Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

The module focuses on two subject areas, English Communication and English Grammar. It comprises relevant coursework and associated exercises. Each subject area is evaluated through a partial exam. Both partial exams must be passed.

The course in English Communication extends the Academic Communication part of the module Academic Communication and Grammar. This course builds upon the understanding of good academic writing and academic argument structure to introduce analytical writing focused on specific English-language texts and contexts (i.e., communication events).

The course in English Grammar builds on the grammar part of the module Academic Communication and Grammar. This course introduces the students to English semantics (the study of general, abstract linguistic meaning) and pragmatics (the study of linguistic meaning in concrete contexts) and relates those fields to English syntax, building upon the understanding of English syntax from Academic Communication and Grammar.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

The student who completes the module must within English Communication attain

Knowledge and understanding of:

• various approaches to analysis of English language communication events (e.g., speeches, policy, opinion pieces, documentaries, social media posts)
• quality problem formulation statements/research questions that clearly focus on language in or about communication events/texts.

The student who completes the module must within English Grammar attain

Knowledge and understanding of:

• English semantics and pragmatics, including the role of syntax in meaning-making

Skills

The student who completes the module must within English Communication attain

Skills in:

• applying specific methods of analysing English language communication events/texts emphasise to specific aspects of meaning and meaning-making (e.g., micro-analysis of text, critical or relational elements of a communication event/text, etc.)
• analysing historical and present-day English language communication events using established academic analytical approaches (e.g., rhetorical, linguistic, discursive, communicative).

The student who completes the module must within English Grammar attain

Skills in:

• applying grammatical terms and methods in semantics, pragmatics, and syntax to concrete English sentences
• analysing historical and present-day English language communication events/texts in terms of grammatical phenomena (e.g. semantics, pragmatics, and syntax).

Competences

The student who completes the module must within English Communication attain

Competences in:

• explaining how specific analytical approaches used in written analysis of specific English language communication events/texts affect meaning and meaning-making about international studies topics
• demonstrating analysis of specific English language communication events/texts that hangs together across its parts (e.g., problem formulations/research questions, quantitative or qualitative methods, functional or critical aims, normative or interpretative frames of analysis, etc.).

The student who completes the module must within English Grammar attain

Competences in:

• explaining how grammatical choices (e.g. semantics, pragmatics, and syntax) used in concrete English language communication events/texts affect meaning and meaning-making
• demonstrating grammatical knowledge (e.g. semantics, pragmatics, and syntax) in one’s own writing with a view to the effects on meaning.

Type of instruction

Please see § 17 in the curriculum.

Exam

Exams