Peru State College

ENGLISH 440, History of the English Language

Syllabus--Fall--2011

 

 Course: History of the English Language

Time: 8:00-9:15, MW

Room: TJM 325

Professor: Bill Clemente

Office: TJM 315

Office Hours: MW, 1:00-3:30; TTh, 9:00-11:00; F, 10:00-11:00

And by appointment

Office Telephone Number: (872)-2233

E-mail: bclemente@peru.edu

Web page: Click on Bill Clemente's Personal Web page

Teaching Schedule:

Creative Writing (On Line, first Eight Weeks)

Non-Western Literature (On Line, second Eight Weeks)

8:00-9:15 MW (CATS 209): History of the English Language

9:30-10:45 MW (FA 202): Comics as Literature

11:00-11:50 Friday (FA 119): College 101

Web page: Click here. And then click on "Bill's Personal Web Page"

 

Required Texts:

The Adventure of English by Melvyn Bragg

The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

1066 The Year of the Conquest by David Howarth

Do You Speak American by MacNeil and Cran

Please pay close attention to class announcements, for the material presented here is subject to change over the course of the term.

 

Course Description and Objectives:

What is the official language of Nigeria? India? Antigua? What language dominates the world's most awesome manifestation of mass communication, the Internet?

Why English?

And how did English come to be and become so important? Why does "prioritize" bother so many people. What is the difference between "uninterested" and "disinterested"? What the heck is an "accusative case"? What has Old English to do with the language we speak today? What happened in 1066? Who are James Murray and W. C. Minor? What is African American Vernacular English? Why is "media" plural? And what does speaking American mean?

This course will answer these questions and many others connected with the fascinating genesis and growing impact of the English Language. As you will soon discover, the history of our language has a fascinating history. We will examine, as well, contemporary issues such as the English Only Movement and Postcolonial controversies that appear in newspapers and on television shows with increased regularity, for English is alive and changing--and change bothers and excites many, many people.

A History of the English Language includes elements of linguistics, sociology, political science, history, archeology, anthropology, and literature, among other areas of academic study. This class thus attempts to cover a diverse geography, touching on matters as basic as fricatives and as broad as the Atlantic Ocean. In other words, the class offers something for everybody and touches on all aspects of what is called a Liberal Arts Education.

What we discuss this semester therefore connects in one way or another with all your other English classes (and other classes as well). And we will want to discuss these areas of intersection.

We will use as our point of departure the text, The Adventure of English and some of the video presentations keyed to the text, beginning the first day of class. Over the course of the semester, I will supply you with additional material, from essays such as George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" to the one of the first poems in Old English, "Cædmon's Hymn," which begins: Nu scylun herian heofon-rices Weard.

As you will come to understand, the History of the English Language is very much a story about invasions, from Roman legions to Viking incursions and their effect on the formation of Old English to one of the most significant invasions and dates in English History, 1066. To appreciate this important event, you will read a brief historical account of the invasion, 1066 The Year of the Conquest. For approximately 300 years, the Norman French language exerted a profound effect on the development of what we now call Middle English.

We will devote time to looking at the formation of Middle English, an area our texts do not cover in great detail. You will have a good introduction to how greatly the language has changed since the time of the legendary figure, King Arthur; and to give you a good feel for the dynamics and the sounds of Middle English, we will read and listen to Chaucer's Miller's Tale and some of the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, a wonderful work of literature you will come to appreciate

This semester will introduce you to controversies that initially might make you laugh, such as tremendous battles over the orthography and the purity of the language, from attempts to "fix" the language to arguments over usage. In addition, the story of the making of the Oxford English Dictionary, the OED, will come alive in The Professor and the Madman, a true story about Dr. W. C. Minor, who submitted over 10,000 entries--from an asylum for the criminally insane. And you will come to have a feel for the rich literary tradition these dictionary words commemorate as well as for the historical circumstances that give rise to the language in which we dream.

And Do You Speak American? will complement well The History of the English Language; videos that go with this book will also allow you to hear what the book discusses. Among other things, you will learn about the complexities and the dialects of special concern to what we call American English, from the English Only question to Valley Girls' vocabulary.

I strive to create an informal atmosphere in class, so feel comfortable about expressing your opinions. Come to class prepared to discuss the assigned material, and do not hesitate to ask questions.

