SAN BEDA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF LAW

SYLLABUS
COURSE CODE: JD106
COURSE TITLE: PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH FOR LAWYERS
COURSE CREDIT: 2 units
COURSE NONE
PREREQUISITE/S:
TERM/ACADEMIC YEAR: FIRST SEMESTER / AY 2025-2026
FACULTY: ASST. PROF. MARIA PAMELA G. TENDERO,
MBA
([email protected])

ASST. PROF. SYBIL L. AGREDA, M.Ed.

([email protected])

ASST. PROF. CARISSA C. CABAYASA, MAEd

([email protected])

DAY/TIME/ROOM/SECTION:
COURSE DELIVERY MODE: HYBRID
CONSULTATION DAY/TIME:

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will review and strengthen the students’ understanding of basic English
grammar rules, including parts of speech, sentence construction, subject-verb
agreement, tenses, and parallelism, all within the framework of legal communication.

With this, students will develop necessary skills to communicate their ideas effectively in
both written and oral forms.

Students are given exercises and take-home writing activities, which will be corrected and
answered in class, so students can develop and refine their writing style in the kind of
English required in the legal profession.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
• write clear, concise, and persuasive documents;
• analyze and articulate ideas correctly using proper grammatical structures and
mechanics;
 • apply grammatical principles and stylistic conventions to legal writing; and
• demonstrate mastery of grammar, usage, and mechanics in various outputs.

LEARNING PLAN

Week Topic Teaching-Learning Assessment

Methods
Week 1 1. Course F2F Lecture discussion Participation in the
introduction discussion
• Course
Overview
• Course
Requirements
2. Grammar, usage,
and writing
proficiency test

Week 2-3 MODULE 1

Note: Introduction to Legal F2F Lecture discussion/ Exercises in

Week 3 English Round Table Discussion RedCanvas
will be 1. Overview of English
Summary of the
Online- grammar and its Ref: Haigh, R. (2009). content of the video.
Asynchro importance to legal Legal English. (2nd ed.). The sentences in this
nous writing Routledge-Cavendish. summary should use
different sentence
2. The development of patterns.
modern English

3. Review of the basic Lecture discussion View video through the

sentence parts and Classroom activity and link:
patterns workshop Lange, A. (2018,
1. Subjects November).
2. Verbs References Think like a
3. Complements Scarry, S. & Scarry, J. lawyer [Video].
4. Sentence patterns (2014). The writer’s TED Talks.
5. Subject-verb workplace. (10th ed.). https://www.yout
agreement Cengage Learning. ube.com/watch?
(pp. 31-54) v=YnuQwMp0ox
U
Hall, B. & Wallace E.
(2018). College ESL
writers: Applied grammar
 and composing strategies
for success.
https://oer.galileo.usg.edu
/cgi/viewcontent.cgiarticle
=1014&context+english-
textbooks
(pp.18-19)
Week 4-5 MODULE 2
More grammar Lecture discussion
structures Workshop Exercise: Answer
1. Understanding Page 24
fragments and phrases References Assignments in Red
* Infinitive phrase Scarry S. & Scarry J. (pp. Canvas
* Participial phrase 73 – 93)
* Gerund phrase Hall, B. & Wallace E. (2018).
3. Pronouns (p.14-24)
• Pronoun
agreement
• Indefinite
pronouns and
agreement
• Collective nouns
Subjective and
objective
pronouns
• Relative
pronouns
• Adjectives and
adverbs
Week 6-7 MODULE 3-A
Write a position paper
Sentence variety: Lecture discussion
on students’ use of AI
Note: How to refine writing
writing tools in
Week 7 • Incorporating References academic
will be sentence variety Hall, B. & Wallace E. (2018) assignments. The
online, • Connecting (pp.25-66) paper should observe
asynchro ideas to proper grammar,
nous increase https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/c usage, and mechanics.
sentence variety gi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1
Knowledge of
Coordination and 014&context=english-
sentence variety must
textbooks
subordination be applied.
• Combining
sentences
through
coordination
 • Coordinating
conjunctions
• Conjunctive
adverbs
• Combining
sentences
through
subordination
• Subordinating
conjunctions
The position paper Rutger’s University
https://people.cs.rutger’s.
edu
Week 7-8 MODULE 3-B
Exercise: Answer:
Sentence variety: F2F Lecture discussion
Page 66
How to refine writing Round Table Discussion
• Sentence length Assignments in Red
and form References Canvas
• Varying Hall, B. & Wallace, E. (2018)
sentence (pp. 25 – 66)
openings https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/c
• Beginning with a gi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1
word that comes 014&context=english-
after the verb textbooks
• Straightforward
vs ornate style Glenn, C. & Gray, L.
• Sentence (2013)
structure Harbrace essentials with
• Boundaries and resources for writing in the
associated disciplines. Cengage
errors Learning.
• Parallelism (pp. 113 – 117)
-Using
coordinating Haigh, R. (2009).
conjunctions
-Using that or
as
-Using
correlative
conjunctions
Week 9
MIDTERM EXAMINATIONS (Paper Submission)
Week 10 MODULE 4 Lecture
Answer Exercises (P
Workshop Activity
178)
 Working with usage,
Assignments in Red
form, and context Reference
Canvas
1. Commonly confused Hall, B. & Wallace, E.
words (2018).
2.Commonly (pp. 138-146)
misspelled words https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/c
3. Homonyms gi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1
014&context=english-
4. Avoiding slang and
textbooks
cliches
5. Synonyms and
antonyms
Week 11- MODULE 5 Lecture discussion
Recorded audio
12 Verb Usage Workshop activity
discussion by triad.
Verb tenses
Note: Four principal parts References Punishment for the
Week 12 Regular and irregular Hall, B. & Wallace, E. crimes on a given case
will be verbs (2018). from
Online Verb conjugation (pp. 204-235)
https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/c
https://tefltastic.wordpr
Asynchro Correct use of tenses ess.com/worksheets/gr
nous gi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1
Subjunctive mood ammar/passive/passiv
014&context=english-
Active and passive textbooks e-tense-review/
voice Scarry, S. & Scarry J.
(2014).
(pp. 205- 222)
Week 13 MODULE 7 Lecture Pair Activity:
Workshop Activity Using the podcast as a
Consistency in the take-off point, with a
use of tense The Supreme Court partner, create a
Podcast- The Supreme podcast that will last for
Subject-Verb Court of the Philippines 20 minutes.
Agreement (2025). Episode 63:
Gender-fair Language. In this exchange, the
Retrieved from partners should
https://www.youtube.com/ consciously use
watch?v=0d- appropriate verb tense
zCHOCQF8&list=PLqkpd and observe correct
eVqC6n5h3T0bjUFI2uJsil Subject-Verb
rcsl9T&index=16 Agreement.

