June 2015
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong Community College
Subject Description Form
Subject Code
CCN2016
Subject Title
Grammar in Context
Level
2
Credit Value
3
Medium of
Instruction
English
Pre-requisite /
Co-requisite/
Exclusion
Nil
Objectives
This subject provides a platform for students to acquire, consolidate, and
improve their knowledge in English grammar in different contexts that
involve extensive use of the English language, such as news reporting,
business writing, oral communication, and literary writings. Through
these contexts, students will understand the underlying English
grammatical principles, with a major focus on the formation and
functions of various sentence patterns for different purposes of writing.
Intended Learning
Outcomes
Upon completion of the subject, students will be able to:
(a) apply relevant grammatical concepts learnt to facilitate the
communication process for various purposes.
(b) analyse, explain and correct grammatical inconsistencies,
ambiguities and other stylistic aberrations to achieve communicative
success in different contexts.
(c) identify the use of different sentence patterns in different text types
(e.g. news, commercial advertisements, business correspondences,
fictions, films, etc).
(d) produce grammatical and context-specific texts with reference to the
nature and purpose of communication.
Subject Synopsis/
Indicative Syllabus
Grammar in +ewspaper
Simple sentence; Compound and complex sentence; Sentence part; Word
class; Phrase; Clause; Variation in sentence structure.
Grammar in Business
Subjunctive; Imperative; Narrative; Interrogative; You-attitude; Sentence
reduction for brevity; Sentence expansion for clarity.
Grammar of the Spoken Language
1
June 2015
Contraction; Minor sentence; Word stress; Sentence stress; Intonation;
Connected speech; Coarticulation; Assimilation.
Grammar and Literary Language
Artistic license; Stylistic aberrations; Grammar of artistic language.
Teaching/Learning
Methodology
There will be seminars for discussing and analysing the inner workings
of English grammar in different contexts.
There will also be practice sessions for ensuring students’ thorough
comprehension of the rules of English grammar by applying them to the
analysis and production of grammatical and context-specific sentences.
Students are thus expected to be specially disciplined and committed to
the subject which entails a rather systematic and largely logical approach
to the study of English grammar.
Assessment
Methods in
Alignment with
Intended Learning
Outcomes
A variety of assessment tools will be used to develop and assess
students’ achievement of the subject intended learning outcomes.
Specific assessment
methods/tasks
%
weighting
Intended subject learning
outcomes to be assessed
a
b
c
d
Continuous Assessment*
50
Test
15
Assignment 1
15
Assignment 2
15
Participation
5
Final Examination
50
Total
100
*Continuous assessment items and/or weighting may be adjusted by the subject
team subject to the approval of the College Programme Committee.
To pass this subject, students are required to obtain Grade D or above in
both the Continuous Assessment and Final Examination.
Student Study
Effort Expected
Class contact
Hours
Seminars
39
Other student study effort
Self-study
52
Continuous Assessment
42
Total student study effort
133
2
June 2015
Reading List and
References
Recommended Textbook
Berry, R. (2011). English Grammar: A Resource Book for Students. New
York: Routledge.
References
Aarts, B. (2011). Oxford Modern English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
Carter, R., Hughes, R., & McCarthy, M. (2000). Exploring Grammar in
Context. United Kingdom, Cambridge University Press.
Crystal, D. (2004). Making Sense of Grammar. Pearson Longman.
Hughes, R. (2005). Exploring Grammar in Writing. Cambridge
University Press.
Nelson, G. C., & Greenbaum, S. (2009). An Introduction to English
Grammar. Harlow: Pearson.
Steer, J. M., & Carlisi, K. A. The Advanced Grammar Book. (2nd ed.),
Heinle & heinle-Thomson.
Trask, R. L. (1993). A Dictionary of Grammatical Terms in Linguistics.
London; New York: Routledge.
3