Basic eligibility for university studies and the higher education courses English I, 30 credits (en101E/A) and English II, 30 credits (en102E/A/B).

The aim of English III, Linguistics option, is for the student to gain in-depth knowledge and skills in the field of English linguistics, through course work in Critical Discourse Analysis and Corpus Linguistics, as well as independent research in the form of a 15-credit bachelor paper in an area of specialisation.

The course Critical Discourse Analysis aims for the student to gain knowledge and understanding of concepts and analytical tools to investigate links between linguistic features of texts and the social and cultural structures, relations and processes they shape and are shaped by.

The course Corpus Linguistics aims for the student to gain knowledge of resources available for corpus analysis and the skills to use these resources to investigate language data from various perspectives.

The Bachelor Research Paper course provides the student with an opportunity to demonstrate the ability to carry out an independent research project in a specific area of English linguistics.

English III, Linguistics option, consists of two 7.5 credit modules and a 15-credit research paper.

Module 1: Critical Discourse Analysis (7.5 credits)

Module 2: Corpus Linguistics (7.5 credits)

Module 3: Bachelor Research Paper (15 credits)

In Module 1, Critical Discourse Analysis, examine oral and written communication in relation to power structures, ideology, and the construction of social and individual identities. Various dimensions of language use are closely examined in relation to institutional control and power relations. By integrating textual analysis with socio-cultural practices, critical discourse analysis is used to reveal relations of power, dominance and inequality as well as to see how these are produced and reproduced within social, economic, political, and historical contexts.

Module 2, Corpus Linguistics is concerned with tools and methods used in language analysis. The course includes the investigation of existing corpora, i.e. large text-collections, and instruction in how to compile specialized corpora for specific purposes. The course, which is a learning-by-doing course, involves the use of different computer programmes for more detailed analyses of language data.

Module 3, Bachelor Research Paper, entails independent research into an issue, chosen and formulated in collaboration with the supervisor. The research performed is independent, but the student will receive feedback from a supervisor at various stages during the research process. The course will result in a research paper, defended in an academic seminar.

Module 1. Critical Discourse Analysis

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:

After completing this course, the student will be able to

1. account for different approaches and methods developed within the framework of critical analysis of discourse,

2. demonstrate an understanding of discourse as language used in a social context,

3. critically relate power structures, ideology, and the construction of social and individual identities to features of communication.

Competence and skills:

After completing this course, the student will be able to

4. analyse features of oral and written communication in different contexts and social settings and relate these to the social and cultural structures, relations and processes they shape and are shaped by,

5. problematize and evaluate the reasoning strategies, power-reinforcing mechanisms and ideological positionings,

6. analyse various dimensions of language use.

Judgement and approach:

After completing this course, the student will be able to

7. evaluate and critique approaches and methods used in critical discourse analysis, and

8. critically reflect on contemporary social, political and cultural phenomena (such as political debates, environmental concerns, health care, media events, issues of gender, race and ethnicity.

Module 2. Corpus Linguistics

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding:

After completing this course, the student will be able to

1. demonstrate an understanding of how corpus tools can be used in language analysis.

Competence and skills:

After completing this course, the student will be able to

2. demonstrate the ability to use available corpora and software tools for their investigation,

3. create their own, specialized corpus, including database construction, and

4. select and analyse data appropriately and carry out a corpus based analysis.

Judgement and approach:

After completing this course, the student will be able to

5. make informed decisions as to which research method is appropriate for a specific research question, and

6. be aware of the advantages and limitations of empirical language research.

Learning activities

The learning activities comprise hands-on supervised computer lab sessions aimed at informing students about available corpora and instructing them how to use corpus tools to create and analyse corpus material, both generally and in preparation of a pilot project carried out in the course. In addition, students also work with presentations of their own pilot projects.

Module 3. Bachelor Research Paper

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

After completing this course, the student will be able to

1. demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the field of English Studies, including knowledge of the disciplinary foundation of the field, understanding of applicable methodologies in the field, specialised study in some aspect of the field as well as awareness of current research issues.

Competence and skills

After completing this course, the student will be able to

2. demonstrate the ability to search for, gather, evaluate and critically interpret the relevant information for a formulated problem and also discuss phenomena, issues and situations critically,

3. demonstrate the ability to identify, formulate and solve problems autonomously and to complete tasks within predetermined time frames,

4. demonstrate the ability to present and discuss information, problems and solutions in speech and writing and in dialogue with different audiences, and

5. demonstrate the skills required to work autonomously in the main field of study.

Judgement and approach

After completing this course, the student will be able to

6. demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues,

7. demonstrate insight into the role of knowledge in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and

8. demonstrate the ability to identify the need for further knowledge and ongoing learning.

Module 1. Critical Discourse Analysis

The learning activities comprise lectures, seminars, presentations, self-study of the literature and independent project work.

Module 2. Corpus Linguistics

The learning activities comprise hands-on supervised computer lab sessions aimed at informing students about available corpora and instructing them how to use corpus tools to create and analyse corpus material, both generally and in preparation of a pilot project carried out in the course. In addition, students also work with presentations of their own pilot projects.

Module 3. Bachelor Research Paper

The learning activities comprise seminars, self-study of literature, independent work with the bachelor paper, and supervision.

The right to supervision after the term when the student was first registered for the bachelor course cannot be guaranteed.

Module 1. Critical Discourse Analysis

The course is assessed in two parts. The first part will consist in assessing students’ oral participation in seminar discussions and presentations of tasks connected to lectures. The second part will be assessed through a final written academic essay using a critical discourse analysis approach. The first part consisting of seminar presentations is awarded 3 higher education credits. The second part is assessed through a written essay and is awarded 4,5 higher education credits.

Re-take examinations take place in the same format as the regular examination. In order to achieve a passing grade on the course in its entirety, a passing grade is required for each assessment format. The seminar discussions and presentations are graded pass/fail. The written assignment is graded A/U.

Module 2. Corpus Linguistics

Corpus methods in research is assessed through a combination of the following:

• Assignments (4 credits)

• Research project (group work) presented as a Powerpoint (3,5 credits)

Module 3. Bachelor Research Paper

The learning outcomes of the Bachelor Research Paper course are assessed through the bachelor paper (14 credits) and the opposition seminar (1 credits).

Additional material may be introduced.

Additional material may be introduced in the course, but no more than 100 pages.

The student is expected to independently search for, evaluate and use relevant literature for the bachelor paper.

Recommended Academic Writing guides

Course evaluation

The university will enable students who are participating in or have completed a course to express their experiences of and views on the course through a course evaluation to be organised by the university. The university will compile the results of the course evaluations and provide information about these and any actions prompted by them. The results will be made available to the students. (HF 1:14)

When a course is no longer given, or when the content has been changed to a large degree, the student will be offered two opportunities, during a one year period, to be examined according to the course plan which was valid at the time of registration.

The exam opportunities are set by the department and it is the student’s responsibility to contact the department to find out how and when the re-examination will take place.

Title in Swedish:

Engelska III, Språkvetenskaplig inriktning