuracy and literacy of written production.
Write more accurately, consistently, clearly in a variety of genres.

COURSE PLAN

Topic	Learning Outcomes
Unit 1: Grammar and Vocabulary Focus
Module 1.1: Subject-predicate agreement	Formulate the rules of subject-predicate agreement and apply the knowledge of these rules in speech and writing.
Module 1.2: Commonly confused words	Differentiate between homonyms and close sounding words and make informed choices in using them in speech and writing.
Module 1.3: Infinitives	Formulate the rule of using bare Infinitive. Differentiate between Infinitive phrase and Infinitive construction. Differentiate between different Infinitive forms and use them expertly in speech and writing.
Module 1.4: Gerunds	Differentiate between different Gerund forms and use them expertly to express relevant meaning. Identify the difference between Infinitives and Gerunds with certain verbs.
Module 1.5: Problems with prepositions	Demonstrate knowledge of some challenging prepositional patterns and apply this knowledge in speech and writing.
Module 1.6: Modal Verbs	Identify the relevant modal verb to be used to express different aspects of modality.
Module 1.7: Moods	Identify the relevant mood form to be used to express different aspects of modality.
Module 1.8: Sequence of Tenses and Reported Speech	Demonstrate knowledge of Sequence of Tenses and Reported Speech rules and apply them in speech and writing.
Module 1.9: Passive	Differentiate between active and passive structures. Identify cases to use passive structures. Differentiate between passive tense forms and use them competently in speech and writing.
Module 1.10: Sentences and Clauses	Differentiate between clauses types. Identify the proper connective.
Unit 2: Writing Skills
Module 2.1: Punctuation	Formulate the rules of using comma, colon, semicolon and dash. Apply the knowledge in written production.
Module 2.2: Capitalization	Formulate the rules of capitalization. Apply the knowledge in written production.
Module 2.3: Contractions	Identify the main cases and rules for contractions. Apply the knowledge in written production.
Module 2.4: Numbers	Formulate the rules of representing the numbers in writing. Apply the knowledge in written production.
Module 2.5: E-mails	Demonstrate knowledge of the main principles and techniques of e-mail writing.
Module 2.6: Taking and making notes	Demonstrate knowledge of the main principles and techniques of taking and making notes.
Module 2.7: Minutes	Demonstrate knowledge of the main principles and techniques of minute taking.
Module 2.8: Memos	Demonstrate knowledge of the main principles and techniques of writing memos.
Module 2.9: Official letters	Demonstrate knowledge of the main principles and techniques of writing official letters.
Module 2.10: Reports	Demonstrate knowledge of the main principles and techniques of writing reports.

ASSESSMENT PLAN

Form	Weight
Class participation	80%
Assignments	20%

TOTAL STUDY TIME

20 hours contact time

RESOURCES

BOWDEN, J. Writing a Report: How to Prepare, Write and Present Really Effective Reports

CRYSTAL, D. Language and the Internet (Cambridge University Press, 2017)

EASTWOOD, J. Oxford Guide to English Grammar (Oxford University Press, 2002)

FOWLER, A. The Little Brown Handbook: Eleventh Edition. (London: Longman, 2010)

FROMKIN, V., et al. An Introduction to Language (Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011)

HAMP-LYONS, L., HEASLEY, B. Study Writing (Cambridge University Press 2009)

KANE, T.S. The New Oxford Guide to Writing

STRAUS, J. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation (JOSSEY-BASS, 2008)

SWALES J. M., FEAK Ch. B. Academic Writing for Graduate Students (The University of Michigan Press, 2013)

SWAN, M. Practical English Usage (Oxford University press 2002)

TURK, Ch., KIRKMAN, J. Effective Writing (London and New York: Spon Press, 1996)

WATERS, M. A.WATERS Study Tasks in English (Cambridge University Press, 2009)

University of Bristol (2002-2005). Improve your writing. Available at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/exercises/grammar/grammar_tutorial/page_41.htm

Massey University (2007). Student learning development: Academic writing. Available at http://owll.massey.ac.nz/pdf/Academic-Writing-Guide.pdf

Brush Up Your English

Upper-Intermediate

RATIONALE

LEARNING OUTCOMES

COURSE PLAN

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Unit 1: Grammar and Vocabulary Focus

Unit 2: Writing Skills

ASSESSMENT PLAN

Form

Weight

TOTAL STUDY TIME

RESOURCES

Department of Languages and Media

Applying

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