Key facts
UNE unit code: LING553
*You are viewing the 2027 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Trimester 3 - Online
- Yes
- No
- No
- 6
Unit information

English is an important language for international communication. Drawing from natural texts (rather than ‘idealised’ language), we examine the major areas of English grammar including sentence structure, word classes, word structure, sentence types, and verb and noun phrases. We also look beyond the sentence to consider information packaging and discourse strategies.
The unit encourages you to pay close attention to variation in English, with an eye on regional variants (such as Indian English), occupational variants (such as sports talk and bureaucratic language), and the differences between speech and writing.
Finally, we will cover the emergence of English as a global language and examine questions about the future of Standard English.
This unit has broad appeal and application and would interest anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of how English works.
Offerings
For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.
| Teaching period | Mode/location |
|---|---|
| Trimester 3 | Online |
*Offering is subject to availability
Intensive schools
There are no intensive schools required for this unit.
Enrolment rules
Notes
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- demonstrate coherent theoretical knowledge of the major facts about contemporary English grammar, including: word structure, phrase structure, sentence structure, different types of complex sentence, information structure, and English's role as a global lingua franca;
- demonstrate coherent understanding of the significance of variation in 'English' , which has always been a label applied to many varying varieties of speech, while 'New Englishes' continue to develop in many different parts of the world;
- exercise critical thinking and judgement in applying appropriate linguistic analysis techniques to English data sets;
- provide a clear explanation of the important linguistic and sociocultural features of English to others;
- critically explain how linguistic facts about English varieties are relevant to issues in linguistic theory; and
- adapt and apply the knowledge gained here to new linguistic contexts, and in professional practice situations while demonstrating responsibility and autonomy in individual and/or collaborative work tasks.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Quizzes | Yes | 50% | All offerings | 5 online quizzes worth 10% each |
| Written Assessment | Yes | 50% | All offerings | No. Words: 2500 |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
Introducing English Grammar
ISBN: 9781138635319
Borjars, K. and Burridge, K., Routledge 3rd ed. 2019
Text refers to: Trimester 3 (Online)
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