 

Other Goals and Objectives:

The History of the English Language upholds the Peru State College and the English Program mission in a number of significant ways.

This particular course seeks not only to make future teachers and citizens more aware of the rich tapestry of history behind the language they take for granted but also to increase their understanding of the complex web that unites our language with the rest of the world.

Among other things, students learn about more than how the language's metamorphosis, a fascinating story; they come to appreciate the power behind the language and become more sensitive to issues relating to language in the various countries throughout the world colonized by Great Britain.

Making students more aware of how their language functions will also make them better teachers of the language as they move from the classroom on this campus to classrooms in Elementary Schools and High Schools throughout the state.

Intellectually stimulating, the course also exercises the skills necessary for independent thinking and critical analysis. The class likewise upholds the college's commitment to guaranteeing that all graduates from the English Program receive a strong Liberal Arts Education; the History of the English Language bears significantly on nearly all the disciplines on campus, from Business (English as an international language) and Education (Ebonics in the classroom/English only movements), to Politics (The official language(s) of Canada) and History (Alfred the Great/William the Conqueror).

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Appreciate the rich diversity of the language you speak.

2. Discuss the evolution of the English from a synthetic to an analytic language..

3. Continue reading and research with confidence the many forms of English in the world..

4. Understand what makes the English language the most important written and spoken language in the world.

5. Talk clearly and critically about the issues addressed in each of the areas of the language's history examined in class.

Turnitin:

To promote academic integrity, Peru State College subscribes to an electronic service to review papers for the appropriate citations and originality. Key elements of submitted papers are stored electronically in a limited access database and thus become a permanent part of the material to which future submissions are compared.

Continued enrollment in a course signifies your permission for this use of your written work.

 

Instruction Method/Mode of Delivery:

English 440 is a lecture and discussion class.

In addition to lecture material and traditional classroom discussions, students will also engage in various forms of electronic communication. All students, for example, will be enrolled in and become familiar with the Blackboard Template, especially the discussion boards. In addition, this class will also make use of a class web log.

This class also includes video material connected with the course texts, for the main books were originally companion pieces to popular PBS shows of the same titles, The Adventure of English and Do You Speak American.

 

 

Assessment Methods and Student Requirements:

Grades: Your grade will be based upon the following (subject-to-change) percentages and areas:

Attendance: 10%
Essay: 14
Research Project/Class Presentation/Blog/Web page: 20
Quizzes: 16
Exam One 20
Exam Two 20

 

Grading Policy:

 

A 90-100
B+ 85-89
B 80-84
C+ 75-79
C 70-74
D+ 65-69
D 60-64
F 59 and below

 

Attendance: Come to class prepared to take part in discussions, for they will help you generate ideas for your essays on the exams and for short writing assignments; failing to attend class on a regular basis will hinder your progress.

If you must miss class, contact me or a member of the class to get the assignment--you should have a class directory by the second week. Attendance counts for 10% of the final grade, and each of you begins the semester with a grade of A, 100%, for attendance. Not attending class lowers this grade at the rate of 5% for the first two absences and 10% for each subsequent non-attendance. Come to class prepared to enjoy yourself.

Essay: Each of you will write a 2.5, double-spaced essay on a topic drawn from material covered the first two books covered in class. We will discuss the essay's specifics in class..

Research Essay/Class Presentation/Blog: You will write an 5 page research essay on a topic of your choice related to material covered in our class readings and discussions or give a class presentation utilizing Power Point or another electronic media. You can also over the course of the term maintain a blog for this class or develop a web page See me about your ideas quickly if you decide to create either a blog or a web page

You will receive additional information about these projects early in the term.

Quizzes: You will take a quiz on Blackboard every two weeks over class material.

Exams: You will take two examinations over the course of the term. Each examination will come in two parts: 1) asks that you respond in paragraph form to a series of prompts and 2) requires that you compose an essay over a specific topic. In general, you will take these examinations on-line but can take the final examination on line or in class.

Due Dates and Late Material: Turn in all work on assigned dates. If you must turn in something after the due date, let me know in advance. Grades for late work will be lowered at the rate of one-half a grade each day.

