

COURSE SYLLABUS
SCOPE OF COURSE SYLLABUS
Intended for students enrolling in Sociolinguistics, this syllabus contains information specific to the course. It is a definitive record of the course's primary characteristics and the learning outcomes that a typical student can reasonably be expected to achieve if they take full advantage of the available learning opportunities. This document also serves as a reference for academic and support staff, internal and external examiners, and for future course monitoring and review.
COURSE AT A GLANCE
Course Title
Sociolinguistics
Subject Area
Linguistics
Course Code
LING 50031
Course Level
Graduate
Credits
4.0
Prerequisites
LING 50011
Methods of Delivery
Face-to-face
Online
Expected Length
5.0 Weeks
Class Meetings
Dependent on the choice made during enrollment
Faculty
Michael Knight
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Computer Software: Any computer software that aids learning.
TEXT(S)
Text 1: WS
Title: What Is Sociolinguistics?
Author(s): Gerard Van Herk
Edition: 2nd
ISBN: 9781118960738
SYNOPSIS
This course is an introduction to studying human language as an ever-changing social practice. Students will acquire various linguistic analysis tools, which are then used to trace social differences in the use of language. The course focuses on linguistic variation and change in American English. Students will engage in field projects to search for the social correlates of linguistic behavior and use quantitative methods to analyze the results.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:
Identify social factors which lead to variation in how individuals and groups use language.
Describe how social and political factors affect the development of languages over time, including regional and social dialects, pidgins, and creoles.
Interpret graphs and tables showing correlations between linguistic forms and social variables.
Analyze the causes and effects of social judgments of different dialects, taking a cross-cultural perspective, and justify taking a culturally relativistic approach to language variation.
Evaluate the social effects of government policies related to language around the globe, including in education, bilingualism, language maintenance, and official languages.
Select and use appropriate methods for gathering and analyzing data to research sociolinguistic questions.
Relate sociolinguistic research findings to their own experiences.
WEEK 1
Module 1
Introduction to Sociolinguistics
Reference(s): WS Ch1
Module 2
Language and Society
Reference(s): WS Ch2
Module 3
Place
Reference(s): WS Ch3
WEEK 2
Module 4
Social Status
Reference(s): WS Ch4
Module 5
Time
Reference(s): WS Ch5
Module 6
Ethnicity
Reference(s): WS Ch6
WEEK 3
Module 7
Gender
Reference(s): WS Ch7
Module 8
Interlude
Reference(s): WS Ch8
Module 9
Style
Reference(s): WS Ch9
WEEK 4
Module 10
Interaction
Reference(s): WS Ch10
Module 11
Multilingualism
Reference(s): WS Ch11
Module 12
Language Contact
Reference(s): WS Ch12
WEEK 5
Module 13
Attitudes and Ideologies
Reference(s): WS Ch13
Module 14
Language as a Social Entity
Reference(s): WS Ch14
Module 15
Education
Reference(s): WS Ch15
PROFESSIONALISM
WEIGHT: 10.0%
DEADLINE: 23:59 (GMT+0) on Sunday of Week 6
All students must participate actively in discussions, class exercises, activities, simulations, and group work. Regular attendance, preparation, and participation in class discussions (online and in discussion forums) are required. Good attendance results in more opportunities to engage in quality participation and earn a higher participation grade.
Class participation and discussion indicate that students have read the assigned readings. Grades will not be based on the number of posts submitted or comments made in a class but on the overall contribution to the discussion. Students are encouraged to exchange contact information and support one another if a class is missed. They must contact the course instructor if they are concerned about attendance or need additional information on any assignment. If a student cannot attend 3 or more classes, they may be asked to complete additional assignments to complete a course.
GROUP PRESENTATION
WEIGHT: 30.0%
DEADLINE: Sunday at 23:59 (GMT+0) of Week 3
THEORETICAL RESEARCH PAPER
WEIGHT: 60.0%
DEADLINE: Sunday at 23:59 (GMT+0) of Week 6
General Information
This must be eight pages (approximately two thousand words), not including references, title page, and appendix. This assessment aims to determine the level of comprehension and mastery of the material covered over five weeks, focusing on the practical aspects of the course. The deadline to submit this assessment is always on Sunday at 23:59 (GMT+0) of Week 5. The grade is stored in the online grade book. As only one attempt per piece of coursework is allowed, it is highly recommended that students review all course materials and complete some test preparation tasks before attempting the graded assessment.
Description
Choose one issue you found compelling this semester and explore it in greater depth. Your paper should demonstrate a thorough understanding of class readings. It should include well-integrated readings/videos from class (reference at least 5), additional readings (at least 5 references beyond class readings, which can include up to 2 “further readings”), your personal experience, and your reflections and theorizing, including your ideas about pedagogical implications. If you find that the number of references isn’t making sense for the particular line of inquiry you’re pursuing, let me know, I can be flexible. One goal of this assignment is to support your library literacy skills and provide you with good experience poking around in library databases and making choices about what sources suit your needs best, out of the millions of articles and books out there. You will give a 10-minute presentation of your theoretical research paper at the research symposium.
