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EL50C3: A SOCIAL AND TEXTUAL HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE (2024-2025)

Last modified: 29 Jul 2024 15:16


Course Overview

Of all ‘Barbarian’ languages, English is one of the longest recorded. This is both a blessing and a curse: there are texts from all periods of the language’s history which are available for study; linguistic and social changes have meant that these texts are often difficult to read. This course will give you the opportunity to learn how best to read these texts the best way this can be done: by reading the texts in an informed manner.

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Professor Robert M. Millar

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course provides students with an in-depth understanding of how the English language has changed over the last 1500 years, paying close attention to how this can be done through the informed reading of a range of texts from different times and places. At all times the social and cultural milieu from which the text has been formed will be given prominence. Students will be able, by the end of the course, to discuss the language of a text from a number of different time periods in an informed and engaged manner.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 70
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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3,500 (+/- 10%) words.

 

All written work will be submitted and assessed online; along with the grade, notes on performance and for improvement will also be attached. Students will be encouraged to discuss their performance with the Course Convener and/or tutor at a mutually convenient time.

Word Count 3500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandStudents will recognise the central linguistic ideas and processes involved in studying the history of the English language.
ConceptualUnderstandStudents will recognise the central social and cultural ideas and processes involved in studying the history of the English language.
FactualApplyStudents will be able to apply the linguistic, social and cultural ideas and practices underlying the history of the English Language to practical tasks.

2x Course Exercises (each 15%)

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Two course exercises of no more than 1,500 words each.

All written work will be submitted and assessed online; along with the grade, notes on performance and for improvement will also be attached. Students will be encouraged to discuss their performance with the Course Convener and/or tutor at a mutually convenient time.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandStudents will recognise the central social and cultural ideas and processes involved in studying the history of the English language.
ConceptualUnderstandStudents will recognise the central linguistic ideas and processes involved in studying the history of the English language.
FactualApplyStudents will be able to apply the linguistic, social and cultural ideas and practices underlying the history of the English Language to practical tasks.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandStudents will recognise the central linguistic ideas and processes involved in studying the history of the English language.
ConceptualUnderstandStudents will recognise the central social and cultural ideas and processes involved in studying the history of the English language.
FactualApplyStudents will be able to apply the linguistic, social and cultural ideas and practices underlying the history of the English Language to practical tasks.

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