Students

LING220 – Syntax

2019 – S1 Day

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Iain Giblin
iain.giblin@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
AHH3.433
By appointment - please email
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
LING110 or LING111
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
The unit introduces students to Chomsky's theory of Universal Grammar as the basis for the structure of all languages. The focus is to investigate the structure of English sentences using the scientific method, but data from other languages is also introduced. The unit covers parts of speech, tests for dividing sentences into phrases, drawing 'tree' structures for sentences, the structural relations within sentences, and movement transformations.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Use linguistic tests to identify parts of speech and sentence constituents
  • Apply the scientific method to test hypotheses about the structure of English and other languages
  • Draw tree diagrams for English sentences and apply syntactic transformations
  • Explain arguments for and against Chomsky's theory of 'Universal Grammar'
  • Research and explain to peers a property of a language family

General Assessment Information

  • It is a requirement in this unit that students sit the final exam. Students who do not sit the final exam will receive a grade of FA.

Late Submissions Policy

  • Late submissions without an extension will receive a penalty of 3% of the total mark available for the assessment task per day including weekend days and public holidays. (Note: this is 3% of the total marks possible for the task – NOT 3% of the marks the student received. For example, if an assessment task is worth 100 marks and a student is two days late the mark for the task is reduced by 6 marks.)
  • Late submission of an assessment task without an extension will not be accepted at all after the date on which marked assessment tasks have been released to the rest of the class. Any student with unsubmitted work at this date will receive a mark of 0 for the assessment task.
  • Extensions will only be given in special circumstances, and can be requested by completing the Special Consideration request at ask.mq.edu.au and providing the requisite supporting documentation.
  • Extensions that will result in submissions after the assessment task has been returned to the class will require a separate assessment task to be completed at the unit convenor's discretion.
  • For more information on Special Consideration, see the university website https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration\
  • If a student fails the unit due to non-submission of an assignment or non-attendance at an exam, an FA grade will be applied in accordance with the University's Assessment Policy.
  • Unit convenors have the discretion to determine whether or not students should fail a unit on the basis of lateness penalties alone if other learning outcomes of the unit have been met.

Assessment information

In-class quizzes will take place during the tutorials in week 4 and week 9.

Problem sets are due Friday, 11:59pm in weeks 6, 8, 10, and 12.

Short language typology essay is due Friday, 11:59pm, Week 13.

Presentations will take place in weeks 12 and 13 during tutorials. Lecturer will assign topic and schedule.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
In-class Quizzes 30% No Week 4 and Week 9
Problem Sets 25% No Weeks 6, 8, 10, 12
Final Exam 30% No Examination Period
Language Typology 15% No Ongoing

In-class Quizzes

Due: Week 4 and Week 9
Weighting: 30%

There will be two in-class quizzes that will test basic foundational concepts. The quizzes will not be open book.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Use linguistic tests to identify parts of speech and sentence constituents
  • Apply the scientific method to test hypotheses about the structure of English and other languages
  • Draw tree diagrams for English sentences and apply syntactic transformations
  • Explain arguments for and against Chomsky's theory of 'Universal Grammar'

Problem Sets

Due: Weeks 6, 8, 10, 12
Weighting: 25%

Problem sets are questions that require students to apply the concepts that are taught in class.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Use linguistic tests to identify parts of speech and sentence constituents
  • Apply the scientific method to test hypotheses about the structure of English and other languages
  • Draw tree diagrams for English sentences and apply syntactic transformations

Final Exam

Due: Examination Period
Weighting: 30%

The final exam is cumulative and will assess the material covered in the session. The final exam will be an open book exam (the textbook; hardcopy book only).
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Use linguistic tests to identify parts of speech and sentence constituents
  • Apply the scientific method to test hypotheses about the structure of English and other languages
  • Draw tree diagrams for English sentences and apply syntactic transformations

Language Typology

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 15%

Students will work in groups to research a property of a language family. Students will then give a short, group presentation to their tutorial in week 12 or 13 (to be assigned by unit convenor). Students will then submit a 500-word essay on the topic that their group presented. The submitted essay must be written individually by each student. That is, do not submit a single essay on behalf of the group and do not use the same essay for each individual submission. The 15% grade will be based on the written individual submission but a student cannot submit an essay unless they have taken part in the group presentation. 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Research and explain to peers a property of a language family

Delivery and Resources

Technology

A laptop computer is required for diagramming sentence representations.

Students will use the free software named 'Treeform' to diagram sentences.

Textbook

Carnie, A. (2013), Syntax: A Generative Introduction (3rd edition). Wiley-Blackwell.

Carnie, A. (2013), The Syntax Workbook: A Companion to Carnie's Syntax. Wiley-Blackwell.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Further Policy Notes:

As a good student, you are responsible for ensuring academic integrity practices are followed at all times. Your first step is to read the University's Academic Honesty Policy, and make sure you know what constitutes good practice. Then make sure you know how to reference and cite correctly. There are other practices we need to consider, and one of these is the potential for collusion. 

Informal study groups are encouraged as a good way to assist your learning, but please remember that all your independently assessed assignments must be completed independently. That is, in independently assessed assignments the entire assignment must be your own work. Using part or all of someone else's work constitutes collusion and breaches the University's Academic Honesty Policy.

Do not collude with any other student by selling, giving, lending, explaining or showing all or parts of your independently assessed work/answers/past or current assignments, and do not ask to buy, borrow, see and use all or parts of the work of another student.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Use linguistic tests to identify parts of speech and sentence constituents
  • Apply the scientific method to test hypotheses about the structure of English and other languages
  • Draw tree diagrams for English sentences and apply syntactic transformations
  • Explain arguments for and against Chomsky's theory of 'Universal Grammar'
  • Research and explain to peers a property of a language family

Assessment tasks

  • In-class Quizzes
  • Problem Sets
  • Final Exam
  • Language Typology

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Use linguistic tests to identify parts of speech and sentence constituents
  • Apply the scientific method to test hypotheses about the structure of English and other languages
  • Draw tree diagrams for English sentences and apply syntactic transformations
  • Explain arguments for and against Chomsky's theory of 'Universal Grammar'

Assessment tasks

  • In-class Quizzes
  • Problem Sets
  • Final Exam

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Use linguistic tests to identify parts of speech and sentence constituents
  • Apply the scientific method to test hypotheses about the structure of English and other languages
  • Draw tree diagrams for English sentences and apply syntactic transformations
  • Research and explain to peers a property of a language family

Assessment tasks

  • In-class Quizzes
  • Problem Sets
  • Final Exam

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Research and explain to peers a property of a language family

Assessment task

  • Language Typology