California University of Pennsylvania
Guidelines for New Course Proposals
University Course Syllabus
Department of Art & Languages
UCC Approval date: 4/9/2020
A. Protocol
Course Name: Advanced Arabic Composition
Course Number: ARB 660
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Maximum Class Size (face-to-face): N/A
Maximum Class Size (online): 35
B. Objectives of the Course:
The overall aim of this course is for students to advance their knowledge of Arabic grammar and improve
their writing skills in Modern Standard Arabic. In addition, the course will advance students’ ability to
comprehend and communicate with native speakers and native-speaker artifacts—both verbally and in
reading and writing.
Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Apply effectively the skills learned in advanced Arabic grammar.
Describe a variety of Arabic texts.
Write compositions, essays, and research papers in Arabic at an advanced level.
Communicate in Arabic at an advanced level
Use a variety of Arabic grammar forms and vocabulary in writing and speaking at an advanced Arabic
level.
Write social correspondence and daily situational conversation in Arabic at an advanced level.
Report the main ideas and summarize key details from authentic Arabic newspaper articles.

C. Catalog Description:
This course will focus on advanced Arabic grammar and writing, empowering students to develop writing
skills within a variety of subjects and disciplines. In terms of advanced grammar, this course provides a
review of both fundamental and basic points of the grammatical structural types of Arabic. It is designed to
review students' grammatical knowledge of Arabic structures to improve their performance on both writing
and speaking. Students will follow the steps of writing, including prewriting, research and data collection,
drafting, revising, and editing and proofreading writing through multiple drafts.
D. Outline of the Course:
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§

The rules of grammar and morphology that students require for advanced levels of Arabic
Covering all the important grammatical rules of MSA, from nisba adjectives and nominal and verbal
sentences to more complex constructions such as conditional sentences and the subjunctive
Focus on real patterns of use in contemporary written Arabic
Acquire a clear idea about the skeletal structure of the language, as well as translators who are working
with written Arabic.
Focus on real patterns of use in contemporary written Arabic, from street signs to literature
Comprehensive coverage of all parts of speech
Full cross-referencing
Authentic examples, given in Arabic script, transliteration and translation
A detailed index

E. Teaching Methodology:
1) Traditional Classroom Methodology
N/A

2) Online Methodology
The following methodology will be used in teaching this course: whole class threaded discussions and
small group threaded discussions, student comments, and online enhancing communication strategies
such as email, chat rooms, phone conferences, synchronous (live) and asynchronous oral communication
(audio recordings), and incorporation of Internet resources. Emphasis will be placed upon engaging the
learner for involvement and active participation in the learning process.
F.

Text (Suggested)
Modern Arabic Grammar in Context, An Advanced Course for Foreign Students (Arabic Edition). By Samar
Attar.
Modern Written Arabic: A Comprehensive Grammar. By Elsaid Badawi, M.G. Carter, Adrian Gully.

G. Assessment Activities:
1) Traditional Classroom Assessment
N/A
2) Online Assessment
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.

Discussion post (boards/blogs/chat). Individuals or groups present summaries or engage in conversation
on various topics of discussion to promote interaction between students.
Written homework assignments.
Online exams and/or quizzes.
Projects will include case studies, problem solving exercises, group collaborative work, and discussions
on various topics—including a group case study.
Presentations and oral communication activities—students will present in the form of informational web
pages such as blogs, web-based student-generated learning tools, video/audio, or slide shows.
Self-Assessment—students assess and reflect upon their own learning and their skill level using rubrics
that establish performance expectations and provide a sound basis for self-assessment.
Portfolio development.
Students will complete an end of course paper to serve as a comprehensive assessment tool.

H. Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
OSD
Revised June 2015
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students reserve the right to decide when to self-identify and when to request accommodations. Students
requesting approval for reasonable accommodations should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities
(OSD). Students are expected to adhere to OSD procedures for self-identifying, providing documentation and
requesting accommodations in a timely manner.
Students will present the OSD Accommodation Approval Notice to faculty when requesting accommodations that
involve the faculty.
Contact Information:
•
•
•
•
•
I.

Location:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Web Site:

Carter Hall - G-35
(724) 938-5781
(724) 938-4599
osdmail@calu.edu
http://www.calu.edu/osd

Title IX Syllabus Addendum

Revised January 2018
California University of Pennsylvania
Reporting Obligations of Faculty Members under Title IX
of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681, et seq.

