Students

LING2248 – Social Networking and Online Language

2020 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Liz Shoostovian
Margaret Wood
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
In this leading-edge unit we examine and use social media and explore how language and social practices are changing in the contemporary computer-driven world. Issues surrounding online identity will be explored as well as the challenges of linguistic change for education and business practices. Some issues that we discuss are how women and men communicate online, and how online language may vary according to age, ethnicity or context. The unit explores the collaborative processes involved in contemporary education and media. Some issues that we will consider are: Do we know who we are 'talking to' these days? What are the ethical issues involved in using new media: what can you say or do in a text message? Are young people losing the ability to talk face-to-face? You can apply your knowledge of other units in linguistics in this unit, but no previous knowledge of linguistics is necessary or expected. The unit will connect with other areas of your University study and your life experience. You will find that the unit is relevant to business and marketing, to media and communications, to education and psychology, as well as to linguistics.

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:

  • ULO1: Communicate theories of and practice in online community engagement to appropriateaudiences, in both academic writing and social network modes i.e. via Text, Tweet, Blog, and Meme.
  • ULO2: Show an understanding of, and a critical approach to, the sociolinguistic theories used toexplain and investigate online communication.
  • ULO3: Demonstrate an insight into the historical patterns of linguistic innovation and changeand how these patterns are evidenced in online communication.
  • ULO4: Analyse and apply effective strategies relevant to online community engagement.
  • ULO5: Critically analyse academic material and deliver presentations of their findings.

Assessment Tasks

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Assessment Information

Assignment Submission

Assignments are submitted to Turnitin as a matter of course, and if required, to a second platform to suit the medium. Instructions for submitting assignments via Turnitin are available here: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/tools-and-resources/ilearn/ilearn-quick-guides-for-students

Late Assignment Submission

Any request for an extension must be provided with associated documentation via a special consideration request on ask.mq.edu.au before the assignment deadline.

Unless you have been granted an extension based on documented evidence of significant disruption to your studies, the following late penalties apply:

  • 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 (i.e. this is 3% of the total marks possible for the task – NOTE 3% of the marks the student received. For example, if the assessment task is worth 100 marks and the student is two days late their 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.

Please keep a copy of your assessments in case of misadventure.

Access to Marked Assignments

Marked assignments will, in general, be available to students within 2 to 3 weeks of submission. All marked assessments can be accessed via iLearn.

A Note About Extensions

Please note that submitting a request for Special Consideration does not guarantee an extension, and you should consider carefully before making a request. As a university student, you are expected to plan your time so that all assessments can be submitted in a timely manner. Special Consideration is for serious and unavoidable disruption, not for poor time management.

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Lectures

All LING2248 lectures are available via the ECHO360 Active Learning Platform on iLearn. The lectures are released on a weekly basis, and you are expected to have listened to the lectures before attending tutorials.

Tutorials

LING2248 has six, two-hour tutorials per semester. You must register in a specific tutorial, and attend the classes you are enrolled in.

Classes commence in Week 1 and continue in Weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Monday tutorial is 11.00 - 1.00pm, Thursday tutorial is 11.00 - 1.00pm.

Please check your registration details to confirm which tutorial you are registered in.

Attendance

As there are only 6 LING2248 tutorials per semester, students are required to attend 80% of tutorials, and a request for Special Consideration justifying your absences will need to be lodged if your attendance falls below this level. Note that tutors will keep a record of attendance at tutorials. While your physical attendance at lectures is not necessary, you are expected to listen to all lectures via the Active Learning Platform (available via iLearn) in a timely manner.

Readings and Other materials

There is no set textbook for LING2248. Instead we will be using unit readings available through the university library. Please see the LING2248 iLearn for more details.

Referencing for Assessments

All sources used in assessments for LING2248 must be acknowledged appropriately, and penalties apply for any case where this does not occur.

In LING2248, we require that version 6 of the APA referencing scheme is used. For more information on the APA v.6 Referencing Scheme, please see http://www.apastyle.org/manual/index.aspx

For answers to common questions about the APA v.6 Referencing Scheme, please see:

http://www.apastyle.org/learn/faqs/index.aspx

Unit Schedule

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

To be advised.

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:

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

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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
18/02/2020 Updated with 2020 assignment due dates