2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ENGL3217 Language, Literature and Computers

20 creditsClass Size: 10

School of English

Module manager: Dr Fiona Douglas
Email: F.M.Douglas@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

Pre-requisite qualifications

Students wishing to take this module must have passed an introduction to language study in the School of English or another department (such modules include 'Language, Text and Context', 'Foundations of Language Study', 'Language Methodologies and Research Methods', a Level 1 module in Linguistics and Phonetics, or similar modules in other departments in Modern Languages). If you do not meet this requirement, but do have an A in English language A-level, and you wish to do this module, you should consult the module tutor, as should any student who is uncertain whether they meet the pre-requisite requirements.

This module requires you to develop skills in using a computer to analyse texts. No specialist computing skills are required, but some familiarity with basic computing skills such as wordprocessing, file management and use of online resources will be assumed.

Please note: This module is restricted to Level 2 and 3 students.

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

In the last decade, computers have started to make a huge difference to the ways we access, study and analyse linguistic and literary texts. As computers become more and more powerful, and the software becomes ever more sophisticated, so new horizons are opening up for the study of language and literature. With the continual development of archives, corpora, digital texts, databases and e-books, scholars are increasingly being presented with new and exciting ways to get to grips with their subject. But how do you get to grips with all of this technology? Why bother? What can it really do? What are the possibilities? If you are interested in pushing back the boundaries of your study of language and/or literature, if you want to investigate real language use on a scale that means you can really say something significant, if you want to see how scholars are revolutionising the way we study texts, or if you?re just curious to find out how Shakespeare used the word 'love' in his works and want to investigate it in seconds at the touch of a button, then this module could be for you.Priority will be given to students on named BA programmes with English. Level 2 students on the BA in English Language will be given first priority, followed by other Level 2 students on programmes with English, then to Level 3 students on the BA in English Language, then to other Level 3 students on programmes with English.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should have developed an understanding of the methodological, technological and theoretical considerations underpinning electronic resources relevant to the study of language and literature, and be able to critically evaluate and apply them to their own research.

Learning outcomes
Students will have developed:
the ability to use written and oral communication effectively;
the capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse;
the ability to manage quantities of complex information in a structured and systematic way;
the capacity for independent thought and judgement;
critical reasoning;
research skills, including the retrieval of information, the organisation of material and the evaluation of its importance;
IT skills;
efficient time management and organisation skills;
the ability to learn independently.

Skills outcomes
Skills for effective communication, oral and written.
Capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse.
Ability to acquire quantities of complex information of diverse kinds in a structured and systematic way.
Capacity for independent thought and judgement.
Critical reasoning.
Research skills, including information retrieval skills, the organisation of material, and the evaluation of its importance.
IT skills.
Time management and organisational skills.
Independent learning.

Syllabus

Why would anyone want to use a computer to study English? Surely studying literature or language is about reading books, not sitting in front of a PC?

Really? This module sets out to explore the usefulness and drawbacks of using computers in linguistic and literary analysis. We will explore a variety of useful online tools and resources that can be used to complement and enhance your studies. So whether your interests are chiefly language or literature orientated, there will be something here for you. Digital texts, corpora and database resources are a growing phenomenon, and can often present scholars with new ways of investigating texts and conducting literary or linguistic research. This module will outline the principles involved in the creation of such tools and resources in tandem with an exploration of the applications to which they can be put (e.g. textual analysis, study of language use and variation, access to otherwise inaccessible manuscript material, lexicography etc.). We will learn about and use some of the key resources and packages available such as the Oxford Text Archive, LION, the Oxford English Dictionary online, and the British National Corpus. With so many resources available it can be difficult to know where to begin, so we will also look at how we can critically evaluate electronic and online resources and the usefulness of academic portals such as HUMBUL and the Voice of the Shuttle.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Computer Class	10	1.00	10.00
Meetings	5	1.00	5.00
Private study hours			185.00
Total Contact hours			15.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Teaching will be through weekly computer lab seminars (10 x 1 hour) plus up to 5 additional hours (content to be determined by the module tutor). The 5 additional hours may include lectures, plenary sessions, film showings, or the return of unassessed/assessed essays.

Private Study: Reading; seminar, essay/project preparation.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Seminar contribution; assessed essay.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1500 words	33.30
Project	3000 words	66.70
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 24/04/2008

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