Identifying Data 2020/21
Subject (*) Methodology and Research in English Linguistics Code 613505107
Study programme
Mestrado Universitario en Estudos Ingleses Avanzados e as súas Aplicacións (2019)
Descriptors Cycle Period Year Type Credits
Official Master's Degree 1st four-month period
 First Optional 3
Language
English
Teaching method Face-to-face
Prerequisites
Department Letras
Coordinador
Pereira Ares, Noemí
 E-mail
noemi.pereira@udc.es
Lecturers
Pereira Ares, Noemí
 E-mail
noemi.pereira@udc.es
Web http://www.imaes.eu/?page_id=31
General description Introducir ao alumnado na investigación e o estudo da lingua e a lingüística inglesas, axudándolles a desenvolver competencias profesionais útiles para o seu futuro en distintos ámbitos académicos ou de investigación. Os contidos deste curso facilitarán o proceso de realización de traballos académicos e do traballo fin de mestrado.
Contingency plan 1. Modificacións nos contidos
Non se realizarán cambios nos contidos.

2. Metodoloxías
*Metodoloxías docentes que se manteñen
Todas, con cambios na canle de comunicación (Correo electrónico, Moodle, Microsoft Teams)

*Metodoloxías docentes que se modifican
Ningunha.

3. Mecanismos de atención personalizada ao alumnado
1. Correo electrónico. Diariamente (luns a venres).
2. Moodle. Horario de aulas.
3. Microsoft Teams. Horario de aulas e titorías.

4. Modificacións na avaliación
As porcentaxes orixinais para cada item da avaliación manteranse, coas seguintes modificacións na modalidade de avaliación:
•Traballo Tutelado. O traballo será entregado a través de Moodle e a titorización realizase a través do correo electrónico, Moodle ou Microsoft Teams.
•Presentación Oral. A presentación oral presencial substituirase por unha vídeo gravación que será enviada a través de correo electrónico ou Moodle.
•Seminario. As tarefas de seminario realizaranse a través de Moodle.

*Observacións de avaliación:
Sen observacións.
5. Modificacións da bibliografía ou webgrafía.
Sen cambios

Study programme competencies
Code Study programme competences
A1 E01 – Familiarity with the main research models in linguistic research.
A2 E02 – Familiarity with the main resources, tools and methodologies in linguistic research.
A3 E03 – Capacity to reflect on the factors which influence the learning and acquisition of English as a foreign language.
A4 E04 – Familiarity with cognition and processing studies within the scope of research into English linguistics.
B2 CB7 - Students should be able to apply the knowledge acquired and a problem-solving capacity to new or lesser known areas within wider contexts (or multidisciplinary contexts) related to the study area.
B4 CB9 – Students must be able to communicate their conclusions, as well as the knowledge and reasoning behind them, to both specialized and general audiences in a clear and unambiguous way
B5 CB10 – Students should have the necessary learning skills to allow them to continue studying in a largely autonomous manner.
B6 G01 –The capacity to delve into those concepts, principles, theories or models related with the different fields of English Studies is a necessary skill, as is the ability to solve specific problems in a particular field of study via appropriate methodology.
B7 G02 – Students must be capable of applying the knowledge acquired in the multidisciplinary and multifaceted area of English Studies
B8 G03 – An efficient use of new information technology and communication in English Studies is a necessary skill.
B9 G04 – Students must be able to publicly present their ideas, reports or experiences, as well as give informed opinions based on criteria, external norms or personal reflection. All of this implies having sufficient command of both oral and written academic and scientific language
B11 G06 – Students should be able to develop a critical sense in order to assess the relevance of both existing research in the fields of English Studies, and their own research.
B12 G07 –Linguistic competence (C2 level) in oral and written English must be developed and consolidated.
B14 G09 – Students are expected to be able to carry out research projects of an academic nature in the different fields of English Studies
B15 G10 – The ability to present and defend a research project using adequate terminology and resources appropriate to the field of study is a skill which should be acquired.

Learning aims
Learning outcomes Study programme competences
The aim of this course is to train students to do research in English linguistics, and to help students develop professional skills that will be useful for their future in any academic or research setting. The topics discussed in this course will facilitate the process of writing research papers and the final MA dissertation. AR1
AR2
AR3
AR4
 BR2
BR4
BR5
BR6
BR7
BR8
BR9
BR11
BR12
BR14
BR15
Students will improve their oral and written communication skills (academic language management and oral communication) for the presentation of the results of their research. AR1
AR2
 BR11
BR12
BR15
In this course students will acquire intellectual skills in identifying a research topic and formulating research questions and hypotheses. Students will also gain practical skills in order to acquire basic background knowledge for research and study in linguistic topics, and how to make efficient use of information resources such as libraries and standard reference works. Amongst other key transferable skills, this course will help students improve their skills in academic writing and oral communication, for instance by making use of the appropriate conventions for the presentation of papers and oral presentations. AR1
AR2
 BR11
BR12
BR15