California University of Pennsylvania and its faculty are committed to assuring a safe and productive educational
environment for all students. In order to meet this commitment and to comply with the Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972 and guidance from the Office of Civil Rights, the University requires faculty members to
report incidents of sexual violence shared by students to the University’s Title IX Coordinator, Dr. John A.
Burnett, Special Assistant to the President for EEEO, Office of Social Equity, South Hall 112, Burnett@calu.edu,
724-938-4014. The only exceptions to the faculty member’s reporting obligation are when incidents of sexual
violence are communicated by a student during a classroom discussion, in a writing assignment for a class, or as
part of a University-approved research project. Faculty members are obligated to report sexual violence or any
other abuse of a student who was, or is, a child (person under 18 years of age) when the abuse allegedly occurred
to the person designated in the University protection of minors policy.
The University’s information regarding the reporting of sexual violence and the resources that are available to
victims of sexual violence is set forth at:
•

•
•
•
•
•
•

J.

Office of Social Equity, South Hall 112, 724-938-4014
o Social Equity Home Page
www.calu.edu/SocialEquity
o Social Equity Policies
www.calu.edu/SEpolicies
o Social Equity Complaint Form
www.calu.edu/SEcomplaint
Counseling Center, Carter Hall G53, 724-938-4056
End Violence Center, Natali Student Center 117, 724-938-5707
Student Affairs, Natali Student Center 311, 724-938-4439
Wellness Center, Carter Hall G53, 724-938-4232
Women’s Center, Natali Student Center 117, 724-938-5857
Threat Response Assessment and Intervention Team (T.R.A.I.T.) & Dept. of Public Safety &
University Police, Pollock Maintenance Building, 724-938-4299
o EMERGENCY: From any on-campus phone & Dial H-E-L-P or go to any public pay phone
& Dial *1. (*Identify the situation as an emergency and an officer will be dispatched
immediately.)

Supportive Instructional Materials, e.g. library materials, web sites, etc.
Instructor will provide clear and comprehensive written course materials.
Print Materials: readings, syllabus, lesson/assignment files, rubrics, and handouts. Course introduction video.
Digital media/recorded lectures (audio or video): TV Clips/ YouTube, podcasts, screencasts, and TEDx
Talks. Presentation materials: lecture notes, PowerPoint, and Prezi. Guest speaker recordings. Case
studies/scenarios.
Additional Information for Course Proposals

K. Proposed Instructors:
A qualified instructor of Arabic approved by the Department of Art & Languages.
L. Rationale for the Course:
This course is vital for students’ development with respect to various advanced Arabic grammar and writing
learning skills and will meet the needs and expectations of students seeking to satisfy the Arabic advanced
level requirements. Grammar is the most vital and appreciated tool for understanding how human language is
structured and serves as the best explanation for how communication takes place. “Grammar is a description
of the rules that govern how a language’s sentences are formed” (Thornbury, 2002). Teaching grammar
always depends on the written language—therefore, teaching grammar and writing is essential when it comes

to using a language in its correct forms and functions. This course will expose students to authentic Arabic
texts in various topics and will develop their academic writing skills by focusing on the composition process
used to write clear, well-organized, and well-supported advanced essays in various styles.
M. Specialized Equipment or Supplies Needed:
Students will need headset, microphone, flash drive or a webcam to get through their coursework.
N. Answer the following questions using complete sentences:
1) Does the course require additional human resources? (Please explain)
No
2) Does the course require additional physical resources? (Please explain)
No
3) Does the course change the requirements in any particular major? (Please explain)
No
4) Does the course replace an existing course in your program? (If so, list the course)
No
5) How often will the course be taught?
Once a year, as needed.
6) Does the course duplicate an existing course in another Department or College? (If the possibility exists,
indicate course discipline, number, and name)
No
O. If the proposed course includes substantial material that is traditionally taught in another discipline, you must
request a statement of support from the department chair that houses that discipline.
N/A
P.

Please identify if you are proposing to have this course considered as a menu course for General Education.
The General Education Committee must consider and approve the course proposal before consideration by
the UCC.
No

Q. Approval Form
Provide the Approval Form (Signature Page) with the signatures of your department
Chair AND college Dean (electronically).