LIN 200: Introduction to Language

Course Description UNDER CONSTRUCTION

How the course works

Meeting time and place

In Winter 2011, LIN 200 meets on Thursday evenings , 5:10-7:00 p.m. in Bahen 1160 (map)

Obligatory tutorials are at 3:00 and 4:00 on Thursdays before class (but not the first week!). Locations for the tutorial you registered for can be found at: http://www.artsandscience.utoronto.ca/ofr/timetable/winter/lin.html.

Contacting the professor

Please feel free to contact me outside of class if there is something you want to discuss or anything you don't understand. If you will miss class, get the homework AHEAD OF TIME so that you are not behind when you return. Arrange to get lecture notes from another student BEFORE coming to talk to me about what you missed.

Course expectations

I expect students to be responsible and pro-active about their learning. Besides attending lecture and tutorial each week, there are a number of ways to make sure you learn the material and get something useful out of the course. These include:

• looking for examples in your daily life of the phenomena that we discuss -- listening to how people talk in different contexts
• participating in tutorials
• re-reading any difficult material
• doing homework promptly
• coming to office hours when you have questions
• forming study groups with other students
• using the Discussion Board feature in Quercus to discuss course material with other students and your TA

Reading

We will discuss most topics in class. It is important to keep up with the reading: read the chapters listed on the syllabus before the date for which they are listed. This way, you can ask questions in class about anything that is not clear. Bring your book to class and tutorial every day. Readings are from the required textbook unless another author is specified. See Blackboard for links to other readings.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Denham, K. & A. Lobeck. 2010. Linguistics for Everyone. Boston: Wadsworth.

This textbook is available at The University of Toronto Bookstore. (Note: The Bookstore has some used copies available from a previous year.) You may also find used copies online.

You may be able to find a copy of the textbook for this course at St. Michael's College, Kelly Library. The call number is P21 .D38 2010 SMC.

OTHER REQUIRED READINGS: [See links in Blackboard > Content > Additional Reading]

Willer, Lynda. 2005. Welcome to your world, baby. In K. Walters & M. Brody.What's language got to do with it? Norton. 336-346.

Eschholz, P., A. Rosa & V. Clark. 2005. Taking Notes and References Sources. Language Awareness: Readings for College Writers, Ninth ed. Bedford St. Martin’s. 655-673.

Participation

Although it may be difficult in a large lecture hall, students should try to participate in class, both by asking and answering questions. This is a good opportunity for you and the professor to see how it's going -- what is clear and what is still murky. However, your participation grade will be determined by your participation in the tutorials. This will involve hands-on problem-solving and time to ask questions about the homework and course materials. TAs will note who participates frequently, as well as keeping track of attendance.

You are also strongly encouraged to meet with the professor during her office hours to discuss course material and related topics. This also counts toward participation. You may also post items to the class via Blackboard. For example, if you find an interesting and linguistically-relevant article online or in the newspaper, tell us about it.

Homework

This is where the real learning happens--when you get involved with the data and the theory. There are two types of assignments in this course:

1. Data analysis
• These assignments ask you to find and understand patterns in language, applying linguistics terminology to the description of many facts that we (sometimes subconsciously) already know.
• You are strongly encouraged to work in pairs on these non-essay assignments so you can discuss the concepts with a peer. Hand in just one set of answers with both students name on it -- a name on the paper means that person contributed substantially to the analysis. Choose a partner in the same tutorial.
• Marks for problem-based assignments are based primarily on whether your complete the homework, rather than on how good your answers are.
• If you have clear handwriting, you may handwrite these assignments. If you have any question about this, please type.
• Bring two copies of each assignment to tutorial - one to hand in and one to discuss during the tutorial.
2. Essays
   • This course has been designated "Writing Intensive." This means that part of your responsibility is to learn how to write in the appropriate academic genre for the field of linguistics, and more generally for social science and humanities research.
   • There are four essay assignments for this course. All of them are short and all of them require careful attention to the details of how to write.
   • You must complete these assignments on your own, though you may get assistance from many resources provided by the University. (In Bb, see Content > Academic Resources > Help with academic writing.)
   • Assignments with a writing focus will be marked according to a rubric. The rubrics are posted in Blackboard. This will be discussed further in lecture and tutorials.

Assignments are listed in the syllabus. There are weekly assignments due at the start of your tutorial on the Thursday after each is listed on the syllabus, except where otherwise noted.

Homework will be accepted early, but not late.

Make sure your name, student number, and tutorial number are at the top of each assignment. (You do not need to include a title page.) Please staple pages together. For essay assignments, put the rubric at the back.

	To save paper, please print double-sided when possible. CLICK LOGO FOR MORE PAPER-SAVING TIPS.

Exams

There will be a closed-book mid-term test and a final exam during the final exam period. The midterm will cover the material from Weeks 1-5. The Final exam will be cumulative, but with a focus on the material covered after the midterm. See syllabus for dates.

Grading

Your grade for the semester will be calculated as shown. Your grade can go up or down significantly depending on attendance and participation in tutorials. So, be there and join the discussions!

Further information about course policies and procedures is available in Blackboard. Please read it.

Return to the Syllabus for LIN 200 | Go to blackboard.utoronto.ca to check other resources.

Updated February 25, 2011