GUÍA PARA EL ESTUDIANTE Plan experimental ECTS FACULTAD DE LETRAS UCLM Academic year 2009-2010 I DATOS DE LA ASIGNATURA Subject: English Morphosyntax I Code: Subject type: Compulsory year: 1st Groups: 1 Duration: Anual Cuatrimestral 1º x 2º Departament: Filología Moderna Area: Filología Inglesa Professor: María Jesús Pinar Sanz. Office: 207 Extension 3116 e-mail: MariaJesus.Pinar@uclm.es web: Further information on the subject in Moodle. II CREDITS AND LEARNING TIME Credits ECTS: 4.5 Total number of hours: 112.5 III TIMETABLES Class: Mondays and Tuesdays: 13.30-14.30; Wednesdays: 9.30-10.30 : First term: Monday: 11.30-13.30; 16-17; Tuesday: 11.30-13.30; Wednesday: 10.30-11.30 Second Term: Monday: 12.30-14.30; 16-17; Tuesday: 12.30-14.30; Wednesday: 11.30-12.30 IV COURSE REQUIREMENTS Good command of the English language, as the lessons will be taught in English. V OBJECTIVES: KNOWLEDGE: To acquire the basic terminology needed to describe morphological processes and see how they operate in the English language. To review the knowledge of some basic linguistic concepts To increase students vocabulary and understanding of language analysis. To introduce clause structure: syntactic elements and structures of the clause.
To analyse in detail the structure, functions and components of the different groups: nominal, verbal, adjectival, adverbial and prepositional. Make the student aware that the subject is closely related to English I and Phonetics and has to be understood as a part of the other two. VI SKILLS The aims of this course are (i) to introduce the student in the morphosyntactic basis of the English Language and (ii) to make students see the importance of the theoretical aspects of the language in order to use it properly. We will work closely together with the English Language teachers in order to show the students the relationship between both subjects and how the study of Morphosyntax will help them with English I. The students are expected to acquire the following Specific skills 1. Reflect on the basic components of the simple sentence. 2. To develop the skills in the morpho-syntactic analysis of the language. 3. To employ adequate terminology in the morpho-syntactic analysis of words and clauses. 4. To develop a scientific knowledge of the English language Attitudes 1. Reflection on the scientific and theoretical knowledge of the English language, and not merely on the instrumental component. 2. Reflection on theoretical questions ad their linguistic and cultural consequences. 3. To take on responsibility for their own learning. Global skills 1. Improve reading and writing skills. 2. Improve listening and speaking. 3. To develop skills for the analysis of course materials and argumentation. 4. To be able to locate and use materials and learning resources. 5. To develop critical and abstract thinking as well as inference abilities. VII CONTENTS UNIT 1. BASIC CONCEPTS. CLASSES OF WORDS. THE SIMPLE SENTENCE. CLAUSE STRUCTURES. Basic concepts. 1. 1. Language and meaning 1.1.1. Experiential, interpersonal and textual meaning. 1.1.2. Linguistic forms and syntactic functions. 1.2. Units of syntactic analysis: Sentence, Clause, Group, Word, Morphome. 1.2.1. Morpheme. Definition. Free and Bound Morphemes. 1.2.2. Word. Definition. Word classes. Word formation.
1.2.3. Group. Definition, types and characteristics. Syntactic elements of the NG, VG, Adj. G, Adv. G and Prep. G. 1.2.4. Clause. Definition and types (independent, dependent, finite, non-finite, minor and abbreviated). 1.2.5. Sentence. Definition. 1.3. Syntactic elements of clauses: Subject, Predicator, Direct Object, Indirect Object, Prepositional Object, Subject, Object and Predicator Complement, Adjunct, Disjunct and Conjunct. UNIT 2: THE NOMINAL GROUP. 2.1. Definition. Main types of nouns (proper vs common; count vs mass) 2.2. Logical structure of the Nominal Group. 2.2.1. Determiners (predeterminer, central or main determiners and postdeterminers) 2.2.2. Modifiers 2.2.3. Head. Different types of heads (nouns vs pronouns) 2.2.4. Qualifiers. 2.3 Number, case and gender in the Nominal Group. 2.4. The formation of derived nouns. UNIT 3: OTHER GROUPS OF THE SENTENCE: THE PREPOSITIONAL, ADJECTIVAL AND ADVERBIAL GROUPS. 3.1. The Prepositional Group. 3.1.1.Definition. Formal features. 3.1.1.1.Internal structure of the PrepG. 4.1.1.2.Realisations of the elements of a PrepG. 3.1.2. Syntactic features of the Prepositional Group. 3.1.2.1.The grammatical role of prepositions. 3.1.2.2.Syntactic functions of PrepGs. 3.1.3. Semantic features of the Prepositional Group. 3.1.3.1.Two types of prepositional meaning. 3.1.3.2.Polysemy 3.1.3.3.Prototype meaning. 3.1.3.4.One meaning, several forms. 3.1.3.5.Prepositional sets (spatial, time and abstract reference) 3.1.4.Expanded and discontinuous Prepositional Groups. 3.2. The Adjectival Group. 3.2.1. Definition, formal features and structure. 3.2.2. Semantic types of attributes expressed by Adj.Gs. 3.2.3. Syntactic functions of Adj.Gs 3.2.4. Comparative and superlative forms of adjectives. 3.3. The Adverbial Group. 3.3.1. Forms and meanings of the Adverbial Group. 3.3.2. Syntactic functions of the Adverbial Group. 3.3.3. Comparative and superlative forms of adverbs.
