Facultat De Filosofia I Lletres English Language Iv (4890) Fan
Facultat de Filosofia i Lletres
English Language IV (4890)
FAN
Academic year: 2009-2010
Subject type: Core
Length: 2nd semester
Credits (theory and practice): 6 (4’5 theory / 1’5 practice)
Sub-group divisions: 2
Subject’s prerequisites: English Language III (4889)
Participation in Campus Extens: Yes
Curricular language: English
Tutor: Dra. Eva M. Pérez Rodríguez
Office: 210
TUTORIALS
Building: Ramón Llull
1st semester:
Tel.: 971 259537 (ext 9537)
Mon 9-11 and Wed 9-12
Fax: 971 173473
e-mail: eva.perez@uib.es
2nd semester:
Mon 9-12 and Wed 9-11
1. INTRODUCTION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
English Language IV shall consolidate the skills acquired during the first half-year, and
move ahead into new contents. A full command of the English grammar will be
expected of students.
As was the case with the subject that preceded it, the practical approach will be
predominant, with special attention to vocabulary acquisition, grammar correctness,
and text cohesion, for the Writing skills, and general comprehension, detail reading
and reading for gist for the Reading skills.
Students should have got enough training to become, by the end of this term, agile
and discerning readers, and efficient, fluent and practical writers.
1. GENERAL AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this course is to help students acquire a sound command of the English
language, covering three broad aspects: grammar, writing and reading.
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Facultat de Filosofia i Lletres
The teacher’s role is to mark the course guidelines, provide explanations, corrections
of exercises and answers to doubts, but the vital aspect of the student’s individual and
constant learning must be stressed.
It is the students’ duty and responsibility to work independently, regularly and
conscientiously.
The acquisition of grammar correctness is essential. An advanced grammar of English,
with several elements of the Proficiency level will be thoroughly worked on (see
compulsory bibliography). In addition, the following aims may be pointed out:
1. To consolidate and build on the grammatical, lexical and skills foundations
established in the previous modules.
2. To encourage the students’ independent learning, with the help of manuals,
reference tools and exercise books.
3. To boost students’ confidence in essay and project writing, paying particular
attention to individual research and the expression of their own opinion with academic
soundness.
4. To make students realise the importance, together with their own style of writing
and general use of the English language, of a normative style, in grammar, spelling,
punctuation, cohesion, and text layout.
2. STRUCTURE OF SUBJECT CONTENTS
• Grammar:
importance of form for meaning and
verbal
tense
adequacy;
further
use
complexities
expression of cause, effect, addition,
polishing
of
grammar
for
contrast, concession
expressiveness
• Vocabulary:
enlarging one’s ‘new vocabulary’
advanced
vocabulary:
idioms,
corpus
extended
meaning,
collocations,
specific terms
multiple choice vocabulary questions
reference tools: dictionaries, the web
• Reading:
Shifting useful information within a
Predicting, comparing and contrasting
bulk text
Understanding meaning from context
Recognising authorial tone, purpose
and style
Cloze texts (free and multiple choice)
Re-ordering jumbled paragraphs
Multiple choice reading
Finding similarities and differences
Public information, reports, reviews
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Facultat de Filosofia i Lletres
• Writing:
Narration
Description
Paragraph and text organisation
Summary writing
Recounting an event or experience
Describing people, places and objects;
(verbal tense, time and cause-
showing or repressing emotion
consequence markers)
Public information, reports, reviews
Written project (detailed separately)
3. METHODOLOGY
Given the eminently practical nature of this subject, there is no real partition between
practical and theoretical contents. All sessions, be them class-group or small-group,
will be concerned with grammar explanations and the resolution of exercises. Until the
final distribution when the registration period ends, students will be provisionally
allocated a practice group by alphabetical order of surname:
Practice 1: A–L; Practice 2: M-Z
Group changes are not allowed unless for major reasons, which must be conveniently
documented.
4. ASSESSMENT
1
There will be an exam at the end of the term, in three parts: grammar (40%),
writing (40%) and reading (20%).
All three parts need to be compensated, with a minimum average pass mark of
5. The minimum mark required for a part to be computed is 4.
In those cases where the mathematical average is, even despite a failed part,
higher than 5, the student will be given a 4.5 in his or her grades record.
2
The reading part (20%) is made up of two components:
a) a multiple choice (or similar) text in the exam (5%); and
b) a compulsory written project (15%), whose guidelines are given separately,
to be handed in towards the end of the term. This project is compulsory for
all students. No late submissions will be collected.
3
Marks by the teacher in student’s compositions and other pieces throughout the
term are for the student’s guidance only, although the submission of such
homework is highly recommended.
5. ADVICE TO THE STUDENTS
- the use of mobile phones in class is strictly forbidden.
