Ling 115 syllabus 2012

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LINGUISTICS 115:

Language, Culture & Society

CSU Fresno Fall 2012

Contact Information Instructor: Chandra Shekar, Ph. D.

Place: Blackboard https://blackboard.fresnostate.edu

Instructor Office: IT 262

Office Hours: MWF 11:00am – 12:30pm/TTH 11:00am – 12:00pm/by appointment Contact: Through e-mail: [email protected] (approx. 24 hour turnaround)

Linguistics Department Office: PB 559-278-2441

Contact Information ................................................................................................................................ 1

Required Texts: ....................................................................................................................................... 2

Prerequisites ........................................................................................................................................... 2

Learning Goals ......................................................................................................................................... 2

Description: ............................................................................................................................................. 2

General information: ............................................................................................................................... 2

Student Study Expectations: .................................................................................................................... 3

Grading: .................................................................................................................................................. 3

Writing Assignments:............................................................................................................................... 3

Examinations and Major Assignments: .................................................................................................... 4

Late Policy: .............................................................................................................................................. 4

Tentative Schedule: ................................................................................................................................. 4

Campus Learning Center:......................................................................................................................... 6

University Policies: .................................................................................................................................. 7

Students with Disabilities: ................................................................................................................ 7

Honor Code: .................................................................................................................................... 7

Cheating and Plagiarism:.................................................................................................................. 7

Computers: ...................................................................................................................................... 7

Disruptive Classroom Behavior: ....................................................................................................... 8

Copyright Policy: .............................................................................................................................. 8

Disclaimer: .............................................................................................................................................. 8

https://blackboard.fresnostate.edu/

mailto:[email protected]

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Required Texts:

Ostler, Nicholas. Empires of the Word: a Language History of the World. (Kennel Bookstore)

Prerequisites:

G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area C

Learning Goals: Studies the relationship between language, culture, and thought; cultural traditions and language

arts; cultural norms and interactional styles; language and the development of ethnic and national identity; meanings of social variation in language; discourse styles; and social roles/relations.

G.E. Integration IC.

Description:

To familiarize you with the history of the major languages of the world and their social and

cultural contexts (3 units).

General information: This is an online course. You are expected to be familiar with the technology related to

online courses.

You should have easy access to a computer, internet connection, university e-mail

account, familiarity with ‘Blackboard’ and compatible software (Windows XP, MS word

for word processing).

Please do not type your documents using any other software (eg. word perfect) other than

MS word (pdf) software. If I cannot open your document for incompatibility reasons, I

won’t grade your papers.

Incomplete assignments due to computer related problems are not accepted.

Drop answers to reading questions using the ‘Assessment Manager’ by the due date.

Remember that it is your responsibility to familiarize with the requirements for this course, read the instructions, follow the syllabus, and complete all the requirements by

the end of the semester.

During the first week of instruction, if you have any questions regarding the course, or how to use the technology, please drop by during my office hours. I will help you. My

office hours are listed in the syllabus.

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If you need any clarification related to reading material, send me an e-mail. I will try to

respond to your questions as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours or before.

Student Study Expectations: It is usually expected that students will spend approximately 2 hours of study time outside of

class for every one hour in class. Since this is a 3-unit class, you should expect to study an

average of 6 hours outside of class each week. Some students may need more outside study time

and some less.

Grading:

Two Midterms 50 points (2x25)

Finals 50 points

Final Paper 30 points

Journal: 50 points (10 x 5)

One line ‘Chapter feedback’ on ‘WallShare’ 20 points (10 x 2)

Total 200 points

Final (Letter) Grade is calculated on the basis of the following traditional (%) grading scale.

A: 90 to 100

B: 80 to 89

C: 70 to79

D: 60 to 69

F: 59 and below

Writing Assignments: Journal and the final paper will satisfy the 2000 words of writing required of GE classes. You are required to write 5 journal summaries of 200 words each (1000 words). Your final paper should

have 1000 words. You’ll be given topics ahead of time; and these topics will cover issues in the

assigned reading. Final paper topic will be posted on BB. Failure to complete the written

requirement means that you cannot count Ling 115 as a GE course.

