Directed Readings in Linguistics - LAN00133M
- Department: Language and Linguistic Science
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2025-26
Module summary
The module focuses on developing core academic skills while conducting and engaging with primary research: short and long form writing, abstract writing, and poster design. The module is split into different thematic parts. Each topic will be managed by a different member of staff. From this pool of readings, you will write summaries, an abstract, and design a poster, culminating in an original research essay.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2025-26 |
Module aims
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Engage with primary research and conduct independent research
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Understanding the main theoretical and empirical issues and the competing analyses of specific phenomena within a particular area of linguistics
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Communicate research effectively via a range of modalities
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Develop core academic skills in communicating research through abstract writing and poster design
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Develop compelling and concise short-form writing through writing summaries of research papers
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Conduct and communicate independent research by writing a long essay
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, you will be able to:
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Read and engage with research articles in linguistics, broadly understand them and be able to articulate the issues that are addressed and the analysis proposed
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Communicate research effectively through abstract writing and poster design
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Navigate the differences between short-form and long-form writing
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Identity a topic of research through the synthesis of key issues in the literature
Module content
This module will have a mixture of input sessions, presentation sessions, and independent study time. Input sessions will introduce you to the relevant issues in different areas linguistics as well as to relevant academic skills. Presentation sessions will consist of sharing formative work and receiving feedback. Independent study and preparation time will be scheduled in between input and preparation sessions.
Shared Teaching
There would be 3-4 teaching blocks, depending on staff availability: syntax, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, language development. We would share teaching, so each staff member would take 3-4 weeks each. Students are expected to attend all sessions but would be summatively assessed only on their chosen area of specialisation.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 40.0 |
| Essay/coursework | 60.0 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 40.0 |
| Essay/coursework | 60.0 |
Module feedback
Individual written feedback will be provided for all written pieces of work. Weeks 8 and 9 are specifically designated as consolidation and feedback weeks, where you will meet with a member of staff to discuss your formative work and to introduce your upcoming summative work. In week 11, you will meet with a member of staff to discuss your essay proposal.
Indicative reading
Initial readings and topics for discussion and/or essays will be drawn from relevant journals, conference proceedings and state of the art papers.