Cayey College of the University of Puerto Rico
Department of English
ENG 3265 Course Syllabus
Dr. Walter Rybarkiewicz
The English Language across Cultures
Course Description: English, as a world language, is used by peoples of distinctive cultures and traditions. This has led to the present-day varieties of English. The course surveys those varieties and provides a short history of their appearance. It also addresses the complex issues of cultural and linguistic interaction in contemporary societies.
Texts and Teaching Materials used in the course:
Crystal, David. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998.
Leith, Dick. A Social History of English. New York: Routledge Publ. Co, 1997.
Clark, Virginia P. Language: Introductory Readings. New York: St.Martin's Press, 1972.
Robert MacNeil nine-episode video series The Story of English. Ref. no. in the Cayey College library: VHS 919 to VHS 923.
Relevant handouts.
Students will make extensive use of the Internet resources reached through the Weekly Schedule and Additional Links here.
Course Outline:
Course Policies and Requirements: Effective study of the course contents is not possible without one's own materials. Five percent of the final grade (out of 10 % allotted for the active participation in class) will be given for owning the required text, bringing it to the class, and using it during the discussion.
Students are responsible for coming to the class having read the assigned material. Points will be given for being able to discuss the topic in class (active participation). If poor or no discussion results, students may expect unannounced quizzes which will check their knowledge of the material assigned for reading.
Attendance is mandatory: A student missing more than three hours without a legitimate and verifiable excuse will see her or his grade lowered from A to B, B to C, and C to D for each additional three-hour period missed. If unexcused absences reach 35% of the class time the student will automatically “gain” an F. A legitimate and verifiable excuse will have to be shown in case of a true emergency. The students are responsible to cover the material they have missed. Only those with a legitimate and verifiable excuse can take a make-up for a missed quiz, test, or an exam. The make-up has to take place within two weeks from the missed class.
All assignments are to be given when due: late work without a legitimate excuse will result in reduced evaluation (5% for each working day the project is late).
Receiving cell phone calls during the class is not allowed. If a student anticipates an important emergency call, he/she must notify me about the oncoming call in advance.
Evaluation: The standard curve will be used: 100-90% = A; 89-80% = B; 79-70% = C; 69-60% = D; 59% or less = F. The percentages assigned to specific activities are as follows:
Class participation 10%
First oral presentation 10%
Second oral presentation 20%
Written assignments 20%
Midterm 20%
Final 20%