SPRING 2010
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An introduction to the study of structural and historical linguistics and the history and evolution of human language. Special attention is paid to the English language, including its place among and relations to the languages of the world and stages of its development such as Old (Anglo-Saxon),
Middle, and Modern English.The course will address the nature and
mechanisms of language change with attention to both linguistic and historical factors. The first half of the term will be devoted to language and linguistics, while the second half will focus on the specifics of the history and development of English.
TEXTS
Required Materials:
All required reading and study materials are available through the Web Outlines provided by the instructor and through Blueline at https://blueline.creighton.edu (log on with your Creighton NetID as the username and the corresponding password).
Recommended Materials (these are NOT required but are strongly recommended and can be purchased at the University Bookstore of found on reserve at Reinert Alumni Library):
Other recommended resources (on reserve at Reinert Alumni Library):
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1) Two Exams (25 % each, 50% total)
Students will take two exams covering the materials studied. Exams will include objective, multiple choice, short answer, and problem-solving questions.Questions will be based on the material outlined in the course webnotes and emphasized in the lectures and class discussions. See schedule below for exam dates (Exam 1, Exam 2).
2) Term Project & Presentation (25%)
Each student will design and complete a term project on any aspect of language, linguistics, the history/evolution/nature of the English language or other world languages. Projects may take the form of papers (5-10 pages), creative writing (original poetry or fiction, also 5-10 pages), painting, music, sculpture, film, dance, performance pieces, documentaries, websites, experiments, field research, or practical studies of language use (for example: sampling, description, and/or discussion of group or regional dialects, slang, origins of words, features of pronunciation, specialized or unusual lexicons, private languages, language in electronic media, etc.). In general, students are encouraged to be creative and imaginative and to choose material and media which are interesting and stimulating. Art works of all kinds are acceptable and encouraged provided they are relevant and provide insight into some aspect of language and its current or historical use. All projects must be personal and original and must be produced by the student for the specific purposes of the class. Recycling projects from previous terms or attempting to use work not produced specifically for the class will be considered forms of academic dishonesty (see policy below). All projects must be approved by the instructor in advance (see Schedule below for project proposal deadline ). All projects must be presented to the class at the end of the term (approx. 5 minute presentations, see Schedule below for date of presentations). For their project presentations, students are encouraged to use media such as powerpoint slides or other audiovisual materials. NOTICE HOWEVER THAT A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION BY ITSELF IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS A PROJECT. Students choosing to write a paper must follow the instructor's "Guidelines for Papers"). For further information on the writing and grading of papers see Grading Standards and Procedures, and Grading of Essays and Other Written Work.3) Participation and Other Performance (25 %)
Class participation, attendance, effort, attentiveness, preparation, responsibility, and, in general, active and constructive involvement in all aspects of the course will also be taken into consideration in the course grade.
GRADING AND OTHER POLICIES
Deadlines
Make-ups/extensions for a missed deadline will only be given in cases of documented serious illness or other valid, non-frivolous excuse. It will be up to the instructor to determine and decide on the acceptability of an excuse. Otherwise, students must meet all deadlines specified in the syllabus.
Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policy: All students in the course
are expected to observe the University's guidelines on student conduct as described
in the Code of Conduct and Creighton University's Student Handbook (especially
the section on "Academic Honesty Policy" dealing with problems of
plagiarism, cheating, etc.). All work turned in for credit in this course must
be personal and original, produced during the course of the semester and for
the specific purposes and according to the guidelines of the given assignments. Any misrepresentations, concealments, or distortions of source, origin, collaboration
or authorship of such materials will be considered forms of academic dishonesty
and will result in failing the given assignment or, at the discretion of the
instructor, the entire course. Problems such as repeated lateness arriving to
class (or departing early), inattentiveness, or disruptive behavior will adversely
affect attendance and/or the class participation grade. Seriously disruptive
behavior can also result, at the discretion of the instructor, in more severe
penalties, including failing the entire course.
Attendance Policy
An attendance measurement will be calculated equal to the percentage of total class time attended. The course grade may not exceed that percentage (i.e. if a student attended only 75% of the total class time, the course grade may not be higher than 75 or C according to a 100-point scale where 90-100 = A, 87-89 = B+, 80-86 = B, 77-79 = C+, 70-76 = C, 60-69 = D, and 0-59 = F). Notice also that, at the discretion of the instructor, any student missing more than 30% of the total class time (i.e. attending less than 70% of class time) may fail the course.
Email Communication
The University considers a student's Creighton email address the official means of communication with faculty and administrators. All students are responsible for checking their email messages as they might contain important and time-sensitive information relevant to the course, including notifications on changes to reading and other assignments, deadlines, class cancellations or reschedulings, etc. A student who prefers to receive email at a different address must inform the instructor.
Grading
All aspects of the course will be graded on a 100-point scale where 90-100 = A, 87-89 = B+, 80-86 = B, 77-79 = C+, 70-76 = C, 60-69 = D, and 0-59 = F. For
further information on grading see documents entitled Grading
Standards and Procedures and Grading
of Essays and Other Written Work. At the discretion of the instructor, a normative curve may be applied to the grades at the end of the term. The course grade will be calculated according to the following formula:
Two Exams |
50% |
| Term Project | 25% |
Participation and Other Performance |
25% |
Total |
100% |
COURSE SCHEDULE
Reading indicated below can be found either directly by clicking on the links in this syllabus, in the textbook, in the recommended materials on reserve at the Reinert Alumni Library, or in Blueline https://blueline.creighton.edu (logon using your Creighton NetID as the username and corresponding password). Exams will be based on material included in the Web Outlines and covered in lectures up until the class just before the exam.
Wed Jan 13
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Mon Jan 25
Wed Jan 27
Mon Feb 01
Wed Feb 03
Mon Feb 08
Wed Feb 10
Mon Feb 15
Mon Feb 22
Wed Feb 24
Mon Mar 01
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Mon Mar 10
Mon Mar 15
Wed Mar 17
Mon Mar 22
Wed Mar 24
Mon Mar 29
Wed Mar 31
Mon Apr 05
Wed Apr 07
Mon Apr 12
Wed Apr 14
Mon Apr 19
Wed Apr 21
Mon Apr 26
Mon May 03
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Last updated: 01/11/2010