Sounds and Structures of English
MODULE CODE
CREDIT VALUE
DELIVERY
Module Aims
Aim 1
This module provides what is needed from an introduction to English grammar in its own right and provides foundational knowledge for further study in English language and linguistics.A. TRADITIONAL GRAMMATICAL ANALYSISThe aims of this module in terms of traditional grammatical analysis are to:1. Introduce students to the core terminology, categories and concepts of traditional grammar (word class analysis and sentence analysis).2. Enable students to apply these to the analysis of sentences.3. Enable students to use these confidently for further degree-level study of language.B. NATIONAL CURRICULUM ENGLISHThe aim of this module in terms of national curriculum English is to:4. Ensure that students have a mastery of traditional grammatical analysis of English at a level necessary to teach National Curriculum English.C. PUNCTUATIONThe aims of this module in terms of punctuation are to:5. Inform students of the relation between punctuation and grammatical structure.6. Ensure students have secure knowledge of the key rules governing English punctuation.D. SENTENCE STRUCTUREThe aim of this module in terms of sentence structure is to:7. Introduce students to phrase structure analysis and enable students to construct a phrase structure analysis of full sentences.E. PHONOLOGYThe aims of this module in terms of Phonology are to:8. Ensure that the student has a basic acquaintance with the study of English phonology9. Equip students with a sound competence in dealing with phonemic representations, which is one of the key linguistic analytical skills that are necessary for many other modules.
Module Content
Topics may include but are not be limited to:
Core components of traditional grammatical analysis
The grammatical terms required by the National Curriculum
The key rules governing punctuation
Sentence types and the link between sentence structure and punctuation
Phrase structure analysis (how words join together to form clauses and sentences)
Phonemic representations (involving the phonemic analysis of the student’s own dialect and the phonemic analysis of lexical representation in RP and the student’s own dialect)
Phonetics (including principal articulatory phonetic mechanisms, basic articulatory and acoustic characteristics of phones, articulatory classification of phone types, sounds of the International Phonetic Alphabet)
Morphology (including word-formation processes such as inflection and derivation).
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to:
Teaching Methods
The module will employ both formal lectures and seminar sessions which will include discussion, question/answer sequences, and problem-solving activities, as well as theoretical engagement with, and critical application of the ideas introduced. Students will also learn through doing, through peer observation and through reflecting on these activities. Teaching and learning on this module may also comprise class and group discussions, class-based group work, and face-to-face feedback with the tutor. There is an expectation that students will engage interactively with the tutor and their peers during the sessions, and undertake additional reading and preparatory work outside of the lecture and seminar sessions. In common with other English modules, this module is designed to foster an active, participatory, independent approach to learning, to develop critical faculties and to consolidate and develop written and oral communication skills. A booklet will be used in which there will be exercises for each week’s input; answers for most of the exercises will be provided, allowing the students to monitor their progress at home. In addition to the one-hour sessions, a practice and revision workshop will be held each week (one hour) in which students can revise and practice under the guidance of a tutor.
Assessment: assessments will be based on materials covered in Syntax (62.5% of assessment will be in Syntax) and Phonology (37.5% of assessment will be from Phonology).
SYNTAX ASSESSMENT: These consist of homework exercises, an in-class test and an exam. 12.5% of the grade for the module will be based on level of engagement with the syntax assessment, including the within-module reassessment opportunities There will be multiple within-module reassessment opportunities for the grammar test.
PHONOLOGY ASSESSMENT: the assessment for phonology will consist of a phonemics assignment (which must be passed) and a phonemics test (needn’t be passed). 12.5% of the grade for the module will be based on the extent to which the student has met all submission deadlines, followed all assignment instructions, and engaged with the within-module reassessment opportunities. There will be multiple within-module reassessment opportunities for the phonemics assignment and at least one within-module reassessment opportunity for the phonemics test. The grade for the phonemics assignment will be capped at 40% if it doesn’t pass on first submission. The overall module grade is based on a weighted average of all elements of assessment. A grade of 40 will be awarded if the overall average is less than 40 but the weighted average excluding the 25% for level of engagement would come to 40 or more.
In common with other English modules, this module is designed to foster an active, participatory, independent approach to learning, to develop critical faculties and to consolidate and develop written and oral communication skills. Students will obtain co-operative skills during classroom discussions, including the ability to engage in critical debate while showing respect for others. The will also develop problem-solving skills, the ability manage time and work to deadlines and will be encouraged to adopt reflective practices.
We keep very clear records of attendance and are keen to encourage you to attend your session: attendance at taught sessions will enable you to develop the key skills you need to progress on to the next stage of your career. You should remember that employers expect you to keep to agreed hours in work, and we consider ourselves to be offering you a professional approach to develop good employability skills. Managing your time effectively now will be of significant benefit to you in your future.
Assessment Methods
This module is assessed through one Portfolio of tasks.
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Compulsory
Optional
