English 309-01
History of the English Language
Spring 2003, MW 12:30-1:45, FH 507

Dr. Jean Lorrah
Faculty Hall 7B-15
Telephone (762) 4720

E-mail: jean.lorrah@murraystate.edu

Visit the 309 Class Website.

Visit Dr. Lorrah's Website.

Office Hours: MW 9:30-12:30
                       TTh 9:30-11:30
                       F 9:30-11:30

Texts and References:

        Thomas Pyles & John Algeo, The Origins and Development of the English Language, 4^th ed.
        John Algeo, Problems in the Origins and Development of the English Language, Compiled Edition
        Use of a standard audio or video cassette recorder; two blank tapes. Regular size, not miniature tapes.

Description: A survey of the English Language from Old to Middle to Modern English.

Purpose: To teach you how language works, and how your own language originated and developed.

Prerequisite: Junior status.

Objectives: To understand the workings of language, which takes time and effort, but is extremely rewarding. We will cover only the basics of historical linguistics. You should leave this course with comprehension that will remain with you throughout life. Although we will get behind schedule, each QUIZ and EXAMINATION will always be given on the day assigned, but will cover only material that has been covered in class up to that day. You are responsible for information your instructor provides as well as for what is in the text.

Content Outline:

        Week I, 1/13-1/15, Ch. I, Language and Languages: An Introduction
        Week II, 1/22, Ch. I.
        Week III, 1/27-1/29, Ch. II, The Sounds and Spelling of Current English. QUIZ Wednesday.
        Week IV, 2/3-2/5, Ch. II.
        Week V, 2/10-2/12, Ch. IV, The Backgrounds of English.
              (Skip Ch. III except for a few items your instructor will assign)
        Week VI, 2/17-2/19, Ch. IV. EXAMINATION Monday, 2/17.
        Week VII, 2/24-2/26, Ch. V, The Old English Period.
        Week VIII, 3/3-3/5, Ch. V. QUIZ Wednesday.
        Week IX, 3/10-3/12, The Middle English Period.
        Week X, 3/24-3/26, Ch. VI. EXAMINATION Wednesday, 10/30.
        Week XI, 3/31-4/2, Ch. VII, The Modern Period to 1800: Sounds and Spellings. EXAMINATION Wedensday, 4/2
        Week XII, 4/7-4/9, Ch. VII. QUIZ Wednesday.
        Week XIII, 4/14-4/16, Ch. VIII, The Modern Period to 1800: Forms and Syntax. QUIZ Wednesday
        Week XIV, 4/21-4/23, Ch. VIII. PROJECT DUE Monday, 4/21.
        Week XV, 4/28-4/30, Catchup Week (we'll need it).
        Wednesday, May 7, 10:30am, FINAL EXAM

Instructional Activities: Reading, exercises, class discussion, lecture, drill.

Field, Clinical, and/or Laboratory Experiences: Term Project--Field Based Analysis

Resources: Videotapes, television, radio, books, films, personal interaction, course website. You will find links from the course website to Internet resources--and these will be added to any time I learn of new resources, from students or from any other source. Therefore the course website is a constantly growing source. Don’t abandon it after looking at it the first week of classes.

Blackboard: Click here to enter Boackboard. To log in for the first time, type your first initial and last name plus the last four digits of your social security number in this format: jsmith1234. Use the last four digits of your social security number as your password. Once you have gotten in, immediately change your password. If you had a class on Blackboard last semester, try the password you used then. Click on English 309 and explore the site.

College of Humanities and Fine Arts Policy on Academic Integrity.

Makeup Policy: A DOCTOR MUST VERIFY your illness in order for you to make up a quiz or exam. Talk with me before you miss (not after) for any other reason, and we will make arrangements for you. Once the graded quiz or exam has been returned, obviously no one can make it up anymore.

Attendance Policy: We are all adults here. This is a heavily interactive course. Not coming to class will hurt your comprehension, and in the end, your grade. See makeup policy, above, for the problems you will cause yourself by cutting the day of a quiz or exam.

Office Hours: Your time. Come in and talk—you may also phone or e-mail. Get help on anything you don't understand. Look for me if I am not in my office during the times above; if I am chatting with a colleague you are not interrupting. If I am working with another student, you may have to wait a few minutes for your turn.

Grading Policy:

		3 QUIZZES @ 20 POINTS	60		375+=A		200+=D
		3 EXAMS @ 100 POINTS	300		335+=B		BELOW 200=E
		TERM PROJECT@100 POINTS	100		265+=C
		TOTAL POSSIBLE	460

Exception: Any student scoring 100 points (a perfect score) on the FINAL EXAMINATION will receive an A for the course, no matter how many points that student had going into the final. Hard as this course is, there are always A's--but only once has a student earned an A by making 100 points on the final.

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