Course Code : L 101

Course Name : English Language

School : School of Law
Semester : Semester 1 – 2022
Level : Undergraduate
Location : Leopards Hill Campus
Contact Times : Up to 4 hours per week

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT (HOD) COURSE COORDINATOR COURSE LECTURER

Name: Ms. Mwaka Chizinga Name: Mrs. Nchimunya, Norah Name: Mr. Mushima Muke
Mobile: +260953332643 Mobile: +260977000000 Mobile: +260966285638
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email:
[email protected]
Office Hours for Queries:
14:00HRS to 16:00HRS
Monday to Wednesday
COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides practical application of the English Language in the legal career. It is divided
into two broad categories namely Part A: Conceptual English and Part B: Practical English. The
conceptual part provides the language skills while the practical part enables a practice of the
assimilated skills through a simulation of a court proceeding. Conceptual English is further divided
into Foundational Review and Professional Writing. The Foundational Review provides an
opportunity to make a revision of the key features of the English language. This includes grammar,
vocabulary, phonology and orthography. These lay the principles of the English language that will
enable the learner articulate the professional part effectively. The Court Simulation will provide a
practical experience for the learners to practice the English language and skills in oral
communication.

Course Rationale

The rationale of this course is to cement the critical tool of English language in the legal profession
which is indispensable to the attainment of an accurate assessment of laws and statutes. With firm
skills in the English language, the legal professional will effectively deliver justice to all.

Course aim

The course aims to produce a legal practitioner who is competent to articulate the law with
accuracy in order to deliver timely justice.

Course Objectives

The main objectives of the course are to:

 Appropriate levels of oral and written communication in English

 General knowledge of all grammatical structures

 Basic and general knowledge of the paragraph

 Intercultural competence
  Ability to work autonomously/independently

 Ability to work collaboratively

 Ethical commitment

 Develop a critical mind in the approach to legal issues.

 Present a detailed expository written work.

 Make a descriptive writing of an object, person and place.

 Engage is developing a full argumentative essay.

 Identify the components of a narrative.

 Verbally articulate him/herself in a court simulation exercise.

Learning outcomes

At the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

 Exercise listening skills through dialogues, announcements, instructions and

discussions.

 Communicate using the full range of tenses in contexts both familiar and non-familiar

 Exercise reading skills such as vocabulary in context, word structure,

 prefixes and suffixes, scanning, skimming, identifying main ideas etc

 Demonstrate the use of the structure and purpose of the paragraph in writing

 Apply practiced reading strategies and produce summary, narrative and descriptive
writing at the paragraph level

 Competently analyze an issue and present it in the required writing format of

expository, descriptive, argumentative or narrative.

 Competently articulate the verbal usage of the English language in arguing a simulated
court case.
COURSE CONTENT

Introduction
 Why study English language when pursuing a bachelor of laws degree?
 Status of English language at Global level.

PART A: CONCEPTUAL ENGLISH

FOUNDATIONAL REVIEW

Unit 1: English Grammar: Review of all grammatical structures

1.1. Word Classes
1.1.1. Nouns
1.1.2. Determiners
1.1.3. Pronouns
1.1.4. Verbs
1.1.5. Adjectives
1.1.6. Adverbs
1.1.7. Prepositions
1.1.8. Conjunctions
1.2. Negation
2.3. General Components
1.4.1 Interjections
1.4.2 English plurals
1.4.3 Prefixes
1.4.4 Suffixes
1.4.5 Punctuations

Unit 2: Sentence Types

2.1 Definition and usage
2.1.1 Phrases and Clauses
2.1.2 Simple Sentences
2.1.3 Compound Sentences
2.1.4 Complex Sentences
2.1.5 Compound-Complex Sentences
2.2. Subject and Verb Agreement
2.3. Pronoun Agreement and Reference
Unit 3: Paragraph as Text
3.1. Thesis Statement
3.2. Topic Sentence
3.3. Transitions
 3.4. Supporting Sentences
3.5. Conclusions

