1. 1
FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS
LINGUISTICS PROGRAM
LING 5005
THE GRAMMAR OF ENGLISH
SEMESTER 2, 2008

2. 2
CONVENOR
Associate Professor Peter Collins
Linguistics Program
Morven Brown Rm 218
Phone: 9385 2307
Email: p.collins@unsw.edu.au
Consultation time: Thursday 2-4pm
INF O RM ATION AB O UT TH E CO URSE
• This course offers a step-by-step account of English grammar covering the most important
and central constructions and categories. Reference is made to both the latest theoretical
advances in linguistics and significant departures that are made from traditional grammar.
Samples of present-day English are analysed and discussed.
• The course consists of a 2-hour seminar each week (THURSDAYS 6-8 in Electrical
Engineering 218), at which we shall discuss the topics listed under “Course Schedule”
below and work through the exercises at the end of each chapter in the textbook.
HOW THE COURSE RELATES TO OTHER COURSE OFFERINGS
This is an optional course within the MA in Applied Linguistics/TESOL. It is recommended
for those who wish to learn about the concepts and analytical techniques of contemporary
descriptive English grammar.
AIMS OF THE COURSE
• To examine the nature and deficiencies of traditional grammar, the distinction between
descriptivism and prescriptivism, and the notion of grammatical constituency.
• To explore the concepts, assumptions and methodology used by contemporary descriptive
grammarians.
• To develop participants' ability to parse and analyse English sentences.
TEACHING STRATEGIES
Classes will involve lectures designed to elaborate on and clarify each chapter of the
textbook, and discussion of the textbook exercises.
SUGGESTED APPROACHES TO LEARNING
You will be expected to have read the designated chapter in the textbook each week, and to
have worked through the set exercises, in preparation for class discussion.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the conclusion of the course you will be able to:
• Recognise the nature and deficiencies of traditional grammar, the distinction between
descriptivism and prescriptivism, and the notion of grammatical constituency;
• Identify the concepts, assumptions and methodology used by contemporary descriptive
grammarians;
• Parse and analyse English sentences.

3. 3
CO URSE SCHE DULE
WEEK DATE CHAPTER IN TEXTBOOK
WEEK 1 31.7.08 CHAPTER 1
WEEK 2 7.08.08 CHAPTER 2 + 3
WEEK 3 14.08.08 CHAPTER 4
WEEK 4 21.08.08 CHAPTER 5
WEEK 5 28.09.08 CHAPTER 6
ASSIGNMENT 1 DUE 28th August
WEEK 6 4.09.08 CHAPTER 7 + 8
WEEK 7 11.09.08 CHAPTER 9
WEEK 8 18.09.08 CHAPTER 10
WEEK 9 25.09.08 CLASS TEST 6-7pm
BREAK
WEEK 10 9.10.08 CHAPTER 11
WEEK 11 16.10.08 CHAPTER 12
WEEK 12 23.10.08 CHAPTER 13
NB ASSIGNMENT 2 DUE 30th October
NOTE All of these topics will be covered, but there may be some fluidity in the program.
ASSE SSMENT
The assessment is designed to reinforce your understanding of the course concepts and ability
to apply grammatical knowledge in the parsing and analysis of English data.
ASSESSMENT DUE DATE VALUE
Assignment 1 Thursday 28 August 30%
Class Test Thursday 25 September 30%
Assignment 2 Thursday 30 October 40%
RESOURCE S
TEXTBOOK
Huddleston, Rodney, English grammar: an outline. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1988.
RECOMMENDED
Biber, Douglas, Susan Conrad and Geoffrey Leech, Longman student grammar of
spoken and written English. London: Longman, 2002.
Collins, Peter, English grammar. Melbourne: Longman, 1998.
Collins, Peter and Carmella Hollo, English grammar: an introduction. London: Macmillan,
2000.
Greenbaum, Sidney, The Oxford English grammar. Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 1996.
Greenbaum, Sidney and Randolph Quirk, A student’s grammar of English. London, Longman,
1990.
Huddleston, Rodney, Introduction to the grammar of English. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 1984.

4. 4
Huddleston, Rodney, English grammar: an outline. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 1988.
Huddleston, Rodney and Geoffrey Pullum, A student’s introduction to English grammar
English language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
Leech, Geoffrey, Margaret Deuchar, and Robert Hoogenraad, English grammar
for today: a new introduction. London: Macmillan, 1982.
Quirk, Randolph, Sidney Greenbaum, Geoffrey Leech and Jan Svartvik, A comprehensive
grammar of the English language. London: Longman, 1985.
Wardhaugh, Ronald, Understanding English grammar: A linguistic approach. Oxford:
Blackwell, 1995.
ADMINIST RATIVE MATTE RS
Our Postgraduate Administrative Assistant is:
Dr Kayoko Evon
Morven Brown Rm 252
Phone: 9385 2816
Fax: 9385 3493
Email: k.evon@unsw.edu.au
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
Regular attendance at seminars is expected. Participants are to read the relevant chapter in the
textbook before attending seminars and be prepared to discuss the answers to the relevant
exercises.
SUBMITTING YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Assignments should be left by 4.00pm on the due date in the essay box in the School of
Languages and Linguistics Reception Area (Morven Brown Building, Level 2). You must
ensure that all assignments have attached to them a completed Assignment Cover Sheet
which can be downloaded from the following web page:
http://languages.arts.unsw.edu.au/currentstudents/undergraduate/index.html
Assignments submitted after the due date will incur a penalty.
Please refer to the School Website for information on the School’s policy on submission of
assignments at the link below:
http://languages.arts.unsw.edu.au/currentstudents/undergraduate/Assignment%20Policy.pdf
LATE ASSIGNMENTS
Formal extensions are NOT granted. If you have suffered from illness or encountered serious
misadventure then you should attach relevant documentary evidence to your assignment
when it is submitted. NOTE: time pressure resulting from assignments in other subjects does
not constitute an acceptable excuse. Late assignments for which no documentation is provided
will attract a penalty: 3% per day for the first week, and 10% per week thereafter).
ILLNESS AND MISADVENTURE
Please contact the lecturer if you are experiencing difficulties in submitting assignment work
on time.

