LS3GRL-English Grammar and Lexis

Module Provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites: LS2EG English Grammar LS1SG Sounds, Grammar and Meaning and LS1ELS English Language and Society
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Module Convenor: Dr Jackie Laws

Email: j.v.laws@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module aims to develop an understanding of the main structural patterns of English and to relate these to the functional domains identified from a functional-communicative perspective; and to familiarise students with the principal lexical relations of English.

Aims:
This module aims to develop an understanding of the main structural patterns of English and to relate these to the functional domains identified from a functional-communicative perspective; and to familiarise students with the principal lexical relations of English. Areas of debate include the interfaces between grammar, on the one hand, and the lexicon, semantics and discourse principles, on the other.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to demonstrate an ability to analyse English sentences in terms of grammatical structure and to evaluate positions taken by a variety of functionally oriented approaches to English grammar.

Additional outcomes:
Students should be able to relate the terms and concepts studied to issues in language learning, discourse analysis, first language acquisition, sociolinguistics, forensic studies and corpus-based approaches to language analysis.

Outline content:
This module provides the student with the opportunity to develop an understanding of grammatical concepts and linguistic meaning at word, clause and sentence level. At word level, topics include the analysis of complex and compound words, lexical relations, grammatical functions and collocations. At clause level, analyses address the attributes of the Noun Phrase, transitivity, the grammatical properties of the Verb Phrase, and the characteristics of lexicalisation and alternation patterns. At sentence level the integration of the message is addressed through the analysis of the principles of discourse syntax.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Lectures are integrated with workshops and seminar sessions. In addition, lecture material is supported by weekly self-study tasks.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	15		2
Tutorials	5
Guided independent study:	120		58
Total hours by term	20
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	80
Class test administered by School	20

Summative assessment- Examinations:
A two-hour paper requiring answers to two essay questions.
Relative percentage of examination: 80%

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
The assessment schedule for this module has 2 parts: a class test and an examination.

Class Test:
In Week 11 of the Autumn term, students will sit a short 1-hour parsing test in class which will contribute 20% to the overall mark for this module.
Relative percentage of the Class Test: 20%

Formative assessment methods:
Weekly parsing exercises posted on Blackboard.

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;

where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:
Re-examination in August.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 8 April 2019