English Department Banner English Home Course DescriptionsCourse SyllabiStudent ResourcesOakton Home Page
ENGLISH 260 GENERIC COURSE SYLLABUS
             
I.
Course Prefix
Course No.
Course Name
Credit
Lecture
Lab
 
EGL
260
Introduction to Linguistics
3
3
0

 

II.

 

Prerequisite:
   
  EGL 101,as well as placement of EGL 110 or higher, or consent of instructor.
   
III. Course (Catalog) Description:
   
 

Course introduces the study of language. Content includes fundamental concepts of phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, historical linguistics, and neurolinguistics.

IV. Learning Objectives:
  The student will learn to:
 

Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts of linguistics.

Use the terminology of linguistics appropriately in written expression.

Analyze languages using modern linguistic methods.

V. Academic Integrity:
   
  Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:

• cheating,
• plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
• falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
• helping others to cheat,
• unauthorized changes on official documents,
• pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
• making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
• any other behavior that violates academic integrity.

There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.

Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
   
VI. Sequence of Topics:
 

A. What is language?

B. Phonetics: The sounds of language

C. Phonology: The function and patterning of sounds

D. Morphology: The study of word structure

E. Syntax: The study of sentence structure

F. Semantics: The study of meaning

G. Historical Linguistics: Language change

H. The Classification of languages

I. The Brain and language

J. Language acquisition

K. Second language acquisition

L. Language in social contexts

VII. Methods of Instruction:
 

Lecture, discussion, small group work.

 
VIII. Course Practices Required:
   
 

Reading, in-class exercises, homework, quizzes, midterm exam, final exam, one presentation, one 450-word essay.
IX. Instructional Materials:
   
 

Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction, William O'Grady, Michael Dobrovolsky, and Mark Aronoff, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989. See the Coordinator for other suggested texts.

   
X. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
   
 

One writing assignment of 450 words, homework, quizzes, midterm exam, final exam, one presentation, attendance and participation.

XI. Other Course Information:
   
 

Attendance policy

For whatever information/procedures the instructor holds the student accountable.

If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in Instructional Support Services. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.
   
 
June 2006