Assignment Requirements
8 full pages (approximately 2000 words), double-spaced.
Upload as a .pdf file to Nebula by 11:59pm on Friday, June 10th, 2023.
Include at least 5 references from class readings in your text.
Include at least 5 references beyond class readings, (can include up to 2 “further readings”).
Include a list of references in APA style.
Present a 10-minute overview of your paper in class.
Evaluation Criteria
(5.0%) Explore a topic that reflects the scope and content of the course.
(10.0%) Integrate and demonstrate a thorough understanding of class readings, referencing at least 5 class readings.
(10.0%) Reference and demonstrate an understanding of at least 5 additional readings beyond class readings (can include up to 2 “further readings”).
(10.0%) Integrate personal experience.
(10.0%) Discuss pedagogical implications.
(20.0%) Include insightful reflection and personal theorizing.
(20.0%) Write clearly, compellingly, and elegantly.
(10.0%) Give an instructive and clear 10-minute presentation.
(5.0%) Use APA style with consistency, including an appropriately cited list of references.
PARTICIPATION POLICY
Please be sure to review the following important information about the University Policies and Procedures.
All students must participate in all classroom activities, attend classes regularly, and prepare before classes for classroom activities that require advance preparation. Students need to fully appreciate that good attendance results in more opportunities to engage in quality participation, which, in turn, results in a more thorough acquisition of subject knowledge and higher participation grades.
Participation in classroom discussions indicates that students have read the assigned readings. Grades will not be based on the number of posts submitted or comments made in the classroom but on the overall quality of contributions to discussions.
If a student is unable to attend 3 or more classes, he/she may be asked to complete additional assignments to complete the course.
Mode of Attendance
For the portion of the course that takes place over Microsoft Teams:
Students are required to arrive on time and engage appropriately with their fellow students, their teacher(s) and course materials. They must attend with a functional web camera and microphone, have the latest version of Microsoft Teams installed on their computers, avoid attending via a mobile phone or web browser, and have all necessary materials to hand. Also, their cameras must be always switched on, except for occasions when privacy becomes a necessity. In addition, they must be appropriately attired, attend in an environment that will not distract them, their fellow students or their teacher(s), especially avoiding attending while in a vehicle, whether moving or stationary.
For the on-campus portion of the course:
The mandatory on-campus session meets as per the AUS Campus schedule. Good attendance is required to earn credits and pass the course. Students cannot arrive late or leave early. Students traveling from afar must plan accordingly, giving themselves plenty of time to arrive by the start of class. No exceptions can be granted.
Classroom Expectations
Classes start and end on time, with late entry or reentry allowed only under exceptional circumstances. All phones and electronic devices must be turned off.
GRADING
The expectation is that students read assigned materials prior to class. Class discussions are based on their reading of these materials and their reflections on what they have learned and how these relate to their experiences. Assignments are intended to encourage students’ exploration, reflection on and synthesis of assigned topics and course discussions.
Assessments are listed in the course syllabus and are due by the stipulated deadlines.
No assessment will be accepted after the day following the day it is due. If an assessment submission is one day late late, it will receive an automatic reduction in grade of one letter, for example, from an A to a B. After that, no late work will be accepted, and the student will receive an F grade for the assessment.
Submission of late papers must be approved in advance. Late final papers will not be accepted.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY
Students are responsible for understanding the University Policies and how to use sources responsibly. Violations of academic integrity are taken very seriously. Students are asked to visit the course RESM 50011: Fundamentals of Graduate Research Reading and Writing to review important information on academic citation and referencing rules.
ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES POLICY
The University is committed to providing an accessible academic community. The Disability Services (DS) is responsible for providing accommodations to students with disabilities. Students must request accommodations or adjustments through the DS. Instructors cannot grant accommodation requests without prior DS approval. It is imperative to be in touch with the DSS as soon as possible to avoid delays in the provision of an accommodation.
The University takes student privacy seriously. Any medical documentation should be provided directly to the DS if a substantial accommodation is required. If a student misses any classes due to a short-term illness, he/she should notify his/her instructor but to avoid the inclusion of a doctor's note. Course staff will not request, accept, or review doctor's notes or other medical documentation. For more information, email DS@TheAUS.us
PUBLISHING OR DISTRIBUTING COURSE MATERIALS POLICY
Students may not post, publish, sell, or otherwise publicly distribute course materials without the written permission of the course instructor. Such materials include, but are not limited to, the following: lecture notes, lecture slides, video, or audio recordings, assignments, problem sets, examinations, other students’ work, and answer keys. Students who sell, post, publish, or distribute course materials without written permission, whether for the purposes of soliciting answers or otherwise, may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including a requirement to withdraw. Furthermore, students may not make video or audio recordings of class sessions for their own use without written permission from the instructor.
ETHICS AND USE OF PRIOR MATERIALS
It is never appropriate to use materials prepared for previous courses by students or faculty. Students should not use previously completed case write-ups, or summaries of readings.
WEEKLY CLASS MEETING SCHEDULE
Additional information can be found on the course website.
Please note: the syllabus may be modified prior to and during a course, including updates to assignments and additional material.