Admission requirements
Philology 3: History of the English Language (or equivalent), and preferably also the course Language & Linguistics: Tools and Methods.
Description
Abuse, cooking recipes, depositions, journals, letters, memoirs, presentments and wills: these are all different text types the study of which aims to illustrate the use of English other than that commonly found in printed documents. In this course, we will read a large variety of texts to study everyday English as it was used from the year 1500 onwards, and during the Early Modern English period (1500-1700) in particular. We will focus on differences between these texts and printed documents, as well as from present-day Standard English. In addition, we will look at texts by men and women, as well as by people from different sociolinguistic backgrounds, including people who were practically illiterate. We will concentrate on spelling, pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and style of writing.
Course objectives
This course builds on experience acquired during the first three semesters of the BA curriculum in English philology (Old English, Middle English), particularly as it regards the history of the English language.
At the end of the course, students
1. will have a good insight into the nature and language of different text types from the Early Modern English period (1500–1700), and of their relationship with the more standard printed texts of the time
2. will be able to analyse and identify the textual and linguistic characteristics of a large variety of text types typical of the period
3. will have a good knowledge of the spelling, morphology and syntax of Early Modern (standard and ) non-standard texts as well as of the typical lexis of the text types dealt with
4. will have acquired good working experience of relevant tools for studying and analysing texts from the period
5. will be able to apply their skills when choosing and writing a BA thesis in the field of Early (or Late) Modern English.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA English website
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Course Load
The course load of this course is 140 hours, which comprises.
attending seminars: 26 hours
studying the compulsory literature/preparing weekly assignments: 60 hours
preparing for an oral presentation and writing of the final paper (including reading/research): 14 + 40 hours
Assessment method
Assessment
presentation
weekly contribution in class
final paper
Weighing
presentation (20%)
weekly contribution in class (10%)
final paper (70%)
Students will have successfully passed the course if the average course mark is a 6 or higher.
Resit
It will not be possible to do a resit for the first two components (presentation and weekly contribution in class) of this course.
Exam review
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Attendance
Attendance is compulsory. Missing more than three tutorials means that students will be excluded from taking the exam (or essay or other assignments) and resits. Consequently, the course cannot be completed during that particular academic year. Unauthorized absence also applies to being unprepared and/or not bringing the relevant course materials to class; this includes not having held the presentation.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used to provide students with the weekly syllabus and additional course information. Students will be expected to post weekly comments and/or questions on the basis of their reading on Discussion Board in Blackboard. These comments are part of the mark for their weekly participation in the course.
Reading list
Nevalainen, Terttu (2006). An Introduction to Early Modern English. Edinburgh University Press.
Cusack, Bridget (1998). Everyday English 1500 – 1700. A Reader Edinburgh University Press.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch
Students other than BA English language and culture studies need permission from the coordinator of studies before enrolling.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Registration Studeren à la carte
Registration (Contractonderwijs](http://www.hum.leidenuniv.nl/onderwijs/contractonderwijs/)
Contact
Please contact Student administration van Eyckhof for questions.
Remarks
Students are expected to be in possession of the coursebooks from week 1 onwards. Please note that ordering books from abroad may take longer than expected.