Course coordinator
Dr Amber Gwynne
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
This course presents contemporary grammatical and stylistic concepts and strategies that will enhance students' ability to revise and edit their writing.
Have you ever heard that you shouldn't start a sentence with a conjunction? That you should never end one with a preposition? That ‘they’ is not a singular pronoun? Do you second-guess every sentence you write? Are you looking for ways to more confidently write and edit text for a variety of audiences and purposes?
WRIT2250 Writing: Grammar, Syntax and Style aims to unlock your potential as a knowledgeable and persuasive communicator by providing you with a solid foundation in English structure and style.
The course will introduce you to the basics of English grammar, using concepts and principles from contemporary research to help you understand the way words work – and how to combine them into meaningful phrases, sentences, and paragraphs that are impactful to your intended audience.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to identify the parts of an English sentence, describe these structures and their stylistic effects, and approach writing and editing tasks with strengthened confidence and skill.
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
4 units of level 1 courses
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
WRIT7250
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Amber Gwynne
Tutor
Dr Alexandra Trueman
Ms Madeleine Dale
Dr Melanie Myers
Ms Martine Kropkowski
Dr Umme Salma
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
While every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you need help, please email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with:
- Your name
- Your student ID
- The course code
- A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)
- Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP
Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to enhance students' ability to revise and edit their writing by building on their intuitive understanding of how words work and equipping them with a command of sentence structure and style that will enable them to write and editﾠ with competence and confidence.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Recognise and describe the grammatical structures of written English
LO2.
Perceive and describe stylistic effects of writers' grammatical choices
LO3.
Use your knowledge of grammar and style to enhance your reading, writing, revising, and editing processes.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
7 x online weekly quizzes
|
30% |
24/02/2025 - 19/05/2025
Submit online via Blackboard |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Writing and editing self-reflection | 30% |
22/04/2025 4:00 pm
Submit via TurnItIn through Blackboard |
| Essay/ Critique | Structural and stylistic analysis | 40% |
30/05/2025 4:00 pm
Submit via TurnItIn through Blackboard |
Assessment details
7 x online weekly quizzes
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
24/02/2025 - 19/05/2025
Submit online via Blackboard
- Learning outcomes
- L01
Task description
You will complete 7 weekly quizzes on Blackboard based on lecture and tutorial content for a maximum total of 30% of your overall grade. (At the end of semester, your lowest-scoring quiz result will be dropped, meaning that the 30% will comprise your top 6 quiz results for the semester.)
Each week, you'll answer 10 randomised quiz questions worth half a mark each for a total of 5% per quiz. You'll have 30 minutes to complete each quiz.
Each quiz will open directly after the week's lecture and remain open until the following Monday afternoon, to help keep you on track with your learning throughout the semester.
The quizzes are all open book. You can use your readings, lecture notes, and tutorial activities. You may need to use a dictionary or other online tools. Make sure you're well prepared and have everything you need in front of you before you begin each quiz.
The quiz questions will be based on the following areas:
- Quiz 1 — Words and how to choose them (due 4.00 pm Monday 10 March)
- Quiz 2 — The form and function of verbs (due 4.00 pm Monday 24 March)
- Quiz 3 — The form and function of nouns + pronouns (due 4.00 pm Monday 31 March)
- Quiz 4 — The form and function of determiners + modifiers (due 4.00 pm Monday 7 April)
- Quiz 5 — The form and function of prepositions + conjunctions (due 4.00 pm Monday 14 April)
- Quiz 6 — Clauses and sentences (due 4.00 pm Monday 12 May)
- Quiz 7 — Punctuation principles (due 4.00 pm Monday 19 May)
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Please note: You are NOT able to apply for an assessment extension via the Unitask portal. Please contact your course coordinator directly if you are sick or have other extenuating circumstances to see if alternative arrangements are available.
Writing and editing self-reflection
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
22/04/2025 4:00 pm
Submit via TurnItIn through Blackboard
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Objective
In this task, you will reflect on your relationship with English structure and style, using the knowledge and skills you’ve gained so far this semester to find patterns in your writing – and ways you can improve.
