English 3319: Introduction to Descriptive Linguistics Instructor: Dr. John Foreman Office: ELABS (ARHU) 231 Office Hours: M-F 8:40-9:40 either in person or online; additional times by appt. Contact: john.foreman@utrgv.edu; 665-3441 Classroom: ACSB 1.106 (Edinburg) and Main 1.220 (Brownsville) Class Time: M-F11:20-12:50; some class material may be delivered online Final Exam: T 7/12/16 11:50-1:35 Two Required Texts: 1. TITLE: Language Files: Materials for an Introduction to Language and Linguistics by Ohio State University (OSU Dept Linguistics) ISBN 13: 978-0-8142-5179-9 Publisher: Ohio State University Press Binding: Paperback List Price: USD 49.95 The book is available from various online companies (check www.addall.com for price comparison) for under $35 and can also be rented for as low as $17.50. Everyone should get the book ASAP. 2. Photocopy packet of notes. This item is only available at the campus bookstore. Cost is approximately $20. It should also be obtained ASAP and brought to class every day. Course Description: English 3361 provides an introduction to the methods of linguistic science with emphasis on problem-solving techniques and the application to specific problems. Throughout the course, stress will be placed on the evidence from which linguistic theory is derived, the use of language that reveals the systematic nature of the world s diverse tongues. A main aim is to encourage an ongoing interest in the living patterns of English and other languages around us. As such the course includes analysis of non-english languages. Please note, we may discuss ALL aspects of language including taboo vocabulary. Student Learning Outcomes and Instructional Goals for Advanced English Courses: 1. Students will analyze and interpret a variety of texts and patterns of language, using a range of theoretical approaches and disciplinary modes of inquiry. 2. Students will demonstrate a broad and foundational knowledge of the traditions of American, British, Ethnic and/or World literatures by critically situating specific works of literature within these traditions. 3. Students will write coherently and demonstrate a consistent use of the conventions of a variety of genres, including, but not limited to, the academic essay. 4. Students will apply appropriate research methodologies, including appropriate use of electronic media, to understand and/or illuminate specific research questions about language and literature. 1
5. Students in certification tracks will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the areas of writing, literature, reading, oral communication, media literacy, and English language arts pedagogy. Specific Course Goals and Objectives The ultimate goal of this course is for you to understand how language works, to discover those principles which are uniquely human and to learn principles of problem solving and analytical thought which will serve you in whatever future endeavor you undertake whether it be law, medicine, education or engineering! Students will learn the nature of human language that is unique and powerful. Students will explore the rule-governed properties of human language in word, sentence, and sound formations. Students will learn to analyze the segments of words, the units of sentences, and the distinctive features of sounds of English. Students will learn a variety of rules of English language that allow speakers to create words; to form sentences, to produce sound segments; to produce prosodic speech. Course Requirements: Homework 15% Activities/Projects 15% Quizzes (Tests) 20% Exams 50% Grading Scale (rounded to nearest whole number): 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D < 60 F Homework: There will be frequent homework assignments, typically one assigned every class day. Unless otherwise noted, homework assignments will be due in two parts, and both must be completed in order to receive credit for the homework assignment: 1. Type up your homework in a computer file or write it out, take a picture/scan it and convert it into a computer file, which you then upload to Blackboard. Unless otherwise noted, homework will be due to Blackboard before the next class period. 2. Once you have uploaded a copy to Blackboard, an answer key will appear. Use the answer key to correct your homework. Again, you can write out the corrections on the original and then scan the corrections to upload or you can type in the corrections into a Word document, but make sure the Track Changes feature is turned on, so that the corrections are visible. However, it is done, CORRECTIONS MUST BE VISIBLE IN THE DOCUMENT. DO NOT SIMPLY UPLOAD THE ANSWER KEY. Note the following: When submitting work to Blackboard, you may only submit one file once per assignment, and only certain file formats are allowed. So make sure your all of your homework responses are in a single file of the correct format. Occasionally Blackboard may be offline for maintenance or because of technical difficulties. Do NOT wait until the last minute to submit homework. Allow yourself time to overcome technical glitches. 2
Do NOT merely upload a copy of the answer key to turn in. Make sure the corrections are VISIBLE and OBVIOUS, either because they are written in by hand or because they use the Track Changes features of Word. Both parts of the homework must be completed to receive any credit for the homework. Both your original answers and the corrections must be uploaded. I will be checking both for completeness. Late homework will NOT be accepted, but a low homework grade will be dropped, which should cover any unforeseeable absences. Homework and corrections must be submitted to Blackboard before the next class period. Take the homework process seriously. It is there to help you learn (and is really not worth that much of your grade). If you rush through the corrections without understanding them, you will get a point toward your grade but then you will not understand the material for quizzes and exams, which count a lot more than does your homework. If you go through the steps I have outlined and come to class prepared to ask questions on anything you don't understand, you will be in good shape for the quizzes and tests. To input phonetic symbols, you will need to use a special font. I have posted a file to Blackboard that you may copy and paste from. You can also copy and paste from the following website: http://ipa.typeit.org/. Activities/Projects: Besides homework assignments, there will be a few short projects required for the class, such as the linguistic autobiography assignment, language in the news project (for this, you can join our UTRGV Facebook group UTRGV Linguistics & ESL), and linguistic found object project. Quizzes: To further assist students in mastering material, there will be weekly (and sometimes more frequent) quizzes administered via Blackboard. (Note that Blackboard calls these quizzes "Tests", so you may see that word used as well, but these will be distinct from exams). Quizzes will cover previous