ENG4100 - English Language Research: Methods and Thesis Outline
Course content
The course gives an introduction to research methods in English linguistics, with special emphasis on corpus linguistics. It also focuses on the formulation of research questions and the formal requirements of a master thesis.
Learning outcome
After completing this course you will have:
- formulated your own research questions;
- learned how to write up a piece of research;
- gained insight into research methods within English linguistics;
- acquired practical experience in the use of corpora;
- reviewed ways of working with electronic text corpora in different types of language studies;
- learned how to use computer tools for analysing corpora and handling corpus data.
Admission
Students at UiO must apply for courses in StudentWeb.
International applicants, if you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
This course is only for students admitted to the master program Europeiske språk or LeP/LaP.
The minimum number of attendants for the course is 3, the maximum 15.
The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Id does not exist in shared textAdmission to the master programs in language or LP.
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with ENG4107 - Corpora in Language Research: Theory and method (discontinued).Teaching
The course is taught throughout the semester with 2 hours seminar per week, 28 hours in all. In four of the weeks the focus will be on language research in general and on writing a thesis outline, and in the remaining ten weeks the focus will be on corpus linguistics.
80% attendance is required. Additional absences must be justified by documentation to the exam coordinator.
Students must write a thesis outline (1-2 pages) for their master thesis project. This is an obligatory requirement for the course and must be approved by the teacher. Read more about guidelines for compulsory activities.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
Students must submit a term paper representing a case study in corpus linguistics. This will normally consist of a limited corpus investigation in which relevant corpus tools are applied and where quotations, references and examples must be properly presented.
The final mark for the course is set on the basis of the term paper. Both language and content will be part of the assessment.
You must submit your final paper in Fronter. Read more about submission procedures
Examination support material
Id does not exist in shared textLanguage of examination
Id does not exist in shared textEnglish
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
You may request an explanation of your grades, and you may also appeal against your grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals.
Resit an examination
You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam.
Withdrawal from an examination
A term paper or equivalent that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.
Special examination arrangements
If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.