Bachelor’s Degree Lecture: Stylistics 3200-L3-0WL-STY
On a case-by-case basis, numerous and varied examples of poor (weaker) writing styles in English are discussed. Exemplary fragments come from popular, popular science and scientific literature. The range of text genres is wide. It does not apply to one type of text (e.g. academic).
The common denominator for all texts is that they are written in standard English and are of high quality. Among the issues discussed are the problems of lexis (vocabulary), phraseology, collocations, conceptualization, perception, cognitive abilities etc.
At the language level, these are grammatical phenomena concerning syntactic categories, word order, modality, activity/ passivity, strengthening/ weakening of utterances, and others. Differences between literal and figurative expressions are underlined. More broadely, case studies contrast so-called direct and indirect expressions and the influence of these on the architecture of the text.
Improving the writing style in English is very important for people who want to write high-quality texts professionally. The course does not cater for BA/MA thesis writing.
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
K1_W06, K1_W14, K1_U11, K1_U12, K1_K02
Upon completion of the course
knowledge
the student knows and understands
- the relations between applied linguistics, literary studies and other disciplines and fields of science [K1_W06]
- how to design their career path and professional development [K1_W14]
skills
the student
- is able to independently acquire knowledge in the fields of applied linguistics and literary studies, following the guidelines of the tutor; is able to assess the usefulness of the acquired methods, practices and procedures for his/her own professional activity [K1_U11]
- is able to set priorities and plan activities for their implementation, understanding the need for self-education and continuous improvement of competences, including practical language skills [K1_U12]
social competences
the student is ready to
- critically assesses his/her own knowledge in the field of applied linguistics and literary studies; the student appreciates the importance of rational argumentation in solving research problems and practical problems (in professional settings) [K1_K02]
Assessment criteria
End-of-semester examination (oral or written)
Two absences per semester allowed.
Practical placement
Not applicable
Bibliography
Kehler, A. 2002. Coherence, Reference, and the Theory of Grammar. Stanford, CA: Center for the Study of Language and Information.
Langacker, R. 1987 & 1991. Foundations of Cognitive Grammar. Vol. 1 & 2. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Pinker, S. 2014. The Sense of Style. The Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century. London: Penguin Books.
Siegal, A. M. & Connolly, W. G. 1999. The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage. New York: Three Rivers Press.
Sword, H. 2012. Stylish Academic Writing. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Thomas, F.-N. & Turner, M. 1994. Clear and Simple as the Truth: Writing Classic Prose. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Williams, J. M. 1990. Style: Towards Clarity and Grace. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Additional information
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