Enhancing Your English Course: Steps Toward Better Writing - Standard

English. Develop your command of the English language with us.

Learn English the smart way with English courses at CCE, the University of Sydney.

For many people in the workplace, and for students involved in TAFE and university studies, success depends on achieving a satisfactory standard in writing in English. This course increases skills in basic writing in English and is designed for people from a wide range of occupations, as well as students involved in tertiary preparation, TAFE and tertiary education.

This course begins with revision of practical grammar, sentence structure, punctuation and spelling, and progresses to more complicated sentences, paragraphs and vocabulary enrichment for different kinds of writing. It functions as a reading and discussion group about selected texts, chosen mainly from current newspapers, magazines and selected social media, in order to extend writing through reading. Class discussion is a main feature. There is also a focus on weekly written exercises, including detailed feedback from the tutor. Participants gain a lot from writing practice and feedback. The course works to improve communication skills through a combination of grammar and sentence structure study, writing and reading.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, participants should be able to:

1. Write with enhanced skills in basic formal English.
2. Communicate in written English with improved skills in grammar, sentence structure, paragraphing and punctuation.
3. Communicate with increased skills across a range of writing that includes workplace emails, formal workplace communication and essays.
4. Employ an increased range of vocabulary in their writing.

Content

• Introduction to spoken and written English
• Revision of basic English grammar
• Building writing with sentence structure and simple, compound and complex sentences
• Punctuation and spelling
• Paragraphs
• Vocabulary enrichment
• Formal writing for a range of communication including workplace online text and letters and essays for secondary and tertiary courses
• Individual written exercises with detailed reading and discussion by the presenter
• Strategies for consolidation and development.

Intended Audience

This course is suitable for people with a basic competence in English who wish to increase their skills in standard writing. It is designed for people already engaged in the work place across a wide range of occupations, and for students in TAFE and tertiary studies. It is designed to be rewarding for both native speakers and people who come from another language. It is popular with EAL members of the multicultural Sydney professional workforce, as well as native speakers who for one reason or another missed out on grammar and writing skills in their earlier studies and now need to reach a higher standard for work or further education.

Delivery Style

Delivered as a series of lectures combined with interactive learning, including a course booklet with exercises and use of the web.

Materials

Includes a substantial course booklet with exercises, available at the first meeting.

Recommended Reading

The following text is useful but it is not essential:

Woods, G. 2010, Grammar Essentials for Dummies, Wiley Publishing.

Note: The title of this text is not a reflection on students of the course. It’s a joke title for one of the most widely read and popular English grammar books.