- homework must be handed in on the day stipulated by the teacher.
- please take good notice of any deadlines for the submission of work. No excuses
will be accepted or deadlines extended, unless for major reasons.
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Facultat de Filosofia i Lletres
- all students will take official exams on the date stipulated by the faculty. The
teacher will not set an exam on an alternative date.
- if students are not present on the day corrected homework is returned, it is their
responsibility to go to the teacher’s office during tutorials to reclaim it
- make use of tutorials. The teacher is there to advise and listen to you, mark any
extra work you may want to submit, and solve your academic doubts
- check the subject’s Campus Extens page as new materials, messages, homework,
etc. may be made available there
6. BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY
Students must acquire a copy of the following title:
- Yule, George 2006: Oxford Practice Grammar. With Answers. Oxford: Oxford
University Press. ISBN 0-19-430916-9
Further basic materials include the following (available at Ramon Llull copy shop):
- a batch of further grammar, reading and writing exercises
- a list of Phrasal Verbs (from Thomson & Martinet 1986: 315-352)
- a selection of texts for use in the written project
7. GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
− Norris, Roy and Amanda French 2008: Ready for CAE. Coursebook. Oxford:
Macmillan.
7.1. Writing
− Colonna, Mary R. and Judith E. Gilbert 2006: Reason to Write. Strategies for Success
in Academic Writing. Oxford UP.
− Cory, Hugh 1999: Advanced Writing with English in Use. CAE. Oxford UP.
− Davis, Jason and Rhonda Liss 2006: Effective Academic Writing 3. Oxford UP.
− Jordan, R. R. 1999: Academic Writing Course. Study Skills in English. Longman.
− Stephens, Mary 2002: New Proficiency Writing. For the Revised CPE Exam.
Longman.
7.2. Reading
− Stephens, Mary 2002: New Proficiency Reading. For the Revised CPE Exam.
Longman.
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Facultat de Filosofia i Lletres
7.3. Grammar
− Graver, B. D. 1986: Advanced English Practice. Oxford UP.
− Foley, Mark and Diane Hall 2003: Advanced Learners’ Grammar. Longman.
− Hewings, Martin 2005: Advanced Grammar in Use. With Answers. Cambridge UP.
− McCarthy, Michael and Felicity O’Dell 2004: English Phrasal Verbs in Use.
Cambridge UP.
− Pérez, Eva 2006: English Language Practice, Advanced. Palma: Servei de
Publicacions UIB.
− Swan, Michael 1995: Practical English Usage. Oxford UP.
− Thompson, A. J. and A. V. Martinet 1986: A Practical English Grammar. Exercises 1.
Exercises 2. Oxford UP
− Vince, Michael and Peter Sunderland 2003: Advanced Language Practice. With Key.
Macmillan.
7.4. Websites
− http://ccc.commnet.edu/grammar
− http://esl.about.com/
− http://www.eslcafe.com/
− http://www.world-english.org
− http://www.infoplease.com/
7.5. Dictionaries
− Rundell, Michael, and Gywneth Fox 2002: Macmillan English Dictionary with CD-
Rom. Macmillan.
− Hornby, A. S. and Sally Wehmeier 2002: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary Sixth
Edition. Oxford UP.
− Gran Diccionario Oxford Español-Inglés, Inglés-Español. OUP.
− Oxford Phrasal Verbs Dictionary. Oxford UP.
− Macmillan Phrasal Verbs Plus. Macmillan.
− Oxford Idioms Dictionary. Oxford UP.
− Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture. Longman.
− Collins English Dictionary. Harper Collins.
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− www.diccionarios.com
− www.cobuild.collins.co.uk
− www.diccionaris.net
Appendix
English Language III (4889) and IV (4890). 2009-10
COMPOSITION CORRECTION SCALE
0’2
Cohesion (Co)
Register (Reg)
Punctuation (Pun)
0’3
Word Order (WO)
Spelling (Sp)
Interest / Relevance (Rel)
– excessively simple contents or vocabulary will be penalised as “Rel x 4” (i.e. 1’2)
Wrong Word (WW)
Unclear Meaning (UM)
0’4
Grammar (Gr)
– basic grammar mistakes will be penalised as “Gr x 3” (i.e. 1’2).
The following is merely a selection of mistakes:
- wrong use of adjectives or adverbs: The others cars; a wrongly decision.
- double subjects: It is interesting the ending.
- absence of subject: They bought it when saw it.
- direct mistranslations: This car likes me; a new on TV; arrive to London
- lack of concord: This houses. People is kind. He go.
- incorrect verb conjugation: She musts stay. He would had come. He would have
began. We didn’t went.
- basic misspelling/lack of capitalisation: spanish, appartment
- erratic use of paragraphs and punctuation
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