Revised Spring 2023 Bergen Community College Division of

Revised Spring 2023

Bergen Community College

Division of Humanities

Department of ESL and World Languages

Course Syllabus

ALP- 061 American Language III: Grammar

Semester and year:

Course and Section Number:

Meeting Times and Locations:

Instructor:

Office Location:

Phone:

Departmental Secretary:

Office Hours:

E-mail Address:

Course Description

ALP-061 American Language III: Grammar is a course in English grammar for advanced

English language learners. This course includes the study of linguistic structures needed for

college-level reading, writing, speaking and listening. The course completes the study of English

sentence structure and correct verb usage.

Credits: 3 non-degree credits; 3 hours lecture

Prerequisite: ALP-051/Grammar II

Pre- or Co-requisites: ALP-053 American Language II Writing II; ALP-054 American

Language II Reading

Student Learning Outcomes:

As a result of meeting the requirements in this course students will be able to:

● Demonstrate their competency in using the following grammatical forms in academic

discourse: adverb, adjective and noun clauses; passive voice, modals in past forms,

gerunds, and infinitives; connectives; verb tenses.

● Use appropriate grammatical structures to express opinions, arguments, and reasons.

● Apply their knowledge of advanced structures of English in paragraphs, essays, and

personal journals.

Means of Assessment: To determine whether they have achieved the course goals, teachers will

evaluate:

● Quizzes, and tests,

● Written journals, paragraph and/or essay

● Participation in speaking exercises in pair and group work, and class discussions.

Course Texts and/or Other Study Materials:

Azar, Betty and Hagen, Stacy. Understanding and Using English Grammar, 4th edition.

Pearson Longman, 2009. 0-13-233333-3

Course Content

This course reviews intermediate level grammar and introduces structures that students need for

reading, writing, speaking and listening at an advanced level of English. Instructors may teach

these structures as they find appropriate. However, sentence and paragraph writing

should be used when possible.

Adverbial Clauses

Time, cause/effect, contrast, condition

Reducing adverb clauses to phrases

Adjective Clauses

who, whom, that, which, whose, where, when

Restrictive and non-restrictive

Reducing adjective clauses to phrases

Noun Clauses

Direct & Reported Speech

Verb Tenses used in academic discourse.

Passive

Functions in academic discourse; mostly simple present and simple past tenses

Gerunds & Infinitives

Expanded Verb List

Expressions that use Gerunds and Infinitives

Modals & Modal Expressions

Modals in past time

Passive modals

Grading Policy (to be designated by the instructor)

A student’s final grade for the course is based primarily on his/her performance on the required

work for the course (homework, writing assignments, tests), class participation, group work and

on his/her overall mastery of the material covered in the course. Sample Evaluation Plan:

Homework and Class participation: 20%

Chapter Tests: 50%

Quizzes 30%

Grade Breakdown: A 90-100

B+ 86-89

B 80-85

C+ 76-79

C 70-75

D 65-69

F 64-below

Sample Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to attend class regularly and punctually. Attendance will be taken at each

class session. If students occasionally arrive late, they should enter quietly, and not disturb the

class. If students miss class, they should find out what they missed. It is probably a good idea

for students to exchange telephone numbers with other students as a way to find out about

missed classes.

Poor attendance will affect a student’s grade. If a student’s absence exceeds one and a half times

the number of weekly meetings, the student’s grade will be lowered by one full letter grade. If a

student is absent excessively, the student can expect to fail the course. Lateness counts, too. Two

late arrivals will equal one absence.

Statement on Accommodations for Disabilities

Bergen Community College aims to create inclusive learning environments where all students

have maximum opportunities for success. Any student who feels he or she may need an

accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Specialized

Services at 201-612-5269 or via email at [email protected] for assistance.

Student and Faculty Support Services

ELRC (English Language Resource Center)

Room C-212

201- 612-5292

http://www.bergen.edu/elrc

The Sidney Silverman Library – Reference

Desk

Room L-226

201-447-7436

http://www.bergen.edu/librar

Sample Course Outline & Calendar (to be designated by the instructor)

Note to Students: The following Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to

change, depending upon the progress of the class.

Week(s)

Topic/Activities/Assignments

1 & 2

Review – Time and Tenses: Present, Past, Future;

Adverbial of Time

Verb Tenses Used in Academic Discourse: Simple

Present, simple past, present perfect.

Complex Sentence with Adverbial Clauses of Time

Passive

Modals & Modal Expressions

Gerunds & Infinitives

Review - Exam

Complex Sentences with Noun Clauses; Reporting Verbs

9 & 10

Complex Sentences with Adverbial Clauses:

Cause/Effect; Contrast; Condition

11 & 12

Complex sentences with Adjective clauses; reducing

clauses to phrases

13 & 14

Reviewing Adverb Clauses; Reducing Clauses to Phrases

Final Exam