Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for WR 185 Winter 2025


Course Number:
WR 185
Course Title:
English Language: Theory and Practice
Credit Hours:
3
Lecture Hours:
30
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Explores elements and nuances of Standard English and dialects in both theory and practice. Explores historical, social, and current cultural issues of grammar and language use through reading, discussion, and writing. Prerequisites: Placement into WR 121 or WR 115 with a grade of C or better. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Student outcomes for this course derive from primary and secondary readings of historical, social, and cultural conceptions of grammar; class discussion; and writing. Successful students should be able to:

  • Identify elements of Standard English and other English dialects’ grammar,

  • Appreciate elements of grammar as having stylistic, political, and social significance,
  • Apply concepts of grammar to understand some sociolinguistic principles,
  • Apply concepts of grammar to understand some psycholinguistic principles,
  • Appreciate multi-cultural grammatical aspects of some English dialects,
  • Appreciate various grammatical and historical concepts underlying language use,
  • Appreciate grammar as a means of knowing,
  • Listen, read, and communicate (orally and in writing) with heightened awareness of grammar and language use.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

 
Reading and writing assessment tasks will demonstrate students’ thoughtfulness regarding the curriculum and may include the following:

  • Responses to assigned texts and readings

  • Class discussion

  • In-class writing

  • Out-of-class writing

  • Out-of-class conferences

  • Presentations by individuals and/or student groups

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

  • Relativity of grammatical usage,

  • Standard English,

  • Dialect,

  • Parts of Speech,

  • Grammatical voice,

  • Grammar as meaning,

  • Grammar as element of the Trivium,

  • Holistic grammar,

  • Psycho- and sociolinguistic principles,

  • Issues of descriptive and prescriptive grammar,

  • Etymology,

  • History of Language,

  • Philosophical nature of grammar,

  • Grammatical aesthetics,

  • History of paradigms underlying grammar, 

  • Multi-cultural issues,

  • Gender issues.

Competencies and Skills

  • Awareness of grammatical forms,

  • Facility with grammatical forms,

  • Facility with grammatical vocabulary,

  • Awareness of grammatical impact on self,

  • Awareness of grammatical impact in various social arenas,

  • Ability to articulate concepts of grammar,

  • Ability to detect gender-specific language,

  • Ability to detect and appreciate multi-cultural dialects,

  • Ability to detect and create Standard English,

  • Facility with historical paradigms re: grammar—i.e.

  • grammar as biologic,

  • grammar as mechanic,

  • grammar as technical,

  • Awareness of etymology,

  • Ability to distinguish descriptive and proscriptive approaches to grammar,

  • Awareness of history of language,

  • Heightened awareness of and attention to grammatical issues in listening and reading.
  • Heightened awareness of and attention to grammatical issues in speaking and writing.