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** Guidelines for the writing assignment.

The grading of the writing assignments will be based on (1) the quality of the content, (2) the

organization of the content, (3) the accuracy in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Grading

rubric will be posted on BB.

For more information on writing guidelines go to: http://www.owl.english.purdue.edu/

Examinations and Major Assignments: Exams will be given online in Blackboard. It is not recommended to access and take tests/quizzes

through the Blackboard Mobile Learn app.

All assignments will be submitted in Blackboard through the Assignment links provided.

Late Policy:

No make-up essays or exams will be given except on documented medical, psychological or legal grounds. If you can’t document it, I can’t excuse it.

Tentative Schedule: Week Date Topic Reading and Homework

Assignment

1 Tue, Aug 21

Time: 12:30 –

2:00 p.m.

Room: PB

191

Meet ‘ face-to-face’ on campus.

Introduction to online course; Syllabus

review

BB navigation: TILT administrator’s

presentation – How to navigate BB;

software download etc.

Bring your laptop to class.

Review the syllabus;

Go over BB navigation

2 Mon, Aug 27 PART I: The Nature of Language

History

pp. 5 – 18:

Post journal entry, and one

line ‘chapter feedback’.

3 Mon. Sept 3 PART II: Languages By Land: The

Desert Blooms: Language Innovations

in the Middle East

pp. 27-38:


line ‘chapter feedback’.

4 Mon. Sept. 10 Sumerian – the first classical language: pp. 49 – 58:

http://www.owl.english.purdue.edu/

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Week Date Topic Reading and Homework

Assignment

Life after death. Post journal entry, and one

line ‘chapter feedback’

5 Mon. Sept. 17 Akkadian – world-beating technology:

A model of literacy.

pp. 58-68:



6 Mon. Sept 24

Phoenician, Aramaic, and Arabic.

pp. 68 – 104:



7 Mon. Oct 1 First Midterm

Third Interlude: Turkic and Persian,

outriders of Islam.

pp. 105 – 134:



8 Mon. Oct 8

Language from Huang-he to Yangtze.

pp. 134 - 173:



9 Mon. Oct 15 Charming Like a Creeper: The

Cultured Career of Sanskrit.

pp. 174 - 226:



10 Mon. Oct 22 Three Thousand Years of Solipsism:

The Adventures of Greek.

pp. . 227 - 271:



11 Mon. Oct 29 Contesting Europe: Celt, Roman,

German and Slav.

pp. 272 - 321:



12 Mon. Nov 4 Second Midterm:

PART III: Languages By Sea: The

Second Death of Latin.

pp. 325-379:



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Week Date Topic Reading and Homework

Assignment

13 Mon. Nov 12 In the Train of Empire: Europe’s

Languages Abroad.

pp. 380-455:



14 Mon. Nov 19 Microcosm or Distorting Mirror? The

Career of English.

pp. 456-521:



15 Thu. Nov 22 HOLIDAY – Thanksgiving No Reading Assignment

16 Mon. Nov 26

The Current Top Twenty

pp. 525-559:



17 Mon. Dec 3 Final Paper Due:

18 Mon Dec 10 Last Day of Instruction: Meet face-to-

face on campus

Place and Time of meeting

will be posted on BB.

Fall 2012

Finals week Days Dates

Final Exam Preparation & Faculty Consultation Days: Thursday and Friday Dec 13-14

Final Exam in this course Final Exam: Mon-Thur Dec 17-20

*Unless specified, homework assignments are due by following Monday midnight.

Campus Learning Center:

The Learning Center endeavors to promote student self-responsibility, learning effectiveness,

and academic success. To this end, the LC provides a variety of learning assistance including

drop-in tutoring, academic success workshops, and study space. The LC is located in the Peters

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Building Annex and is open 8am-5pm Monday through Friday. For more information about

services, visit the LC webpage ([email protected]) on the campus website or call 278-3052.

