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  • ENG4100

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 outcomes

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

This course is only for students admitted to the master program Europeiske språk or LeP/LaP.

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.

The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.

Prerequisites

Formal prerequisites

Admission to the master programs in language or LP.

Overlap

10 credits against ENG4107 - Corpora in Language Research: Theory and method.

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.

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.

Teaching takes place throughout the semester.

Criteria for access to teaching resources

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, contingent on available capacity.

Exam information

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.

All assignments handed in for evaluation must be accompanied by an obligatory statement concerning cheating

Exam resources

No special exam resources are allowed.

Language of examination

English

Assessment and grading

Course grades are awarded on a descending scale using alphabetic grades from A to E for passes and F for fail. Read more about the grading system .

Explanations and appeals

Students can request an explanation of their grades, and can also appeal against their grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals

Possibility of make-up exams and re-takes

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 .

Withdrawing from exams and limits on re-takes

A student can sit for this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do this in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit for the exam.

Exam options for students with special needs

Students may apply for access to alternative exam resources or exam forms on the basis of chronic illness and/or special needs that create a marked disadvantage to other students in the exam situation. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.

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