Linguistics 3102 Syntax Course Home (Spring 2012)

Table of Contents:

• Instructor
• Office Hours
• Class Time
• Required Texts
• Course Description
• Requirements
• Attendance and Evaluation
• Final Grades
• Course Schedule for Spring 2012
• Academic Dishonesty
• Appropriate Classroom Conduct

Instructor: Chongwon Park, Ph.D.

Office Hours: 10:00 - 10:55AM, MWF (H 437)

Class Time: 9:00 - 9:50, MWF (LSBE 265)

Required Texts:

1. Syntax, 2nd Edition (Andrew Carnie, Wiley-Blackwell)

2. Cognitive Grammar: A Basic Introduction (Ronald Langacker, Oxford)

Course Description:

In this course, we investigate the syntactic (sentence) structures of natural language (with emphasis on the English language) from two different perspectives in contemporary linguistics. The first half of this course will be devoted to the Generative linguistics approach to syntax, discussing major issues within the theory, such as tree drawing, constituency, movement, binding, raising, and control. The second half deals with the very similar data to that discussed in the first half from a radically alternative viewpoint, dubbed Cogntive Grammar. The learning outcomes of this class will be [1] the acquisition of the ability to analyze complex sentence structures in English, [2] the acquisition of the analytical thinking skills that can be extended to a similar type of problem solving, and [3] the ability to critically compare and evaluate two or more approaches to the same syntactic phenomena.

Requirements:

You will have a total of 10 assignments and 3 exams. All the assignments and the exams are problem-solving questions.

Attendance and Evaluation:

It is important for you to be present for every class. Every homework assignment should be turned in on the due date (or before the due date) in class. Evaluation will be based on the following weight. IMPORTANT: I DO NOT accept late assignments (no exceptions). E-mail submissions WILL NOT be accepted.

While students are expected to attend every single class period, there are circumstances that lead to excused absence from the classroom. Excused absences are defined at http://www.duluth.umn.edu/vcaa/ExcusedAbsence.html. To be eligible for an excused absence, students must provide written documents such as doctor's notes and advisor's letters. To encourage your attendance, for each class you miss 1 point will be deducted, but if your attendance is perfect (any absences being excused) you will receive 3 bonus points.

Final Grades:

• 93 - 100: A
• 90 - 92: A-
• 87 - 89: B+
• 83 - 86: B
• 80 - 82: B-
• 77 - 79: C+
• 73 - 76: C
• 70 - 72: C-
• 67 - 69: D+
• 63 - 66: D
• 60 - 62: D-
• 59 or less: F

Course Schedule for Spring 2012:

Academic Dishonesty:

Academic dishonesty tarnishes UMD's reputation and discredits the accomplishments of students. UMD is committed to providing students every possible opportunity to grow in mind and spirit. This pledge can only be redeemed in an environment of trust, honesty, and fairness. As a result, academic dishonesty is regarded as a serious offense by all members of the academic community. In keeping with this ideal, this course will adhere to UMD's Student Academic Integrity Policy, which can be found at http://www.d.umn.edu/conduct/integrity. This policy sanctions students engaging in academic dishonesty with penalties up to and including expulsion from the university for repeat offenders.

Appropriate Classroom Conduct:

The instructor will enforce and students are expected to follow the University's Student Conduct Code (http://www.d.umn.edu/conduct/code). Appropriate classroom conduct promotes an environment of academic achievement and integrity. Disruptive classroom behavior that substantially or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor's ability to teach, or student learning, is prohibited. Disruptive behavior includes inappropriate use of technology in the classroom. Examples include ringing cell phones, text-messaging, watching videos, playing computer games, checking email, or surfing the Internet or Facebooking (or facebooking) on your computer instead of note-taking or other instructor-sanctioned activities.