University Policies:

Students with Disabilities:

Upon identifying themselves to the instructor and the university, students with disabilities will

receive reasonable accommodation for learning and evaluation. For more information, contact

Services to Students with Disabilities in the Henry Madden Library, Room 1202 (278-2811).

Honor Code:

“Members of the CSU Fresno academic community adhere to principles of academic integrity

and mutual respect while engaged in university work and related activities.” You should:

a) understand or seek clarification about expectations for academic integrity in this course

(including no cheating, plagiarism and inappropriate collaboration)

b) neither give nor receive unauthorized aid on examinations or other course work that is used by the instructor as the basis of grading.

c) take responsibility to monitor academic dishonesty in any form and to report it to the

instructor or other appropriate official for action.

Cheating and Plagiarism:

"Cheating is the actual or attempted practice of fraudulent or deceptive acts for the purpose of

improving one's grade or obtaining course credit; such acts also include assisting another student

to do so. Typically, such acts occur in relation to examinations. However, it is the intent of this

definition that the term 'cheating' not be limited to examination situations only, but that it include

any and all actions by a student that are intended to gain an unearned academic advantage by

fraudulent or deceptive means. Plagiarism is a specific form of cheating which consists of the

misuse of the published and/or unpublished works of others by misrepresenting the material (i.e.,

their intellectual property) so used as one's own work." Penalties for cheating and plagiarism

range from a 0 or F on a particular assignment, through an F for the course, to expulsion from the

university. For more information on the University's policy regarding cheating and plagiarism,

refer to the Class Schedule (Legal Notices on Cheating and Plagiarism) or the University Catalog

(Policies and Regulations).

Computers:

"At California State University, Fresno, computers and communications links to remote

resources are recognized as being integral to the education and research experience. Every

student is required to have his/her own computer or have other personal access to a workstation

(including a modem and a printer) with all the recommended software. The minimum and

recommended standards for the workstations and software, which may vary by academic major,

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are updated periodically and are available from Technology Services

(https://help.fresnostate.edu) or the University Bookstore. In the curriculum and class

assignments, students are presumed to have 24-hour access to a computer workstation and the

necessary communication links to the University's information resources."

Disruptive Classroom Behavior:

"The classroom is a special environment in which students and faculty come together to promote

learning and growth. It is essential to this learning environment that respect for the rights of

others seeking to learn, respect for the professionalism of the instructor, and the general goals of

academic freedom are maintained. ... Differences of viewpoint or concerns should be expressed

in terms which are supportive of the learning process, creating an environment in which students

and faculty may learn to reason with clarity and compassion, to share of themselves without

losing their identities, and to develop and understanding of the community in which they live . . .

Student conduct which disrupts the learning process shall not be tolerated and may lead to

disciplinary action and/or removal from class."

Copyright Policy:

Copyright laws and fair use policies protect the rights of those who have produced the material.

The copy in this course has been provided for private study, scholarship, or research. Other uses

may require permission from the copyright holder. The user of this work is responsible for

adhering to copyright law of the U.S. (Title 17, U.S. Code). To help you familiarize yourself

with copyright and fair use policies, the University encourages you to visit its Copyright Web

Page (http://csufresno.edu/library/information/copyright/).

Technology Innovations for Learning & Teaching (TILT) course web sites contain material

protected by copyrights held by the instructor, other individuals or institutions. Such material is

used for educational purposes in accord with copyright law and/or with permission given by the

owners of the original material. You may download one copy of the materials on any single

computer for non-commercial, personal, or educational purposes only, provided that you (1) do

not modify it, (2) use it only for the duration of this course, and (3) include both this notice and

any copyright notice originally included with the material. Beyond this use, no material from

the course web site may be copied, reproduced, re-published, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or

distributed in any way without the permission of the original copyright holder. The instructor

assumes no responsibility for individuals who improperly use copyrighted material placed on the

web site.

Disclaimer:

This syllabus and schedule are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.

https://help.fresnostate.edu/index.php

http://csufresno.edu/library/information/copyright/

http://csufresno.edu/library/information/copyright/

Ling 115 syllabus 2012

Education

Transcript of Ling 115 syllabus 2012