Unit 4: Reading Strategies and Summary Writing

4.1 Skimming
4.2 Scanning
4.3 Identifying Topic Sentences
4.4 Main Parts of a Paragraph
4.5 Introduction to Summary Writing

PROFESSIONAL WRITING

Unit 5: Critical Reasoning

5.1 Arguments
5.1.1 What is an Argument?
5.1.2 Statements & Propositions
5.1.3 Premises & Conclusions
5.1.4 Truth
5.1.5 Justification
5.2 Deductive & Inductive Reasoning
5.2.1 Deduction
5.2.2 Induction
5.3 Obstacles to Reasoning
5.3.1 Preconceived Ideas
(a) Social Conditioning
(b) Labelling
(c) Either-or-Thinking
5.3.2 Fallacies
(a) Distraction
(b) Emotional
(c) Structural

Unit 6: Expository Writing

6.1 Defining Expository writing
6.2 Purpose of Expository writing
6.3 Elements of Expository writing
6.4 Expository Essay
6.5 Uses of Expository writing

Unit 7: Descriptive Writing

7.1 Defining Descriptive writing
7.2 Describing a Person
7.3 Writing about an Object
7.4 Writing a Descriptive Paragraph about a Place

Unit 8: Argumentative Writing

8.1 Defining Argumentative Writing
8.2 Elements of Argumentative Writing
8.3 Including Research and Sources
8.4 Structure of Argumentative Writing
 Unit 9: Narrative Writing
9.1 Defining Narrative Writing
9.2 A Narrative Story
9.3 Elements of Narrative
9.4 Analysis of a Motion Picture Narrative

PART B: PRACTICAL ENGLISH

VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Unit 10: Techniques of Oral Communication

10.1 Introduction
10.2 Defining Oral Communication
10.3 Techniques of Oral Communication

COURT SIMULATION

Unit 11: English Integration

Mode of delivery

L 102 will be delivered through combination of lectures, seminar presentations and discussions.
With the current Covid – 19 situation, both online and physical classes will be conducted.

Assessment and Grading

The Course will be assessed through coursework and final examinations. The coursework will
carry 30 percent, while final University examination will carry 70 percent. The coursework marks
(Continuous Assessment (CA)) will be distributed as follows:

Assignment : 10 marks, Test: 20 marks, Total 30 marks

Final Examination : 70 marks
Final Total : 100%
Grading Scheme:
Marks Grades Points Classification
86% - 100% A+ 5 Distinction
76% - 85% A 4 Distinction
66% - 75% B+ 3 Meritorious
61% - 65% B 2 Satisfactory
 56% - 60% C+ 1 Clear Pass
50% - 55% C 0 Pass
0% - 49% D 0 Fail

Required Readings

Coleman, M., & Glover, D. (2010). Educational leadership and management developing insights
and skills. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Driscoll, D., & Brizee, A. (n.d.). On Paragraphs. Retrieved August 31, 2017,

from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/01/

Finegan, E. (2008). Language: Its Structure and Use (Fifth ed.). Thomson Wadsworth

Maimon, E. P., & Peritz, J. H. (2003). A Writer's Resource A Handbook for Writing and

Research (MLA Update). New York: McGraw-Hill.

What are Prefixes and Suffixes? Definition, Examples. (n.d.). Retrieved July 07, 2017, from

http://writingexplained.org/grammar-dictionary/prefixes-and-suffixes

Recommended Readings

Ahmed, R. (2015, June 18). Five essential listening skills for English learners. Retrieved May 25,
2017, from https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/five-essential-listening-skillsenglish-
learners

Possel, H. (n.d.). Transition Words. Retrieved August 31, 2017, from

http://www.smart-words.org/linking-words/transition-words.html

Weber, R., & Stolley, K. (n.d.). Welcome to the Purdue OWL. Retrieved August 31, 2017,

from https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/owlprint/574/