This module will explore discourse aspects of social media in our globalising world, drawing on theories and methodologies developed in linguistics, sociolinguistics, critical discourse analysis and linguistic anthropology. Students will have the opportunity to research language and communication in a range of social media, including social networking sites, such as Facebook, media sharing sites like YouTube and Flickr, wikis, and other sites of (micro)blogging, such as Twitter.
Permit a detailed and extensive study of an area in applied linguistics, focusing on developing an understanding of the key issues at stake and of the range of theoretical positions taken on those issues in the literature.
On completion of the module, students will be able to:
Teaching will be conducted via weekly two-hour interactive lectures in Teaching Block 1 and weekly seminars, reading groups, and personal tutorials in Teaching Block 2. Activities within the two-hour interactive lectures will involve tutor-led presentations of key theories and principles relevant to the specialised area of study and student-led discussions of readings, work-in-progress or language data samples.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | Interactive Lectures | 14 |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | Seminars/Reading Groups/Personal Tutorials | 30 |
| Guided independent study | Guided independent study and preparation for assessment | 256 |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
Assessment will comprise (i) an extended piece of writing, in which students will be expected to present their own ideas, drawing appropriately on a wide range of scholarly sources, (ii) one piece of practical work that will allow students to explore their chosen topic creatively, independently and practically in a range of possible formats, such as web-based, audio-visual, textual, etc. and (iii) an oral presentation on the topic of the extended essay. Portfolio equivalence 8500 words.
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| demonstrate an understanding of and discuss key ideas in the area of applied linguistics studied; | Assessed formatively through in-class discussions and summatively through the extended essay. |
| develop their own original ideas on the central issues discussed; | Assessed formatively and summatively through both assessment components. |
| work independently and to manage their time efficiently; | Assessed summatively through the extended essay and practical project. |
| demonstrate the ability to conceptualise and structure an extended piece of writing. | Assessed summatively through the extended essay. |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Portfolio | 100 |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS a requirement that the major category of assessment is passed in order to achieve an overall pass for the module
Baron, N. (2008) Always on: Language in an Online and Mobile World. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Baym, N. (2010) Personal Connections in the Digital Age. Cambridge: Polity Press
Thurlow, C., Lengel, L. & Tomic, A. 2004. Computer-Mediated Communication: Social Interaction and the Internet. London: Sage.
Crystal, D. (2001) Language and the Internet. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Danet, B. & Herring, S. (eds.) (2007) The Multilingual Internet: Language, Culture and Communication Online. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hutchby, I. 2001. Conversation and technology: from the telephone to the internet. Cambridge: Polity Press