POFT 1301 - Business English Course Syllabus

After studying the material presented in class and online, the student should be able to complete all behavioral/learning objectives listed below with a minimum competency of 70% on quizzes, compositions, and exams.

1. Identify language structure in sentences. (1a-i, 1a-ii, 2c-i, 2c-iii)
   1. Identify the eight parts of speech.
   2. Recognize how the parts of speech function in sentences.
   3. Use words in a variety of grammatical roles.
2. Recognize sentence elements, patterns, and types. (1a-i, 1a-ii, 1b-iii, 1b-vi, 1c-i)
   1. Recognize basic sentence elements including subjects and predicates.
   2. Differentiate among phrases, dependent clauses, and independent clauses.
   3. Understand how to use simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.
   4. Identify four basic sentence patterns.
   5. Punctuate statements, commands, questions, and exclamations.
   6. Use techniques to avoid basic sentence faults such as fragments, comma splices, and run-on sentences.
3. Create the plural form of a noun. (1b-iii, 1b-vi, 2c-i, 2c-ii)
   1. Distinguish between proper and common nouns.
   2. State the basic rules for forming the plurals of most nouns.
   3. Make regular and irregular nouns plural.
   4. Spell correctly the plural form of nouns ending in y, o, and f; proper nouns; surnames; compound nouns; and numerals, letters, degrees, and abbreviations.
   5. Make challenging nouns plural, including foreign nouns and special nouns.
4. Create the possessive form of a noun or pronoun. (1a-i, 1b-iii, 1b-vi, 1c-i, 2c-i, 2c-ii, 2c-iii)
   1. Summarize the basic rules of forming the possessives of nouns.
   2. Use steps to apply an apostrophe to correctly show possession.
   3. Distinguish between descriptive nouns and possessive nouns.
   4. Create correct possessive forms of compound nouns, organizations, names, abbreviations, of nouns showing joint ownership, and of nouns showing individual ownership.
5. Utilize the correct pronoun form in a sentence. (1b-iii, 1b-vi, 1c-iii, 2b-vi, 2c-i, 2c-iii)
   1. Use subjective, objective, and possessive pronouns correctly.
   2. Distinguish between personal possessive pronouns (such as its) and contractions (such as it’s).
   3. Choose the correct pronoun in compound constructions, comparatives, appositives, reflexives, and as complements following linking verbs.
   4. Make pronoun references clear, and ensure that personal pronouns agree with their antecedents in number and gender.
   5. Choose alternatives to common-gender antecedents.
   6. Make personal pronouns agree with subjects joined by or or nor, indefinite pronouns, collective nouns, company and organization names, and the adjectives each and every.
   7. Recognize the functions of who, whom, whoever, and whomever, and follow steps to use these words correctly in a sentence.