5. 5
ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PLAGIARISM
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is the presentation of the thoughts or work of another as one’s own.* Examples
include:
• direct duplication of the thoughts or work of another, including by copying material, ideas
or concepts from a book, article, report or other written document (whether published or
unpublished), composition, artwork, design, drawing, circuitry, computer program or
software, web site, Internet, other electronic resource, or another person’s assignment
without appropriate acknowledgement;
• paraphrasing another person’s work with very minor changes keeping the meaning, form
and/or progression of ideas of the original;
• piecing together sections of the work of others into a new whole;
• presenting an assessment item as independent work when it has been produced in whole
or part in collusion with other people, for example, another student or a tutor; and
• claiming credit for a proportion a work contributed to a group assessment item that is
greater than that actually contributed.†
For the purposes of this policy, submitting an assessment item that has already been submitted
for academic credit elsewhere may be considered plagiarism.
Knowingly permitting your work to be copied by another student may also be considered to
be plagiarism.
Note that an assessment item produced in oral, not written, form, or involving live
presentation, may similarly contain plagiarised material.
The inclusion of the thoughts or work of another with attribution appropriate to the academic
discipline does not amount to plagiarism.
The Learning Centre website is main repository for resources for staff and students on
plagiarism and academic honesty. These resources can be located via:
www.lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism
The Learning Centre also provides substantial educational written materials, workshops, and
tutorials to aid students, for example, in:
• correct referencing practices;
• paraphrasing, summarising, essay writing, and time management;
• appropriate use of, and attribution for, a range of materials including text, images,
formulae and concepts.
Individual assistance is available on request from The Learning Centre.
Students are also reminded that careful time management is an important part of study and
one of the identified causes of plagiarism is poor time management. Students should allow
sufficient time for research, drafting, and the proper referencing of sources in preparing all
assessment items.
* Based on that proposed to the University of Newcastle by the St James Ethics Centre. Used with kind
permission from the University of Newcastle
† Adapted with kind permission from the University of Melbourne.

6. 6
COURSE EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT
This course is periodically reviewed and students’ feedback is used to improve the course.
Feedback is gathered using various means, including UNSW’s Course and Teaching
Evaluation and Improvement (CATEI) Process.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
All absences should be explained to your teacher and medical or other documentation
produced if possible. In cases where illness or other causes produce repeated or sustained
absence, you should seek as soon as possible a Request for Special Consideration form from
Student Central on the ground floor of the Chancellery (opposite the Library). Applications
on the grounds of illness must be filled in by a medical practitioner. Information is available
at: https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/atoz/SpecialConsideration.html
SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION
Location: Level 2, Morven Brown, Kensington Campus (Gate 8, off High Street) (map
ref. C20)
Telephone: (61 2) 9385 1681
Facsimile: (61 2) 9385 2666
Email: languages@unsw.edu.au
Website: http://languages.arts.unsw.edu.au
my.UNSW
myUNSW is the single online access point for UNSW services and information, integrating
online services for applicants, commencing & current students and UNSW staff.
myUNSW is a great resource for further information not listed in this course outline. To visit
myUNSW please visit either of the below links:
https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/atoz/ABC.html
https://my.unsw.edu.au/portal/dt?desktop.suid=uid=anonymousActive,ou=People,dc=unsw,dc=edu,dc=au
STUDENT EQUITY AND DIVERSITY
Students who have a disability that requires some adjustment in their learning and teaching
environment are encouraged to discuss their study needs with the course convener prior to, or
at the commencement of the course, or with the Student Equity Officers (Disability) in the
Student Equity and Diversity Unit (9385 4734). Information for students with disabilities is
available at:
http://www.studentequity.unsw.edu.au/
Issues to be discussed may include access to materials, signers or note-takers, the provision of
services and additional examination and assessment arrangements.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
UNSW's Occupational Health and Safety Policy requires each person to work safely and
responsibly, in order to avoid personal injury and to protect the safety of others.
Students working at night on campus are advised to use the Unibeat service arranged by
phoning Security on Tel: +61 2 9385 6000 to accompany them safely to the car park areas.
They should be familiar with the procedures to follow in the event of an emergency, and
should know the location of emergency exits, fire-fighting equipment, first-aid cabinets and
telephones.

7. 7
All emergencies are to be reported to Security on: 9385 6666.
For all matters relating to Occupational Health, Safety and environment, see
https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/atoz/OccupationalHealth.html