This reflection will encourage metacognitive awareness of your writing process and help you develop a deeper understanding of how your explicit knowledge of English grammar can underpin effective writing techniques and self-editing strategies.
Your 800-1,000-word reflection should:
- Describe the kind of writing you typically do, what you enjoy writing, and what your writing and editing processes usually look like.
- Consider your experiences of learning about English grammar so far in your study journey, which may include your primary and high school education, your experiences at university, and any professional development or individual study you’ve pursued.
- Draw on your knowledge of the English word classes and the principles we’ve covered so far this semester to identify some recurring patterns in your writing, integrating specific examples from your work to support your observations. You may include salient examples and feedback from other university assignments, samples from work-based writing tasks, or commentary on your own private writing.
- Identify the weaknesses and strengths you’ve noticed in your writing (you may use other tools and resources to help you).
- Highlight one or two self-editing strategies you might put into practice, tools you might use, and writers whose style you might like to emulate to reduce weaknesses and amplify strengths in your writing. You may also like to highlight your main takeaway from the course so far – or something you’ve found particularly surprising, interesting, or useful.
How your assignment will be assessed
This assignment is worth a maximum total of 30% of your overall course grade.
The assignment criteria primarily address:
- Quality of insight: perceptiveness and accuracy of the strengths and weaknesses you identify in your writing, supported by examples, that relate to course content in Weeks 1 to 7
- Quality of expression: demonstrated ability to communicate ideas clearly, effectively, and appropriately
See the assignment rubric for a more detailed breakdown of the task’s criteria and the allocation of marks.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. While students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your assignment (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Structural and stylistic analysis
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
30/05/2025 4:00 pm
Submit via TurnItIn through Blackboard
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Objective
In this 1,500-word essay, you will apply the knowledge and skills you’ve developed this semester to compare two writing samples based loosely on the same topic.
Your essay should consider and compare the writing samples’ structural and stylistic features based on word choice and syntax, drawing on your knowledge of the English word classes and sentence structure.
This task will strengthen your critical reading skills and deepen your understanding of the ways writers can achieve a different tone and style, and write across genres, by manipulating grammatical features.
How your assignment will be assessed
This assignment is worth a maximum total of 40% of your overall course grade.
The assignment criteria comprise the 5 levels of edit:
- Content – the substance of your essay, including the quality of your analysis, the integration of examples, and the sophistication of your arguments
- Structure – the way you’ve structured your ideas, including the overall coherence and cohesiveness of the essay
- Style – the strength and clarity of your verbal expression, including sentence structure and a tone that’s appropriate to an academic essay
- Mechanics – the accuracy and precision of your writing, including sound sentence structure, accurate spelling, and consistent/conventional punctuation choices
- Formatting – the overall appearance of your document and adherence to submission requirements, such as font choice and line spacing
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. While students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information about the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics, are available in the Assessment folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks cannot be changed after being released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the course coordinator.