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
Presentations (tips for the preparation of different modes of reserach presentations: oral presentations, posters, handouts, etc.).
Literature research and resources for linguistic research (how to write the literature review of an essay/dissertation; how to search databases, catalogues etc.; introduction to main websites, software, reference grammars and dictionaries; etc.).
Research questions and research outline (types of research questions and hypotheses; how to elaborate a research proposal; overview of quantitative and qualitative methods for linguistic research).
Data collection methods and research ethics (variety of methods in linguistic research, e.g. corpora, introspection, surveys; ethical approval and informants’ consent; etc.).
Referencing and writing conventions in linguistics (e.g. unified style sheet in linguistics; how to cite reference sources; use of italics, glosses, exemplification, etc.; academic malpractice, e.g. plagiarism, collusion, etc.).
Research paper (abstract, structure, publication, etc.).

Planning
Methodologies / tests Competencies Ordinary class hours Student’s personal work hours Total hours
Guest lecture / keynote speech A2 A1 B5 B11 B15 8 8 16
Seminar A1 A2 B11 B15 13 10 23
Supervised projects A1 A2 A3 A4 B2 B6 B12 B14 B15 0 20 20
Oral presentation B4 B7 B8 B9 B11 B12 B15 2 4 6
Online forum A1 B11 0 4 4
 
Personalized attention 6 0 6
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies Description
Guest lecture / keynote speech Lectures on essential methods and resources for linguistic research.
Seminar Seminar sessions with interactive discussions on the topics explored in the lectures.
Supervised projects Students are required to complete a research project supervised by the teacher.
Oral presentation Oral presentation based on the research project.
Online forum Activities aimed at promoting the use of online platforms and used to discuss and share opinions on different topics related to the subject’s contents.



Personalized attention
Methodologies
Supervised projects
Description
Students should inform the lecturer throughout the semester regarding the progress of their supervised projects.

Assessment
Methodologies Competencies Description Qualification
Seminar A1 A2 B11 B15 Active participation and the activities carried out by the students during the course, either in class or through the online platform, will be worth 15% of the final mark. 15
Supervised projects A1 A2 A3 A4 B2 B6 B12 B14 B15 Students are required to submit a research project supervised by the teacher. This research project will be worth 50% of the total mark. 50
Oral presentation B4 B7 B8 B9 B11 B12 B15 Students are required to carry out an oral presentation based on their research project. 35
 
Assessment comments

General Observations

In order to pass this course, students must complete at least 50% of the assessment tasks. Students who do not complete at least 50% of the assessment tasks or who do not submit the research project will be given a grade of NP (absent). 

Students are expected to complete all the assignments and readings suggested by the lecturer(s), and to come to the sessions prepared to discuss them. Students must visit the eLearning platform for the course regularly. Students are expected to check their university email on a regular basis: announcements and last-minute changes will be notified via email.

Academic misconduct (including cheating, plagiarism, collusion or fabrication of results) will not be tolerated and will be penalised. Essays and written assignments may be tested through Turnitin in order to detect wrong citations, plagiarism or any other type of fraud. Should this occur, the rules for plagiarism will be applied. Turnitin recognises papers previously turned in by other people (or the student him/herself) at this university or other universities, as well as other material found on the Internet.

All the written activities must meet the minimum requirements of linguistic correctness (spelling and grammar, punctuation, syntax, lexical precision, or formal register). The level in English language expected of students is equivalent to C1 level according to MCERL. Deficiencies in this area will be penalized in qualifying.


JULY OPPORTUNITY

Students who fail to pass the subject in January will be required to take the “second opportunity” in July, with the following distribution of percentages: 1) supervised research project (50%); 2) oral presentation (35%); 3) take-home activity/ies (15%). 


PART-TIME STUDENTS

Students who are officially registered as part time, and have been granted permission not to attend classes, as stipulated in the regulations of this University, will be assessed in either of the opportunities according to the same criteria specified for the second opportunity.


ATTENTION TO DIVERSITY

ADI is a university office specialised in attending to members of the university with special needs due to discapacity or other differentiating situations with regard to the rest of the community. Students can contact ADI directly at http://www.udc.es/cufie/uadi/, or by phone ext. 5622, or via email: adi@udc.es.

Sources of information
Basic Sebba, Mark (2000). Focusing on language. A student's guide to research planning, data collection, analysis and writing up. Lancaster: Definite Article Publications.
Yáñez-Bouza, Nuria & Rob Drummod (2011). Handbook of study skills. Manchester: Department of Linguistics and English Language.
Gibaldi, Joseph (2008). MLA style manual and guide to scholarly publishing. New York: Modern Language Association of America.
Wray, Alison, Kate Trott & and Aileen Bloomer (1998). Projects in linguistics. A practical guide to researching language. London: Arnold. (Later editions also available.)
Litosseliti, Lia (ed). (2010). Research methods in linguistics. London: Continuum.
Cottrell, Stella (2008). The study skills handbook.. Third edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Complementary


Recommendations
Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before

Subjects that are recommended to be taken simultaneously

Subjects that continue the syllabus

Other comments


(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.