ENG4152 – Varieties of English Texts
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The emphasis of this course is on how various types of text resemble or differ from each other in terms of vocabulary, grammar, cohesion and stylistic features. This can be seen as a type of discourse analysis, a discipline that examines patterns of language across texts and the functions of texts in their social and cultural contexts. The coursework, both in and between seminars, involves the analysis of concrete texts, with special focus on conversational speech and literary, journalistic and academic writing. An important aim is to increase your awareness of linguistic and stylistic features of text types and the reasons for the variation between them. Such an awareness will be useful in further work with text, for example in writing, reading, editing and teaching.
Learning outcome
After completing this course you will be able to:
- analyse linguistic, stylistic and situational features of texts and text types,
- discuss major differences between spoken and written English registers,
- compare the ways in which different kinds of texts are constructed to communicate the intended message,
- describe reasons why linguistic form varies across text types,
- develop and discuss analyses of example texts with fellow students, present your own ideas for a case study and respond to the projects presented by others,
- conduct a case study of selected linguistic features in one or more types of text.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Recommended previous knowledge
The course assumes a good proficiency in written and oral English.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with ENG2152 – Varieties of English Texts.
- 10 credits overlap with ENG2152 – Varieties of English Texts.
Teaching
Seminar, two hours per week for 13 weeks, 26 hours in total.
Students are expected to attend all teaching. The quality of the teaching depends on active participation in all seminars.
Obligatory activities:
- Students are required to submit two obligatory assignments in order to qualify for the exam. The last of these will be an outline of your term paper, to be briefly presented in class. Information about deadlines will be given at the start of the course. Read more here about rules concerning valid excuses and how to apply for postponements. Information about guidelines for obligatory activities.
It is obligatory to show up for a minimum of 60% of the teaching. In this course you have to attend 8 of 13 seminars. The requirement is absolute.
The allowed absence limit will cover all absences, including illness. You will not be granted valid absences with documentation, even when the absence is due to something beyond your control.
In certain circumstances, i.e. serious or chronic illness, you may apply for special needs accomodations.
Fulfilled course requirements are only valid the semester you attend the course.
Examination
The obligatory requirements must be fulfilled in order to qualify for the exam.
The exam form is a term paper of approximately ten standard pages (a standard page consists of 2,300 characters). You should work on the term paper during most of the semester, with supervision from the teacher.
In the assessment both content and language will be considered, as well as the appropriate presentation of quotations, references and linguistic examples.
Language of examination
The language of examination is English.
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.
Resit an examination
A term paper or equivalent that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.
If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.