Turning In Assignments: You will be asked to turn in class assignments electronically, on the Blackboard Drop Box; I will comment on this work and return it to you via e-mail.

You will turn in all written work on Blackboard. Therefore, in this class you must use Microsoft Word and not Works.

 

Plagiarism:

Do your own work. Read the statement on Academic Dishonesty later in this document.

Plagiarism comes in a number of forms--from using another person's work to cutting and pasting without source acknowledgment from the internet.

Plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment and will if repeated result in failure of the class.

If you have questions about plagiarism, see me.

 

Incomplete Course Work:

To designate a student's work in a course as incomplete at the end of a term, instructors record the incomplete grade (I). Students may receive this grade only when serious illness, hardship, death in the immediate family, or military service during the semester in which they are registered prevents them from completing course requirements. In addition, to receive an incomplete, a student must have completed a majority of the course's major requirements.

Unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise, students must initiate requests for an incomplete by filing out an Incomplete Grade Completion Contract, which requires the student and faculty signature.

The Incomplete Grade Completion Contract cites the reason(s) for the incomplete and details the specific obligations the student must meet to change the incomplete to a letter grade. If students agree to complete required work prior to the normal deadline for making up an incomplete – the end of the subsequent semester – this date must appear in the contract. The division chair, the instructor, and the student receive signed copies of the incomplete Grade Completion Contract.

Even if the student does not attend Peru State College, all incomplete course work must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester. Unless Faculty Senate approves an extension, if the student does not fulfill contract obligations in the allotted time, the incomplete grade automatically becomes an F.

Students who have filed an application for graduation are not eligible for a grade of Incomplete.

 

Accommodation Statement:

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (public law 93-112) section 504, provides that "no otherwise qualified disabled individual in the United States shall solely by reason disabled, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or by subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance."

1. It is the student's responsibility to notify the institution of any special circumstances that would affect his/her ability to complete equally in the college environment. Learning disabilities must be appropriately documented.

2. While students are encouraged to self-identify at the earliest possible time, students may not know or choose to self-identify, but can still receive services at any time once they self-disclose and document.

3. Students should contact the office of Student Support Services, Vice President for Student Affairs or the Director of Admissions for further advisement.

 

Academic Dishonesty:

Academic integrity is a basic principle that requires the student to take credit only for ideas and efforts that are his/her own. Cheating is defined as the submission of materials in assignments, exams, or other academic work that is based on sources prohibited by the faculty member. Cheating shall include, but is not limited to, situations in which a student:

1. Refers during an academic evaluation to material sources not authorized by the faculty member.

2. Utilizes devices during an academic evaluation that is not authorized by the faculty member.

3. Provides assistance to another student or receives assistance from another student during an academic evaluation in a manner not authorized by the faculty member.

4. Presents as his/her own the ideas or words of another person without customary and proper acknowledgment of sources.

5. Knowingly permits his/her words to be submitted by another person without the faculty member's permission.

6. Acts as a substitute or utilizes a substitute in any academic evaluation.

7. Fabricates data in support of laboratory or field work.

8. Possesses, buys, sells, obtains, or uses a copy of any materials intended to be used as an instrument of academic evaluation in advance of its administration.

9. Alters grade records of his/her own or another student work in a course or a component of a course.

If you have any questions about the preceding material, contact me right away.

 

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE FOR ENGLISH 400

The following schedule is meant to give a very general outline of the course.

I will post on the web site for the class detailed descriptions of class assignments and activities for your information and for your preparation, listing specific dates for grammar tests and due dates for all assignments.

Weeks One and Two--Adventure of English (AOE): Chapters 1-5

Weeks Three through Six--(AOE): Chapters 6-15; 1066; Chaucer.

Week Seven--(AOE) : Chapters 16 and 19; 1066; Chaucer

Week Eight-(AOE): Chapters 20-24. Midterm Examination

Weeks Nine-Eleven--Professor and the Madman. Speaking American (SA), Chapter 1. Essay.

Week Twelve--SA , Chapter 2; Reports.

Week Thirteen and Fourteen--SA, Chapters 3-6; Reports

Week Fifteen and Sixteen-SA Chapters 7-8; Reports, Exam Two (Final Exam)

BRUC EALLES WEL!!!! (GOOD LUCK)