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POLICIES
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SCHEDULE |
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10:00AM-11:30AM TR & by appt. |
Shanks 229 |
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12:30-1:45 PM TTH |
TORG 1040 |
(To Subscribe, click here and follow the instructions) This syllabus is located online at:
http://wiz.cath.vt.edu/exper/mosser/classes/hel05/4054.html
It will be updated as warranted.
Texts & Materials
Ever wonder why many of our names for governmental and judicial activities are based on French borrowings (e.g., "impeach," "judge," "treason," "court," "state")? Or why the French use words like "le weekend," "le parking," or "nonstop"? Why we contract "We are not" but not "I am not"? Why we don't say "thou" but do say "y'all"? The answers to these and other questions lie in the history of the English language and its users, from the language's Germanic roots, through its origins in England, its spread throughout the Empire, and, finally, to its present-day status as a de facto "World Language."
| Small Group Work (six, 5 points each, minus two lowest) |
20% |
| Quizzes (seven, 5 points each, minus lowest) |
30% |
| Midterm (15 points) |
15% |
| 15% |
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| 20% |
Cell phones, pagers, and all other class-disruptive devices and technologies must be silenced before class begins. Violators will be penalized one quiz grade (5 points) for each occurrence. If you need adaptations or accommodations because of a disability (learning disability, attention deficit disorder, psychological, physical, etc.), if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.
English 4054 2005 [Preliminary] Schedule
[Please bring your textbook to each class meeting.]
Tuesday, January 18
Introduction to Course
Thursday, January 20
"The Human Language," Pt. 1 (Video 5408); Crystal, "Grammatical Mythology," pp. 190-197
Tuesday, January 25
"Brief Overview"; "case & inflections"; Crystal, pp. 198-205
Thursday, January 27
Small Group Ex. 1; Crystal, "The Sound System," pp. 236-241 (Vowels); "The Sound System," pp. 242 -247 (Consonants, Connected Speech); sounds handout
Tuesday, February 1
Small Group Ex. 2
Thursday, February 3
"Indo-European and the Pre-History of English"; Video, "In Search of the First Language"
Tuesday, February 8
Take Quiz 1 by midnight; Crystal, pp. 6-23; "The Beginnings of English in England"
Thursday, February 10
"Outside Influences"; Crystal, pp. 24-29;
Tuesday, February 15
DVD no. 233, "Birth of a Language"
Wed., February 16
Take Quiz 2 by midnight (note date change)
Thursday, February 17
OE cont. Small Group Ex. 3
Tuesday, February 22
Crystal, pp. 30-45; "The Norman Conquest and Early Middle English"
Thursday, February 24
Crystal, pp. 46-55; "Late Middle English"; Discuss Projects
Tuesday, March 1
Take Quiz 3 by midnight; ME, cont.; Small Group Ex. 4
Thursday, March 3
Video 1110, vol. 2.1: "A Muse of Fire" (Early Modern English); Crystal, pp, 56-69; "Early Modern English"
March 5-13 Spring Break Tuesday, March 15
Take Quiz 4 by Midnight; Crystal, pp. 70-77; 452-53 "The Evolution of English Dictionaries"; Review for Midterm
Thursday, March 17
Midterm Exam
Tuesday, March 22
"The Development of English Grammars"; Crystal, pp. 78-79; 366-369
Thursday, March 24
Grammar & Dictionaries, cont.; DVD no. 217, "Speaking Proper"
Monday, March 28
Take Quiz 5 & Quiz 6 by midnight
Tuesday, March 29
"The American (English) Language"; Crystal, pp. 80-85; 92-97; 306-311; Small Group Ex. 5
Thursday, March 31
Crystal, pp. 298-305; Crystal, pp. 312-339
Tuesday, April 5
Take Quiz 7 by midnight; Video 1795: "American Tongues" (or alternative); also due by midnight: e-mail me (
Thursday, April 7
Video: segments of "Do You Speak American?"
Tuesday, April 12
The "English Only Movement"; Crystal, pp. 115; video & audio recordings
Thursday, April 14
Small Group Ex. 6
Tuesday, April 19
Crystal, pp. 340-363
Thursday, April 21
"World Englishes"; Crystal pp. 106-115
Tuesday, April 26
Projects Due; Video 1110, The Story of English, vol. 5: "The Empire Strikes Back" (not that one), a.k.a."Next Year's Words;
Thursday, April 28
Review for Final Exam
Tuesday, May 3
Last day of class
Tuesday, May 10
7:45-9:45AM
The quizzes for this class are "Whiz Quizzes," which you will take online. The threshhold is set to 70%, meaning that no grades below that are reported and once you have achieved at least that score, whatever you achieve (70% or better) is recorded as your grade: NB: the first score that achieves 70% or higher is the one recorded. Quizzes are worth a maximum of 5 points each. Any quizzes taken after the due date will receive no higher than half credit. [back]
