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Semester 2

Guided Research in Linguistics and English Language B (LASC10112)

Subject

Language Sciences and Linguistics

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

3

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Students should have taken courses on linguistics up to second year level. Visiting Students: please email lelinfo@ed.ac.uk so you can be provided with further information on how to submit your seminar preferences.

Course Summary

This course will offer students the opportunity to become more familiar with current research in a particular subdiscipline of Linguistics and English Language. Students will choose one of an array of topics (each linked to a research interest of a member of the department) as their focus for this course. Having become familiar with the basic concepts, they will then go on to develop a better understanding of the main theoretical and/or methodological issues associated with research in that field, by following a set of guided readings and/or practical exercises. This will enable students to be better prepared to undertake research in the discipline.

Course Description

This course provides students with the opportunity to become more familiar with theories and/or methods in a particular subdiscipline of Linguistics and English Language. It serves as an 'umbrella' course for a number of seminars, each of which will be run by a member of the LEL academic staff. Students are required to choose one of these seminars. Since these seminars will vary (depending on staff availability and research interests), the precise details of each seminar will be made available via the Honours handbook. Although the topics will vary, the principles behind the course and the means of assessment remain the same in each case. The principles are as follows: to introduce students to key concepts and/or methods in a particular area within the discipline of Linguistics and English Language; to enable students to become familiar with current research in that area; and to prepare students to undertake their own research in that area, should they wish to. The course is not associated with formal lectures, though students will have regular meetings with the academic member of staff leading the seminar. The number of contact hours is lower than with other Honours courses, as a higher proportion of the work for the seminar (compared to a standard Honours course) will involve independent study on the part of the student. It is envisaged that the course should provide useful preparation for dissertation work in the subdiscipline, but students are equally encouraged to take this course at any stage of their Honours study, and to select a seminar topic that does not relate to their anticipated or current dissertation topic.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 0%, Coursework 100%, Practical Exam 0% Annotated bibliography or other short assignment of 1500 words worth 30% Essay or Assignment of 2500 words worth 70%

view the timetable and further details for this course