Dr. Johanna Rubba
English Department (Linguistics)
Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo
Last updated 3/27/06
© 2006  Johanna Rubba

ENGL 390:
THE LINGUISTIC STRUCTURE OF MODERN ENGLISH
SPRING 2006

Contents of this web site - Click on each title to go to the page
Course information Syllabus (course plan)
Schedule of Homework Assignments Self-correct instructions for homework
Course objectives/study guide (subject to update 3/27/06) Informational Web documents
My current schedule Course Project
Plagiarism Warning & The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (Univ. academic honesty rules)
Links to web/PDF versions of course PowerPoint presentation:

PDF:
Introduction
Phonetics/phonology Pt. 1
Phonetics/phonology Pt. 2 Morphology
Verbs
Syntax

HTML:
Introduction
Phonetics/phonology Pt. 1
Phonetics/phonology Pt. 2
Morphology
Verbs
Syntax

NOTE: This document is a contract. If you remain enrolled in this course, I will assume that you have carefully read the document and all linked documents (Attendance Policy, Plagiarism, etc.) and are committed to performing in accordance with them. I will assume that you will ask for clarification on points that are not clear to you. In return, I commit myself to adhering to the policies outlined here. If changes are made, I will inform you in a timely manner and explain the reasons for the changes.

Course Information
Schedule: MW 2:10-4 pm, Bldg. 22 Rm. 315 Instructor's office: 47-35B ~ Office phone: 756-2184  
Instructor: Dr. Johanna Rubba English Department phone: 756-2596  
Instructor Office Hours: Tues. 3:10-4 pm - Wed. 1:10-2 pm - Thurs. 10:10-11 am - and by appointment**
**To make an appointment, go to my schedule, find a few times that are open for both of us, and send me an e-mail with those times. I will respond within minimum 24 hours (during the week) and confirm one of those times.
Prerequisites: ENGL 145 or equivalent (composition course in argument or critical thinking)
Note: I have one course off this quarter to work on a book (our textbook!), and will not be on campus Mondays or Fridays except very occasionally. Please keep this in mind if you need to schedule an appointment.
The best way to contact me outside of class is through office hour visits or e-mail. I generally respond to student phone messages only in urgent situations. (Apologies for any inconvenience.) Please allow for up to 24 hours response time to e-mails during the week.
Course Description

This course is especially designed to meet the needs of future high-school English teachers in California's public schools. It will acquaint students with the main facts of the structure of Modern American English pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar; it will also inform students about variety within English and will touch on approaches to educating students whose native language is not English. As each topic is considered, insights from linguistics that have important implications for teaching (such as preferred teaching methods and theories of second language acquisition) will be introduced.

Required Texts
  • Rubba, Johanna. 2005. True Grammar. This is the manuscript of a textbook I am writing. This text is now (3/27/06) available at Aida's bookstore on Foothill Blvd. Cost is around $20-$25. (It will NOT be available at El Corral.) The price is around $12. I am still working on chapters of this book, and expect to finish several during the quarter. As this happens, I will make these available via online reserves and through an outlet such as Mustang Express.
  • Any further readings will be made available via electronic course reserves. (Note: Because publishers often charge high copyright fees, the cost of a reading packet for a course is often much higher than the cost of printing readings out at 10 cents per page.)
     
Course Requirements

Attendance: More than 1 week's worth of absences (4 50-min. hrs.) will harm your final grade. Please visit my Attendance Policy web page for details and for instructions on how to handle absences.
Tests: There will be a midterm and a comprehensive final exam.
Homework assignments: These will be collected and marked credit/no credit.
Course Project:  Details forthcoming.
Grading standards: Visit my Grading Standards web page to read my grading policy. 


Course Point Distribution
Homework:
Midterm Exam:
Final Exam:
Course project
Total:                    
 15 points
 60 points
 75 points
 50 points
200 points
=     7.5%
=   30%
=   37.5% 
=   25%
= 100%
 Grade conversion guide:
A+ = 98-100%  A = 94-97% A- = 90-93%
B+ = 87-89% B = 84-86% B- = 80-83%
C+ = 77-79%  C = 74-76%  C- = 70-73%
D+ = 67-69%  D = 64-66%   D- = 60-63%
F+ = 57-59% F = 54-56% F- = 0-53%
                                           
Class etiquette/policies:

Teaching (as many of you will soon discover) is a demanding profession, requiring concentration and cooperation between teacher and audience. Behaviors that seem innocent can be very disruptive to your instructor. Please follow these rules of etiquette to help me deliver clear lectures and attend to your needs, not your quirks: (a) Do not be late to class.** If you come into class after roll has been taken, you will be counted absent. (b) When you arrive in the classroom, prepare for class immediately: Take out your assigned reading (which you should bring to every class meeting), notebook and pens, and set other materials aside. Rather than reading the Mustang Daily or chatting with classmates, review your notes from the previous class meeting, or review the reading assignment. Prepare your mind for the subject matter. (c) Please do not develop the habit of chatting with classmates during class. This is extremely distracting. If you have a question, please raise your hand and ask me.  (d) I do not mind drinks in the classroom, but please do not eat or chew gum. (e) Turn off all cell phones and beepers before you enter the classroom. (Discuss with me before class any emergency situation which requires you to keep such a device active.) (e) Academic honesty: NOTE: ALL FORMS OF CHEATING WILL RESULT IN LOWERING OF THE COURSE GRADE (INCLUDING A POSSIBLEGRADE OF F FOR THE COURSE) AND A REPORT TO THE OFFICE OF STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AND STUDY ALL OF ITS PAGES CAREFULLY. SERIOUS CHEATING CAN RESULT IN EXPULSION FROM CAL POLY. READ ALSO MY PLAGIARISM WARNING.

**If you have a special circumstance which causes persistent lateness, please discuss it with me. Trouble finding a parking space does not constitute a special circumstance.

 

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