Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2005-2006 (archived)

Module LING3391: LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Department: LINGUISTICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE

LING3391: LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

Type Open Level 3 Credits 20 Availability Not available in 2005/06 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • Introduction to Written Discourse (LING2111).

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To introduce undergraduates to current thinking in this area of language education and to enable students to understand the nature of the relationship between teaching english and basic education.

Content

  • The module begins with an examination of the basis of literacy in metaphonological and metasyntactic awareness.
  • It then moves on to explore issues in the teaching of reading and writing skills through the wider perspective of literacy studies.
  • The different methods of defining and appraising literacy are given thought.
  • The origin and nature of writing will be discussed as well as its effect on language.
  • Some of the differences in the world's writing systems will be considered as will the question of whether literacy restructures cognition.
  • The problems of language choice and the related issues of language rights and linguistic imperialism are also broached.
  • The question of how people read and write will be surveyed and issues of writing and reading pedagogy will be looked at in light of the above.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • .
Subject-specific Skills:
    Key Skills:

      Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

      • .

      Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

      Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
      Lectures 22 Weekly 1 hour 22
      Tutorials 3 Termly 1 hour 3
      Preparation and Reading 175
      Total 200

      Summative Assessment

      Component: Take home examination Component Weighting: 50%
      Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
      2500 word take home examination 100%
      Component: Essay Component Weighting: 50%
      Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
      2500 word essay 100%

      Formative Assessment:

      Write-up of data collection (1000 words) due end of week 8, term 2. In class-presentation.

      ■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University