Week 14 MODULE 8 Lecture Exercises: Page

Mechanics Workshop Activity 274,277
1. Capitalization
2. Abbreviation Reference Reflection essay on the
3. Punctuations reading assignment.
 Hall, B. & Wallace, E.
(2018). Assignments in Red
(pp.251-177) Canvas
https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/c
gi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1
014&context=english-
textbooks

Reading Assignment:
Salleh, R.M. & Ali, E.M.
(n.d.) Court’s decision on
obvious typo errors in
contracts.
https://www.azmilaw.com/
insights/courts-decision-
on-obvious-typo-errors-in-
contracts/

Week 15 MODULE 6 Lecture Exercises (p 248)

Misplaced and Workshop Activity
Dangling Modifiers Critiquing Assignments in Red
Double Negatives Canvas
Count and Non-Count Reference
Nouns Hall, B. & Wallace, E.
Common Pronoun (2018).
Errors (pp. 185-190)

https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/c
gi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1
014&context=english-
textbooks
Week 16 MODULE 9 Lecture
Effective Writing Workshop Activity Assignments in Red
Canvas
1. Coherence Reference
Unity Hall, B. & Wallace, E.
Variety (2018).
2. Coordination (pp. 25-66)
3. Subordination https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/c
gi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1
4. Clarity 014&context=english-
6. Avoiding textbooks
• ambiguity in
sentences
• sexist language
 • constant
litigated words
• false word pairs
• problem words
Week 17 MODULE 9 Live lecture Application Letter
Correspondence and Class discussion CV Writing
Memoranda Workshop Memoranda
Peer Critiquing
1. Letter-writing
conventions Reference
2. Letter-writing style Mason, C. & R. Atkins.
3. Emails The Lawyers English
4. Memoranda Language Course Book.
5. Application for a Global Legal English
Legal position Limited 2007. Chapter 8:
6. Application form and Modern Letter Writing
CV (pp. 293-315)

Week 18 FINAL EXAMINATIONS

(In ExamSoft )

NOTE: All requirements should be submi1ed at the specified 6me. Late submissions will only be
accepted if a valid reason and evidence can be presented. Submission format should be
followed as specified for each task/output.

