Language

Subject MULT10015 (2015)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2015.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 1 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period 02-Mar-2015 to 31-May-2015
Assessment Period End 26-Jun-2015
Last date to Self-Enrol 13-Mar-2015
Census Date 31-Mar-2015
Last date to Withdraw without fail 08-May-2015


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Two 1-hour lectures and a 1-hour tutorial per week; and a 2-hour skills workshop in weeks 1, 2 and 3 or weeks 4, 5 and 6 or weeks 7, 8 and 9.
Total Time Commitment:

Total expected time commitment is 170-hours across the semester, including class time

Prerequisites:

none

Corequisites:

none

Recommended Background Knowledge:

none

Non Allowed Subjects:

none

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Prof Tim Mcnamara

Contact

tfmcna@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

Language plays a central role in the central disciplanary areas in the humanties and social sciences. This subject gives students tools for thinking about language in a range of disciplines, including linguistics, history, sociology, politics, literary studies, anthropology, language studies, psychology and psychoanalytic theory. It shows how language can be analysed as a system, but also how language features centrally in politcal and social contexts: for example, in the processing of the claims of asylum seekers, in developing views of ethnicity, race and nation, and in colonialism; and in the construction of gendered and sexual identity. The role of language in the psyche, and the process of acquisition of languages in children and in adults, are also important topics. Knowing how to think about language, and familiarity with the main thinkers who have discussed language in a range of humanities and social science disciplines, provide an indispensable basis for study in any area of the Arts degree.

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this subject, students will:

  • have developed critical thinking and analysis through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion;
  • Research through competent use of the library and other information sources, and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research;
  • have engaged with the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences;
  • have acquired critical self-awareness: being open to new ideas and possibilities through learning how to construct an argument;
  • have communicated knowledge and arguments intelligibly and economically through essay writing and tutorial discussion;
  • have demonstrated the ability to assess the strength of an argument through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion;
  • have developed time management skills and planning through managing and organizing workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion.

Assessment:
  • A Bibliographic Exercise due in Week 5 (500 words) [15%]
  • An Essay due in Week 9 (2000 words) [45%]
  • A 1500 word take-home exam due during the examination period [40%]

This subject has an attendance hurdle requirement of 75% tutorial attendance (9 out of 12 tutorials) and 100% skills workshop attendance (3 out of 3 skills workshops). Regular participation in tutorials is required. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Prescribed Texts:

A subject reader will be available.

Recommended Texts:

none

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Related Course(s): Bachelor of Arts (Extended)
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Arts Foundation Subjects

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