6. Identify and use verbs in a sentence correctly. (1a-i, 1a-ii, 1b-iii, 1b-vi, 2c-i, 2c-iii)
   1. Identify verbs and verb phrases in sentences, including sentences that are inverted in order.
   2. Distinguish between transitive and intransitive verbs.
   3. Recognize active and passive voice verbs.
   4. Convert sentences written in passive voice to sentences in the active voice.
   5. Construct verbs in the present, past, and future tenses correctly.
   6. Recognize and use present and past participles.
   7. Recognize gerunds and supply appropriate modifiers of gerunds.
   8. Identify and remedy split infinitives.
   9. Correctly punctuate introductory and other verbal phrases.
   10. Rewrite sentences to eliminate awkward participial phrases.
   11. Locate dangling verbal phrases and other misplaced modifiers.
   12. Rewrite sentences to avoid misplaced verbal phrases and modifiers.
   13. Supply correct verb forms in the progressive and perfect tenses.
   14. Recognize sentence constructions requiring the subjunctive verb mood.
   15. Create sentences using the subjunctive mood correctly.
   16. Identify and write the correct forms of irregular verbs in sentences.
   17. Locate the subjects of verbs.
   18. Make verbs agree with true subjects.
   19. Make verbs agree with subjects joined by and, or, and nor.
   20. Select the correct verbs to agree with collective nouns and indefinite pronouns.
   21. Make verbs agree with quantities, fractions, portions, clauses, and a number/the number.
   22. Achieve subject-verb agreement within who clauses.
7. Identify and use adjectives in a sentence correctly. (1a-ii, 1b-vi, 2c-iii)
   1. Form the comparative and superlative degrees of regular and irregular adjectives.
   2. Use articles correctly.
   3. Use adjectives after linking verbs.
   4. Punctuate compound and successive independent adjectives correctly.
8. Identify and use adverbs in a sentence correctly. (1a-ii, 1b-iii, 1b-vi, 2c-iii)
   1. Form the comparative and superlative degrees of adverbs.
   2. Avoid double negatives when using adverbs in a sentence.
   3. Use adverbs to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs within a sentence.
   4. Identify pitfalls in the use of adverbs.
9. Recognize and use prepositions in sentences. (1a-ii, 1b-iii, 1b-vi, 2c-i, 2c-iii)
   1. Identify prepositional phrases and label the preposition and its object(s) in each phrase.
   2. Avoid using prepositions in place of verbs and adverbs.
   3. Use troublesome prepositions correctly.
   4. Omit unnecessary prepositions and retain necessary ones within sentences.
   5. Construct formal sentences that avoid terminal prepositions.
   6. Recognize those words and constructions requiring specific prepositions (idioms).
10. Recognize and use conjunctions in sentences. (1a-ii, 1b-vi, 2c-iii)
    1. Distinguish between simple and compound sentences.
    2. Punctuate compound sentences joined by and, or, nor, and but.
    3. Punctuate compounds sentences using conjunctive adverbs, such as therefore, however, and consequently.
    4. Recognize correlative conjunctions, such as either . . . or, not only . . . but also, and neither . . . nor.
    5. Use a parallel construction in composing sentences with correlative conjunctions.
    6. Distinguish among phrases, dependent clauses, and independent clauses.
    7. Expand dependent clauses into complete sentences.
    8. Punctuate introductory and terminal dependent clauses.
    9. Punctuate parenthetical, essential, and nonessential dependent clauses.
    10. Recognize simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentence patterns.
    11. Convert simple sentences into a variety of more complex patterns.
11. Use basic punctuation rules. (1a-i, 1a-ii, 1b-iii, 1b-vi, 2c-iii)
    1. Insert commas correctly in series, direct address, and parenthetical expressions.
    2. Punctuate dates, addresses, geographical items, and appositives correctly.
    3. Place commas appropriately in punctuating independent adjectives, verbal phrases, and prepositional phrases.
    4. Use commas correctly in punctuating independent, introductory, terminal, and nonessential clauses.
    5. Use commas correctly in punctuating degrees, abbreviations, and numerals.
    6. Use commas to indicate omitted words, contrasting statements, clarity, and short quotations.
    7. Identify and correct errors in comma usage.
    8. Use semicolons correctly to join independent clauses; correct errors in such usage.
    9. Use semicolons correctly before enumerations and explanations; correct errors in usage.
    10. Use colons correctly to introduce an independent clause and to emphasize words and thoughts.
    11. Capitalize the first word following a colon.
    12. Use dashes correctly in sentences.
    13. Use quotation marks correctly for direct quotations, definitions, special expressions, unfamiliar terms, and titles of articles.
    14. Combine other punctuation marks correctly with quotation marks in sentences.
12. Use basic capitalization rules. (1a-i, 1a-ii, 1b-vi)
    1. Use capitals correctly for the first words of sentences, direct quotations, and items in outlines.
    2. Use capitals correctly in headings and in titles of publications.
    3. Capitalize correctly proper nouns, short forms used for proper nouns, personal and official titles used with proper names, and proper adjectives.
    4. Capitalize correctly the names of commercial products.
    5. Correct errors in capitalization usage.
13. Use basic guidelines for expressing numbers. (1a-i, 1a-ii, 1b-vi)
    1. Correctly choose between figure and word forms to express general numbers, money, and numbers beginning sentences.
    2. Express dates, clock time, addresses, and telephone numbers appropriately.
    3. Use the correct form in writing related numbers, consecutive numbers, periods of time, and ages.
    4. Use the correct form in expressing numbers in conventional phrases, with abbreviations and symbols, and as round numbers.
    5. Express weights, measures, and fractions correctly.
    6. Use the correct form in expressing percentages, decimals, and ordinals.
14. Write clear, complete sentences. (1a-i, 1a-ii, 1b-iii, 1b-v, 1b-vi, 2c-iv)
    1. Compose sentences that are grammatically correct.
    2. Compose sentences that are punctuated correctly.
    3. Compose sentences that express a clear thought.
    4. Avoid fragments, run-on sentences, comma splices, and period faults.
    5. Proofread sentences for errors.