Rubric for Essay

Traits 4 3 2 1
There is one
clear, well-
There is one
focused topic.
clear, well-
The main
focused topic. There is one
ideas are The topic and
Focus & Main ideas are topic. Main
clear, and main ideas are
Details clear but are not ideas are
They are well not clear.
well supported somewhat clear.
supported by
by detailed
detailed and
information.
accurate
information.
The The introduction The introduction There is no
Organization introduction is states the main states the main clear
inviting, states topic and topic. A introduction,
 the main topic, provides an conclusion is structure, or
and provides overview of the included. conclusion.
an overview of paper. A
the paper. conclusion is
Information is included.
relevant and
presented in a
logical order.
The
conclusion is
strong.
The author’s The author’s
The author’s
purpose of purpose of
purpose of
writing is very writing is
writing is
clear, and somewhat
somewhat clear,
there is strong clear, and
and there is
evidence of there is some
evidence of The author’s
attention to evidence of
attention to the purpose of
Voice audience. The attention to the
audience. The writing is
author’s audience. The
author’s unclear.
extensive author’s
knowledge
knowledge knowledge
and/or
and/or and/or
experience with
experience experience
the topic is/are
with the topic with the topic
limited.
is/are evident. is/are evident.
The author The author uses
uses vivid vivid words and The writer
words and phrases. The The author uses uses a limited
phrases. The choice and words that vocabulary.
Word choice and placement of communicate Jargon or
Choice placement of words is clearly, but the clichés may be
words seems inaccurate at writing lacks present and
accurate, times and/or variety. detract from
natural, and seems the meaning.
not forced. overdone.
All sentences Most Most sentences Sentences
are well sentences are are well sound
Sentence
constructed well constructed, awkward, are
Structure,
and have constructed but they have a distractingly
Grammar,
varied and have similar repetitive, or
Mechanics,
structure and varied structure are difficult to
& Spelling
length. The structure and and/or length. understand.
author makes length. The The author The author
 no errors in author makes makes several makes
grammar, a few errors in errors in numerous
mechanics, grammar, grammar, errors in
and/or mechanics, mechanics, grammar,
spelling. and/or and/or spelling mechanics,
spelling, but that interfere and/or
they do not with spelling
interfere with understanding. that interfere
understanding. with
understanding.

GRADING SYSTEM

Midterm Grade Final Grade

Class 50% Class Standing for 33.3333333%
Standing*/Recitatio the second half
n
Midterm Exam 50% Midterm Exam 33.3333333%
Final Exam 33.3333333%

100% 100%

*Class Standing/Recitation refers to the aggregate grade of all other course

requirements, including but not limited to quizzes, assignments, group/pair activity, and
reports.

TABLE OF PERCENTAGE AND GRADE POINT EQUIVALENCE WITH

DESCRIPTION:

Grade
Percentage Letter Point Description
Equivalent Grades Equivalent
93-100% A 1 Excellent
87-92% A- 1.5 Very Good
83-86% B 2 Good
79-82% B- 2.5 Fair
75-78% C 3 Passing
74%- Below F 5 Failure

• A grade of 75W (with warning) means that the student actually failed the subject
concerned, but the professor, for justifiable reasons, opted to pass him/her just the same.
• The “floor grade” or minimum passing grade for class standing/recitation is 60 which is
then transmuted to 75%. However, the zero-based system will be adopted in the midterm
and final examinations.

Learning Resources

1. Primary References

Forlini, G. (2009). Prentice-hall grammar and composition. Prentice Hall.

Hall, B. and Wallace, E. (2018). College ESL Writers: Applied Grammar and Composing
Strategies for Success. English open textbooks. 14 https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/english-
textbooks/14.
https://oer.galileo.usg.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=english-textbooks

2. Supplementary References

Benjamin, A. (2021). Engaging grammar: Practical advice for real classrooms (2nd ed.).
https://research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=e1407cda-101c-3ac4-8ac0-
e89828830860. Acesso em: 31 jul. 2025.

Glenn, C. & Gray L. (2013). Harbrace essentials with resources for writing in the disciplines.
Cengage
Learning.

Haigh, R. (2009). Legal English (2nd ed.). Routledge-Cavendish.

Scarry S. & Scarry J. (2014). The writer’s workplace. (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.

3. Websites

Lange, A. (2018, November). Think like a lawyer [Video]. TED Talks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnuQwMp0oxU

The Supreme Court Podcast- The Supreme Court of the Philippines (2025). Episode 63:
Gender-fair Language [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d-
zCHOCQF8&list=PLqkpdeVqC6n5h3T0bjUFI2uJsilrcsl9T&index=16
Attendance:

Regular attendance and participation are expected. If one exceeds four absences, one
will automatically fail the course. Students who are beyond 15 minutes late will be marked
absent, but they will be allowed to attend the session. In an online class, students will be
requested to turn on their cameras during attendance checking and before the end of the
class session. The only excused absences are the ones stipulated in the Student
Information Handbook. Proofs of Sickness (Doctor’s Certificate), Internet Provider
Advisory, or Electric Provider Advisory should be presented immediately, one day before
or after the absence of the student. Communication may be sent via the Red Canvas
Inbox or the instructor's San Beda email.

Prepared by:

MARIA PAMELA G. TENDERO, MBA

Faculty

SYBIL L. AGREDA, MEd

Faculty

CARISSA C. CABAYSA, MAEd

Faculty

Endorsed by:

ATTY. FRANCESCA LOURDES M. SEÑGA, J.D., LL.M.

Vice Dean

Approved by:

ATTY. MARCIANO G. DELSON, J.D., LL.M.

Dean