Dr. Leah Zuidema
http://homepages.dordt.edu/~lzuidema/
Dordt College, Fall 2009
MWF 2:00-2:50 in CL 1302

Welcome to English 336. This course focuses on practices, theory, research, and resources related to English grammar, grammars, and (for education students) the teaching and learning of grammar. We will study grammar not only as a technical subject, but also as a craft, a field for research and scholarship, and a domain with sociocultural, political, and ethical dimensions. We will consider the nature and uses of grammar—or, as we at Dordt might say, the structure and direction of grammar.

This course takes an inquiry and apprenticeship approach to English grammar. In our work together this semester, we will explore a few key (and deceptively simple) questions:

• What is grammar? What is good grammar? How about bad grammar? What does it mean to take a prescriptive or descriptive approach to grammar? Where do these definitions come from, and why and how do they matter?
• What technical and craft knowledge of grammar can we in ENG 336 learn, and how can we apply it in our writing and reading? What does it mean to learn grammar, to know grammar, and to teach grammar? How is grammar related to writing and reading?
• In what ways do professional perspectives, political debates, and sociocultural factors shape grammar practices and beliefs? How are ethical and philosophical perspectives related to grammar and grammar education?
• How ought we to respond to others’ beliefs about and uses of grammar? What can/should/will we do with a theoretical-and-practical knowledge of grammar?

In order to develop thoughtful, informed answers to these questions, we will study about grammar through readings, discussions, writings, and activities. Just as importantly, we will also learn by doing—and therefore, there will be many exercises and reading/writing activities that prompt you to apply your grammar knowledge in context. Note, too, that I will regularly ask you to discuss your in-process and polished work with your classmates and me and to participate in small group discussions and activities.

Our work toward answering the course questions should inform your understanding of grammar at applied, theoretical, and evaluative levels. Upon completion of English 336, you should be able to (1) demonstrate your knowledge about grammar through analysis and through application to your writing, (2) offer in-depth answers to the focus questions, and (3) critique and respond constructively to approaches to grammar that you encounter.

English 336 meets program requirements for English majors with a writing emphasis, for linguistics minors, and for those in the teacher education program with a major, minor, or specialization in English language arts or teaching English as a second language. Additionally, this course is appropriate for anyone interested in the practical and theoretical intricacies of the English language.

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