SFE10208 English: Language and Communication (Autumn 2008)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Compulsory in the one-year English programme, optional in the bachelor programme Society, Language and Culture.

Prerequisites

General requirements for entry to higher education or equivalent knowledge of English.

Lecture Semester

Autumn 2008

Content

Oral part:

• Knowledge of various forms of oral communication, e.g. presentations
• Practising how to present
• Introduction to phonetics with intonation, practical exercises
• Examples of modern English fiction, discussion of the works focusing on argumentation and problem solving

Written part:

• Various text strategies, writing longer texts
• Textual cohesion, paragraphing, genres, linguistic strategies, style
• Searching, judging, using and referring to sources; instruction in library use
• Grammatical terminology and syntactic analysis

The course in general linguistics deals with different aspects of the concept of 'language' such as language sounds, the formation of words and sentences, the relationship between meaning and word, language families, the development of language.

Forms of teaching and learning

Lectures, seminars and group work.

The course in general linguistics is taught as a block seminar over four days at the beginning of the autumn semester.

The language of instruction is English except for the general linguistics course, which is taught in Norwegian.

Practical training/internship

None.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

• Two oral presentations
• Compulsory attendance at the library instruction (a minimum of 80% attendance). If a student does not comply with this rule, s/he must submit an application stating reasons for the non-attendance and asking to be exempt.
• Introduction course in general linguistics with web-based test

The coursework must be submitted and approved within deadlines stated in the semester plan before a student may sign up for the final examination.

Examination

Portfolio assessment and oral examination.

The portfolio must have three written texts. The oral examination lasts approx. 25 minutes and may adjust the final mark one step up or down on the A-F scale. Both the portfolio and the oral test must receive a pass mark for the final result to be a pass.

No aids are permitted at the examination.

Literature

• Bøhn, H et al., Language and Communication. Compendium, local print.
• Elton, B (2002), Dead Famous. Black Swan.
• Griffith, K, Writing essays about Literature: A Guide and Style Sheet. Harcourt Brace.
• Gibaldi, J, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.
• Uri, H (2004), Hva er språk? Universitetsforlaget. Used in the introduction to general linguistics.

Other relevant literature will be handed out during the course.

All students must have an English-English dictionary such as Collins Cobuild Dictionary, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, or another learner's dictionary meant for non-native users of English.