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TEAE 4500/5500/6500 Syllabus

Course Syllabus

TEAE 4500/5500/6500 - Linguistics

3 Credit Hours

Course Information

Course Description:

This course is designed to introduce future or in-service language teachers and professionals to a basic understanding of the structure and function of the interrelated systems of syntax, pragmatics, phonetics, phonology and semantics, both for languages in general and English specifically; to learn to apply that knowledge to work more effectively with language students; to acquire the basic analytical skills applied linguists use to investigate new linguistic situations and data as they are encountered in real world teaching; and most importantly, to make participants aware of the vast unconscious linguistic insights they already possess and to help them learn to tap those resources to use in teaching.

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

  • recognize the linguistics sounds of English and describe the features of these sounds
  • understand key concepts of phonology
  • familiarize themselves with some rules of American English phonology
  • divide words into categories based on their form and function
  • analyze English words by breaking them down according to their units of meaning
  • study some of the most common types of word formation in English
  • understand the key concepts of morphophonology and learn the process of morphophonological analysis
  • learn some of the more common terminology of grammar
  • identify various phrase, clause and sentence types
  • explain the grammaticality or ungrammaticality of sentences in English
  • address the controversial issue of dialects
  • understand the distinction between linguistic correctness and appropriateness
  • recognize and understand the systematicity of all linguistic varieties

 

Prerequisites & Co-requisites:

None

Course Topics:
  • What Linguists Do
  • Phonetics: The Sounds of English
  • Phonology: The Sound System of English
  • Morphology: English Word Structure and Formation
  • Morphophonology: Where Morphology Meets Phonology
  • Syntax: English Phrase and Sentence Structure
  • Language Variation: English Dialects

 

Specific Course Requirements:

The student will complete eight modules. Each requires three short answer questions, a discussion, and a longer paper. There are also five quizzes for the course.

 

Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements

Required Textbooks:

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."

Supplementary Materials:

None. Since students will be viewing videos, they may wish to assure that the computer they access will allow viewing.

Hardware and Software Requirements:

Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.

Minimum software requirements can be found here.

Common applications you might need:

Web Resources:

Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)

The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook

Student Resources:
  • Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
  • Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
  • Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.

Instructor Information

Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.

Participation, Assessments, & Grading

Testing Procedures:

Students will take several quizzes throughout the semester. There is no mid-term or final exam. Assessment is made on written work, short papers, discussion board postings, and quizzes.

Grading Procedures:

There are eight modules, each worth 100 points. In each module, there are three short answer responses worth a total of 45 points, the discussion board posting worth 15 points, and the longer paper worth 40 points. There are five quizzes worth 40 points each.

Grading Scale:
Point RangeAssigned Grade
900 - 1000 pointsA
800 - 890 pointsB
700 - 790 pointsC
600 - 690 pointsD
under 600 pointsF

 

Assignments and Projects:

Assignments will be graded in a timely manner. If you have misunderstood an assignment, you may be asked to rewrite it, but the option to do so will be yours. Work will be graded on content and quality and not on grammar or punctuation. Students should be tolerant of each others' typos and errors, especially within the informal environment of the Discussion Board. The format of each module is the same.

Graded Items

DescriptionPoints
Twenty-four Short Answer Exercises (three for each module), @ 15 points each360
Eight Discussion postings @ 15 points each120
Five Quizzes @ 40 points each200
Eight Short Papers @ 40 points each320
Total Points1000

 

Class Participation:

Students are expected to keep up with the readings and postings in a timely manner. Discussion Board postings will not be graded unless completed before the end date so that all can participate. 

Late Policy:

Each module has a due date and an end date. No work will be accepted after the end date.

Course Ground Rules

The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:

RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Read the document in its entirety here.

1. Standards of Conduct:

  • Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.

2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:

  • In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.

Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
  • to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
  • or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.

Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution.  Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.

In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.

Other Course Rules:

Students are expected to:

  • Participate in all aspects of the course
  • Communicate with other students
  • Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
  • Keep abreast of course announcements
  • Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
  • Address technical problems immediately:
  • Observe course netiquette at all times.

Guidelines for Communications

Email:

  • Always include a subject line.
  • Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members

Discussions:

  • Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
  • Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
  • Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
  • Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
  • Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
  • Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
  • Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.

Students with Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.


Last Revised on August 17, 2017