ENG4572 - Language in Theory: Language in Context

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate understanding of the basic building blocks of language (morphemes, word classes, phrases, clauses and sentence structure) and ability to analyse sentences in these terms
Demonstrate understanding of the various ways in which language can be critically analysed in relation to social, cultural and historical context
Demonstrate understanding of a range of theoretical terms and linguistic concepts useful for the analysis and discussion of language in the context of a literary text
Research, prepare and present essays observing specific academic conventions

Content:

The content of this module will be divided into four sections. In the first part students will gain an outline understanding of the history of the main developments in the history of the English language and will complete, for formative assessment, a research project on local place names, designed to consolidate their understanding and develop their research skills. In the second and third parts students will be introduced to a number of different concepts which are useful for explaining how meaning (both figurative and literal) is decoded from language, and for describing the relation of language to social and cultural context. In the final part of the module students will consolidate their understanding of grammar and their ability to analyse sentences in terms of word classes, phrases, and appropriate punctuation. Throughout the module there will be explicit reference to the development of research and study skills, and observance of academic conventions in the presentation of assessed work.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Seminars will combine tutor input with completion of analytical exercises and reporting back on prepared work. One session will be based in an IT lab and will be focussed on learning to use the Oxford English Dictionary Online. The module includes formative assessment by an essay in mid-Semester 1 and individual tutorials will be used to provide feedback on this assessment and on the first summative assessment.


Seminars (including two using online resources in IT labs)
Hours: 20
Intended group size: 25

Individual Tutorials / Consultation time available
Hours: 20

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment
Assessment 1 – Directed activities: these consist of weekly tasks that must be completed and submitted for inspection at timetabled sessions each week. The assessment will be assessed on a pass/fail basis with a pass requiring at least 75% of all weekly tasks to be completed successfully. A pass will lead to the full award of 10% towards the final module mark. A fail in directed activities will contribute 0% to the final mark.
Credit should not be awarded unless a pass has been gained in all the quizzes which assess the first learning outcome.
The Semester 1 and 2 essays are weighted 35/55 to encourage students to apply feedback from the formative assessment and the first essay to their final piece of written work which will count for more.
The total loading for both essays (1500 + 2000) is set slightly below the normal assessment loading for 20 credits. This is to allow for the additional form of assessment, by online tests, which is necessary for assessment of the first learning outcome.

Other relevant matters
Online tests (quizzes) are automated and include random selection of questions from a question bank; tests may be attempted more than once before the deadline.

Assessment:

001 Directed activities sem 1 and sem 2 10%
002 Essay 1500 words end sem 1 35%
003 Essay (with dialogue for analysis) 2000 words mid sem 2 55%
004 On line quizzes Pass/Fail end sem 2 0%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Dr Richard Storer
Level - 4
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL

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