lectures, assigned reading, and material that you should have practiced in homework assignments. Typically, quizzes must be unlocked by first completing and uploading related homework assignments and the corrections to go with them. Some, but not all, quizzes will be timed. On most quizzes, you will be allowed to repeat the quizzes as many times as you like until the due date of the quizzes. Quizzes will typically require that you first complete and correct a homework assignment. Once you complete the homework assignment and correction the quiz will become available and remain open until the due date. Again, most quizzes will allow you to take them repeatedly until the due date. However, quizzes cannot be taken after the due date and cannot be made up. But the lowest quiz grade will be dropped so missing one will not adversely affect grades. Exams: There will be 2-3 exams given out throughout the course of the semester. These exams will be in class and will be cumulative. They will cover both material covered in class and outside reading. If you have some documented emergency which prevents you from taking an exam, the percentage of the grade that would have been assigned to that exam will 3
be added to the final exam, which will take place during the final exam period. This will only be allowed for one exam. The final exam for this class is scheduled for July 13, 2015. NOTE: The way the course is designed, all students should be able to score at least an A on 50% of the coursework with nothing more than due diligence. Students will receive 100s on their homework assignments so long as they complete them and the corrections as described in the directions. Activities/projects, another 15% of the grade, will largely consist of receiving credit for coming to class and working on in-class activities (with a few (2-3) outside projects). Finally, quizzes, which make the final 20% of this half of your course grade, may be repeated as much as needed, essentially until a 100 (or at least 90%) is achieved on them. And if students do the above steps with homework, activities and quizzes conscientiously, they will be in good shape for the exams and be able to do well on them. Attendance: Regular attendance will be taken via a daily sign-in sheet or roll call. It is the responsibility of the students to ensure that they sign in. If late attendance becomes a problem I may restrict the availability of the time sheet to the first few minutes of class. Students are also responsible for attending to be aware of any changes in due dates, meeting times, exam schedules, etc. Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and may be dropped from the course for excessive absences. UTRGV s attendance policy excuses students from attending class if they are participating in officially sponsored university activities, such as athletics; for observance of religious holy days; or for military service. Students should contact the instructor in advance of the excused absence and arrange to make up missed work or examinations. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: If you have a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other disability which affects your academic performance) and would like to receive academic accommodations, please inform your instructor and contact Student Accessibility Services to schedule an appointment to initiate services. It is recommended that you schedule an appointment with Student Accessibility Services before classes start. However, accommodations can be provided at any time. Brownsville Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in Cortez Hall Room 129 and can be contacted by phone at (956) 882-7374 (Voice) or via email at accessibility@utrgv.edu. Edinburg Campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in 108 University Center and can be contacted by phone at (956) 665-7005 (Voice), (956) 665-3840 (Fax), or via email at accessibility@utrgv.edu. MANDATORY COURSE EVALUATION PERIOD: Students are required to complete an ONLINE evaluation of this course, accessed through your UTRGV account (http://my.utrgv.edu); you will be contacted through email with further instructions. Students who complete their evaluations will have priority access to their grades. Online evaluations will be available: July 3 July 12, 2016 for the summer I term SCHOLASTIC INTEGRITY: As members of a community dedicated to Honesty, Integrity and Respect, students are reminded that those who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, 4
including the possibility of failure in the course and expulsion from the University. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, and collusion; submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person; taking an examination for another person; any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student; or the attempt to commit such acts. Since scholastic dishonesty harms the individual, all students and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced (Board of Regents Rules and Regulations and UTRGV Academic Integrity Guidelines). All scholastic dishonesty incidents will be reported to the Dean of Students. SEXUAL HARASSMENT, DISCRIMINATION, and VIOLENCE: In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a responsible employee for reporting purposes under Title IX regulations and so must report any instance, occurring during a student s time in college, of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, or sexual harassment about which she/he becomes aware during this course through writing, discussion, or personal disclosure. More information can be found at www.utrgv.edu/equity, including confidential resources available on campus. The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to provide a learning, working, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination. COURSE DROPS: According to UTRGV policy, students may drop any class without penalty earning a grade of DR until the official drop date. Following that date, students must be assigned a letter grade and can no longer drop the class. Students considering dropping the class should be aware of the 3-peat rule and the 6-drop rule so they can recognize how dropped classes may affect their academic success. The 6-drop rule refers to Texas law that dictates that undergraduate students may not drop more than six courses during their undergraduate career. Courses dropped at other Texas public higher education institutions will count toward the six-course drop limit. The 3-peat rule refers to additional fees charged to students who take the same class for the third time. Important University Dates and Tentative Schedule of Topics (Schedule of topics subject to change (with warning); students are responsible for keeping up with changes, which will be announced in class, via Blackboard, and/or via email). June 6 First Day of Class July 1 Last Day to Drop a Summer I course; will count toward the 6-drop rule July 4 Fourth of July Holiday No Classes July 12 Summer 1 Final Exams 5