- Assessment re-mark : If you are considering an assessment re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity pledge: You will submit assignments for this course electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must complete UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules. When you upload an assignment via Turnitin, you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where you have properly acknowledged it, and that your final assignment has not been previously submitted for assessment in another course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: As per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Week-by-week information sheets | downloadable PDFs available on Blackboard |
Additional learning resources information
There is no set textbook for this course. Instead, you should use the weekly readings and other recommended links available on Blackboard to prepare for class.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Lecture |
Week 1 — GETTING INTO GRAMMAR Course introduction: What is grammar? Why study it? What are some key concepts we need to understand before we delve into the course content? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 1 No tutorial |
|
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Lecture |
Week 2 — THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WORDS What is a word? How do words work? How can we choose the best word for the job? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 2 — GETTING INTO GRAMMAR + CHOOSING THE RIGHT WORD In your tutorial, you will learn about your intuitive knowledge of English grammar and complete some word choice activities to prepare you for your first quiz. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Lecture |
Week 3 — VERBS (PART 1) What is a verb? How do verbs work, and what forms do they take? Why are verbs so crucial to English sentences? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 3 — GETTING INTO VERBS In this tutorial, you will work through some exercises to familiarise yourself with the form and function of verbs, including the structure of an English verb phrase and how verbs convey meanings about time through tense and aspect. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Lecture |
Week 4 — VERBS (PART 2) What is the difference between a transitive and intransitive verb? Why does this distinction matter? How are active and passive voice distinct? When should we use one or the other? What are the forms and functions of non-finite verbs, and where do they show up in sentences? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 4 — GETTING INTO VERBS AGAIN In this tutorial, you will work through some more hands-on activities to familiarise yourself with verbs and to prepare you for your second quiz. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Lecture |
Week 5 — NOUNS + PRONOUNS What are nouns? How can we identify them based on their form and function? What are some useful sub-categories of nouns to know about? What are pronouns, and what do we do with them? How can we use nouns and pronouns effectively in our writing? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 5 — GETTING INTO NOMINALS In this tutorial, you will consolidate the lecture material relating to nouns and pronouns, completing class activities that will prepare you for the third quiz. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Lecture |
Week 6 — ADJECTIVES, ADVERBS + DETERMINERS What is the difference between adjectives and adverbs? What features do they have that can help us identify them? How can we use describing words effectively in our writing? What are determiners, and how are they distinct as a word class? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 6 — GETTING INTO MODIFIERS In this tutorial, you will practise identifying adjectives, adverbs, and determiners. You will learn more about the Royal Order of Adjectives and work through other activities designed to prepare you for the fourth quiz. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Lecture |
WEEK 7 — PREPOSITIONS + CONJUNCTIONS What role do function words play in our writing? What is a preposition, and how can we use them effectively? If conjunctions are joiners, what are the different types? What do they join? How can we integrate them seamlessly into our prose? Lastly, what is an interjection, and how do we know when a word is functioning as one? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
WEEK 7 — GETTING INTO FUNCTION WORDS In this tutorial, you will work with your classmates to identify prepositions and conjunctions in context. You will complete a number of exercises to help you use function words effectively and to prepare you for the fifth quiz. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Lecture |
WEEK 8 — READING WEEK This is a reading week during which you should work on your first assignment. |
Tutorial |
WEEK 8 — READING WEEK This is a reading week during which you should work on your first assignment. |
|
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Lecture |
WEEK 9 — CLAUSES + SENTENCES What is the difference between a clause and a sentence? What is an independent clause or complete sentence? What are the different sentence types? What is sentence weight, and how can we achieve a pleasing variety of sentences in our work? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 9 — WRITING + EDITING SENTENCES In this tutorial, you will develop your skills in writing complete and effectively structured sentences. You will learn more about sentence mood and ways of combining clauses to form different types of sentences, helping prepare you for your sixth quiz. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Lecture |
WEEK 10 — COMBINING SENTENCES What are some sentence-level problems to look out for? How might we combine sentences into coherent and cohesive paragraphs? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 10 — COHERENCE + COHESION This tutorial will build on your writing and editing skills at both the sentence and paragraph level and help prepare you for the sixth quiz. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Lecture |
Week 11 — PUNCTUATION BASICS What is the purpose of punctuation? What are the main punctuation principles you need to know and understand to write and edit standard Australian English? When is it OK to break punctuation 'rules'? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 11 — PUNCTUATION PRACTICE In this tutorial, you will try your hand at punctuating text and learn more about the most important principles to apply in your writing for clear, effective communication. You will cover the concepts you need to master for your final quiz (the seventh quiz). Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Lecture |
Week 12 — USING GRAMMAR FOR GOOD How can we continue to apply our explicit knowledge of English grammar beyond this semester? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 12 — ASSIGNMENT WORKSHOP In this tutorial, you will have an opportunity to workshop your assignment ideas and early drafts. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Lecture |
Week 13 — READING WEEK There is no lecture this week. Use this time to draft and polish your final assignment. |
Tutorial |
Week 13 — READING WEEK There is no tutorial this week. Use this time to draft and polish your final assignment. |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
Course guidelines
Communication Expectations
While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.
- Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.
- You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.
- You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.
- You can send email at any time, however please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).
- Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.