Module manager: Valentina Brunetto
Email: v.brunetto@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module introduces students to the formal study of syntax. Syntax is the component of grammar that determines how words combine into larger units and how parts of sentences relate to each other. Approaching human language from a descriptive rather than a prescriptive point of view, the study of syntax increases students’ understanding of linguistic systems (in general) and of the languages they speak (in particular).
This module aims to provide students with a strong grounding in the study of syntax from a generative perspective. This includes introducing students to how language is structured and to core aspects of scientific reasoning, as well as training students to carry out syntactic analyses of data from English and other languages.
On completion of this module, students will be able to :
1. understand how language is structured
2. carry out basic comparative syntactic analysis
3. analyse phrase structure and grammatical features in familiar and unfamiliar languages
4. apply theoretical concepts to the analysis of linguistic data, using scientific reasoning
Skills Learning Outcomes
On completion of the module students will be able to:
5. demonstrate core academic literacy skills (academic writing and speaking)
6. demonstrate digital literacy skills
7. demonstrate work-ready skills (problem solving, time management, active learning)
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Private study hours | 135 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 15 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
The seminars provide a forum for supporting and monitoring students’ progress. Students are offered the option of completing a formative writing assignment on which they get written feedback, prior to the submission of their summatively assessed coursework.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Analysis Task: data sets with questions | 50 |
| Online Assessment | Sentence analysis in English | 50 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 29/04/2024
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team