COURSE SYLLABUS
SCOPE OF COURSE SYLLABUS
Intended for students enrolling in Master's Research Project in T.E.S.O.L. and Applied Linguistics, 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 he/she takes 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
Master's Research Project in T.E.S.O.L. and Applied Linguistics
Subject Area
Linguistics
Course Code
LING 89091
Course Level
Graduate
Credits
10.0
Prerequisites
None
Methods of Delivery
Face-to-face
Online
Expected Length
10.0 Weeks
Class Meetings
Dependent on the choice made during enrollment
Faculty
Jean Bradberry
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Computer Software: Any computer software that aids learning.
TEXT(S)
Text 1: DMDTAL
Title: Doing a Master's Dissertation in TESOL and Applied Linguistics
Author(s): Lindy Woodrow
Year Published: 2020
ISBN: 9781138587298
SYNOPSIS
To earn a Master of Science in Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Applied Linguistics (M.S.Ed. T.E.S.O.L. & Applied Linguistics) degree, students must complete this course and its prerequisite, RESM 50031. These courses are designed to guide students in conducting a research project in T.E.S.O.L. & Applied Linguistics, which will culminate their experiences in the M.S.Ed. T.E.S.O.L. & Applied Linguistics program and validate them as expert researchers and practitioners. Upon completing the thesis proposal and work in RESM 51011, students must receive approval from the Linguistics faculty and be ready to complete the thesis writing. The master's thesis, upon completion, should answer a fundamental research question in the subject matter of choice. It should be an academic paper based on data that can be acquired, cleaned, and analyzed within a semester, emphasizing clarity and policy relevance.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:
Design and execute a meaningful research project that demonstrates linguistic thinking and uses the knowledge and skills learned in the M.S.Ed. T.E.S.O.L. & Applied Linguistics.
Undertake the research process and be aware of research obligations and pitfalls.
Articulate research or project objectives clearly, situate research within an academic or scholarly context, state claims and evidence clearly, and assess the validity of claims, evidence, outcomes, and results.
Utilize the Microsoft Office software suite and a bibliographic reference manager competently and efficiently to produce documents that meet M.S.Ed. TESOL & Applied Linguistics requirements and show the work to advantage.
Narrate the research process clearly in the form of a formal multi-chapter master’s research manuscript, structured according to the approved M.S.Ed. TESOL & Applied Linguistics research style.
Describe the master’s research clearly and succinctly, in written form, to faculty, mentors, and potential sponsors.
WEEK 1
Module 1
Supervisors, Supervision, and Choosing a Topic
Reference(s): DMDTAL Ch1-2 and Ch6
Module 2
Reviewing the Literature
Reference(s): DMDTAL Ch3
Module 3
Methodological approach
Reference(s): DMDTAL Ch4
WEEK 2
Module 4
The Dissertation Proposal
Reference(s): DMDTAL Ch5
Module 5
Data Collection
Reference(s): DMDTAL Ch7
Module 6
Data Analysis
Reference(s): DMDTAL Ch8
WEEK 6-10
Research Project
Reference(s): DMDTAL Ch7-16
PROFESSIONALISM
WEIGHT: 10.0%
DEADLINE: 23:59 (GMT+0) on Sunday of Week 10
All students are expected to participate in all types of classroom activities. Regular attendance is required in order to maximize the number of opportunities to engage in classroom activities. Marks are based on the quality of the contributions made rather than the quantity of posts submitted, comments made in class, etc.
Students are encouraged to exchange contact information and support one another should any classes be missed. They are advised to contact the course instructor about any concerns they may have.
FINAL RESEARCH WRITING
WEIGHT: 90.0%
DEADLINE: 23:59 (GMT+0) on Sunday of Week 10
PARTICIPATION POLICY
All students are required to 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 and other types of activities 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.
Modes of Attendance
For the portions of the course that take 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 portions 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 are not permitted to arrive late for class or leave class early. Students traveling from far away locations must plan accordingly, giving themselves plenty of time to arrive by the start of class.
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 for the duration of a class.
GRADING
Students are expected to 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’ 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, 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.
Late submission of papers must be approved in advance.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY
Students are responsible for understanding the University Policies and how to use resources appropriately. Violations of academic integrity are taken very seriously. Students should revisit the materials on the Orientation session to review important information pertaining to academic citation and referencing rules.
STUDENT WELFARE AND PRIVACY POLICY
The university is committed to student welfare and accommodates students with disabilities and those who fall ill. Disability Services (DS) is responsible for accommodating students with disabilities. A student who wishes to be granted a special arrangement due to a disability or illness must request it through DS. Instructors cannot grant such requests without prior DS approval. DS should be contacted as soon as possible to avoid delays in the provision of such an arrangement.
Because the university takes student privacy very seriously, any medical documentation to support a request for an arrangement to accommodate any special needs connected with a disability or illness should be provided directly to DS. If a student misses any classes due to a short-term illness, he/she should notify his/her instructor, but avoid the inclusion of a doctor's note. Academic staff will not request, accept, or review doctor's notes or other forms of medical documentation. For more information, email DS@TheAUS.us.
USE OF COURSE MATERIALS AND LECTURES
Ethical considerations restrict how course materials and lectures may be used. 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, lecture notes, lecture slides, video and audio recordings, various types of assignments, examinations, other students’ work, and answer keys. In addition, students are not permitted to use materials prepared by faculty or students for courses that have previously taken place. These materials include, but are not limited to, case write-ups, Research Papers, summaries of readings, answers to Problem Sets, and answers to Academic Discussion topics. Furthermore, making video or audio recordings of class sessions for one’s own use without written permission from the instructor is not permitted. Infringements of the above-listed rules are taken seriously and may lead to disciplinary action, including a requirement to withdraw.
WEEKLY CLASS MEETINGS AND SYLLABUS
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.