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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Language Sciences

Postgraduate Course: Guided Research in Linguistics and English Language Semester 1 (LASC11165)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course will offer students the opportunity to become more familiar with current research in a particular subdiscipline of Linguistics and English Language. Students will choose one of an array of topics (each linked to a research interest of a member of the department) as their focus for this course. Having become familiar with the basic concepts, they will then go on to develop a better understanding of the main theoretical and/or methodological issues associated with research in that field, by following a set of guided readings and/or practical exercises. This will enable students to be better prepared to undertake research in the discipline.
Course description This course provides students with the opportunity to become more familiar with theories and/or methods in a particular subdiscipline of Linguistics and English Language. It serves as an 'umbrella' course for a number of seminars, each of which will be run by a member of the LEL academic staff. Students are required to choose one of these seminars. Since these seminars will vary (depending on staff availability and research interests), the precise details of each seminar will be made available online. Although the topics will vary, the principles behind the course and the means of assessment remain the same in each case. The principles are as follows: to introduce students to key concepts and/or methods in a particular area within the discipline of Linguistics and English Language; to enable students to become familiar with current research in that area; and to prepare students to undertake their own research in that area, should they wish to. The course is not associated with formal lectures, though students will have regular meetings with the academic member of staff leading the seminar. The number of contact hours is lower than with other 20-credit MSc courses, as a higher proportion of the work for the seminar (compared to a standard course) will involve independent study on the part of the student. It is envisaged that the course should provide useful preparation for dissertation work in the subdiscipline, but students are equally encouraged to take this course at any stage of their study, and to select a seminar topic that does not relate to their anticipated or current dissertation topic.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Guided Research in Linguistics and English Language Semester 1 (LASC11163)
Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 12, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 184 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Annotated bibliography or short practical assignment (20%) 1500 words
Essay or assignment (80%) 4000 words
Feedback Given the small size of each seminar group, formative feedback will be provided on a regular basis by the seminar leader. This will relate to the student's contribution to the seminar discussion, and to any other formative feedback that the individual seminar leader proposes.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. demonstrate knowledge of key theories and methods in a subdiscipline of Linguistics and English Language
  2. undertake independent research in the subdiscipline
  3. critique existing research (including, where relevant, methodologies) in the subdiscipline
  4. synthesise the findings of a range of material relating to a particular topic within the subdiscipline
Reading List
Each seminar leader will provide a list of core reading that will form the basis of group discussion, but a main part of the overall objective of the course is to enable students to discover their own material which is of relevance to the topic under discussion.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills A capacity for problem solving and analytical thinking, a capacity to evaluate information thoroughly, and a capacity to identify assumptions and appraise critically the methods and reasoning of researchers in the field.
Keywordscurrent research,linguistics,english language,concepts,guided reading,practical exercises
Contacts
Course organiserDr Linda Van Bergen
Tel: (0131 6)51 1998
Email: l.vanbergen@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Sasha Wood
Tel:
Email: swood310@ed.ac.uk
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