3531018 American Literature
| Numbering Code | U-LET19 23531 LJ36 | Year/Term | 2022 ・ First semester | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Credits | 2 | Course Type | special lecture | |
| Target Year | Target Student | |||
| Language | English | Day/Period | Fri.2 | |
| Instructor name | HOFMEYR，Michael Frederick (Part-time Lecturer) | |||
| Outline and Purpose of the Course | This course will introduce students to the core concepts and key debates within the discipline of sociolinguistics, which is concerned with the multitudinous ways in which language and society may influence one another. As this is a content-focussed course taught through the medium of English, students will be expected to read a substantial amount of authentic academic materials in English, to summarise in their own words what they have read, and to engage in in-depth classroom discussion of the content. This will help to hone their academic writing abilities and also to improve their general English language proficiency. | |||
| Course Goals | This course will introduce students to the field of sociolinguistics by means of a series of class discussions touching on key questions and issues in the field, for example the matters of regional and social dialects and how social status can be reflected and reinforced through language. In terms of English language skills, the primary focus will be on the development of academic reading and writing skills. Students will also be able to expand their vocabulary range in order to discuss a variety of topics related to linguistics and gain a better understanding of the complex interrelationship between languages and the societies in which they are used. | |||
| Schedule and Contents |
Students will be given weekly reading assignments to prepare before each class. They will also receive sets of text review questions for homework which serve the threefold purpose of directing them to the most important information for note-taking during reading, providing support during group discussion seminars and facilitating revision for quizzes and for the final test. Classroom sessions will take the form of small-group discussion seminars and short interactive lectures to clarify and explain relevant concepts. Evaluation will consist of a quiz and a test to evaluate students’ ability to express in writing their understanding of and opinions regarding the course content. Students will also write a research essay on a topic related to the work discussed in class and present their findings to the whole class at the end of the semester. Week 1 - Introduction to the course, diagnostic writing exercise Week 2 - Class discussion of Fromkin et al. (dialects and accents) Week 3 - Class discussion of Fromkin et al. (lexical and syntactic variation) Week 4 - Class discussion of Fromkin et al. (standardisation of dialects) Week 5 - Quiz, class discussion of Fromkin et al. (social dialects) Week 6 - Class discussion of Fromkin et al. (gendered language) Week 7 - Class discussion of Fromkin et al. (pidgins and creoles) Week 8 - Test Week 9 - Class discussion of Fromkin et al. (individual and social bilingualism) Week 10 - Class discussion of Fromkin et al. (dialects and accents) Week 11 - Class discussion of Fromkin et al. (accommodating dialectal differences) Week 12 - Class discussion of sociolinguistic issues in Japan (dialectal diversity) Week 13 - Final essay due, Class discussion of sociolinguistic issues in Japan (languages) Week 14 - Class presentations on essay research Week 15 - Class presentations on essay research |
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| Evaluation Methods and Policy |
Homework: 10% Quiz: 10% Test: 30% Essay: 40% Presentation: 10% |
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| Course Requirements | None | |||
| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) | Weekly reading preparation for class discussion. Revision for quiz and test. Research essay and final presentation will also be prepared outside of class. | |||
| Textbooks | Textbooks/References | The instructor will provide all the necessary materials for this course, so there is no need for students to buy a textbook. However, students are expected to bring a notebook to every class as well as a file or binder for storing handouts. | ||