VIII BIBLIOGRAPHY AND OTHER RESOURCES AARTS, B. (2008) English Syntax and Argumentation. Third Edition. Palgrave. AARTS, B. and A. MCMAHON (2006) The Handbook of English Linguistics. Blackwell. BIBER, D. et al. (2004 [2002]) Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English. London: Longman. BALLARD, K. (2001) The Frameworks of English. Palgrave. BRINTON, L.J. (2000) The structure of Modern English. A Linguistic Introduction. John Benjamins. CARTER, R. et al (2000) Exploring Grammar in Context. Cambridge University Press. COLLINS, P. AND C. HOLLO (2000) English Grammar. An Introduction. Macmillan Press Ltd. DOWNING, A. and P. LOCKE (2006 [1992]) a University Course in English Grammar. Prentice Hall. FOLEY, M. and D. HALL (2003) Advanced Learner s Grammar. A self-study reference and practice book with answers. Longman. HALLIDAY, M.A.K. (1985/2004) An Introduction to Functional Grammar. Edward Arnold. HUDDLESTON, R. and G.K. PULLUM (2005) A Student s Introduction to English Grammar. Cambridge University Press. KUIPER, K. and W. SCOTT ALLAN (2003) An Introduction to English Language. Palgrave. PARROT, M. (2000) Grammar For English Language Teachers. With exercises and a key. Cambridge University Press. QUIRK, R. et al. (1991) A Student s Grammar of English. Longman SINCLAIR, J. (ed) Collins Cobuild English Grammar. Collins Publishers. VERSPOOR, M. and K. SAUTER (2000) English Sentence Analysis. John Benjamins, IX ACTIVITIES: All the lessons will be taught in English. This subject will be taught in accordance with the ECTS system, and therefore will include - theoretical explanation of course contents - practical sessions - debates - individual and group tutorials - autonomous study The students are required to attend the theoretical explanation of course contents. They will contribute to the debate of the issues arising from the theoretical part. The debate will take place both in small and big groups. The students are also required to fulfil the practical activities and any other activities the teacher consider appropriate for the consolidation of concepts.
Guided activities: total: 65 hours Students will be required to: 1-attend theoretical and practical class sessions (36 hours) -participate actively in class discussion and debates -final exam (2 hours) 2-attend tutorial sessions to discuss work with the teacher and obtain guidelines for research concerning the practical work to be handed in ( 5 hours) 3-Preparation for the theoretical class sessions (22 hours). The students are required to read academic articles and prepare answers for the questions proposed by the teacher before the theoretical and practical class sessions. Autonomous work (47.5 hours) In accordance with the ECTS system, students will be required to complete 47.5 hours of guided and independent study including: of course contents and completion of tasks Completion of activities to be discussed in class revision of material seen in class library/internet research time for practical work to be handed in. X CHRONOGRAM Units Activities compulsory dates Unit 1. Basic concepts. Classes of words. The simple sentence. Clause structures. Unit 2. The Nominal Group. Theotical/ practical classes Theotical/ practical classes yes yes 21 Sept-.28 Oct. 2-25 Nov. Unit 3. Other groups of the sentence: The Prepositional Adjectival and Adverbial Groups. Theotical/ practical classes Essay Yes Yes 30 Nov-16 Dec. 2 Dec Revision and preparation for the final exam Practical classes No 21-22 Dec.
XI EVALUATION CRITERIA A-Continuous Assessment (percentages specified below) ACTIVITY CRITERIA ASSESSMENT PERCENTAGE Class attendance and participation -regular attendance -active participation in class -participation in class debates. -teacher s notes 20% Course contents Practical activities - Theoretical and practical knowledge of contents - For evaluation, the following aspects will be taken into account: organization, quality, originality and presentation Final Exam -Essay -Practical activities handed in. 50% (Students must pass this exam with a minimum of 5/10 in order to pass the course as a whole. 20% 10% In order to be assessed using the ECTS criteria, students should attend at least 80% of the theoretical and practical sessions and hand in the essay and the practical activities. B-FINAL EXAM (non ECTS): Those students who do not want to follow the ECTS system will have to pass a final exam covering all the topics in the programme. This exam will consist of a theoretical and a practical part.