Language Journal Assignment

Spring 2020

Observing language in the wild

Language is such a central part of our everyday experience that we often take it for granted. This semester, pay special attention to the language in the world around you and think about how what you hear (or see) is connected to what we learn about in class. Some suggestions (but you are not limited by these!):

• Notice whether language is used in the same or different ways across different groups of people (age groups, peer groups, etc)
• If you visit family over the holiday break, notice how the language or dialect you grew up with is different from what you hear at Penn.
• Find out whether your roomates grammar allows something that yours doesn’t (e.g. “I’m done my homework”).
• Participate in a linguistics research experiment via SONA
• Conduct your own linguistics experiment. Analyze existing data or conduct an experiment with your family or friends
• Read a research article on a linguistics topic that interests you
• Browse the language log at Penn for interesting ideas
• Attend a talk or event related to language at Penn
• Any creative idea you have! Feel free to include diagrams, sound clips, or figures if it will help make your point.

Grading

Each student is required to submit their language journal as a .pdf via Canvas. Journals should have with a minimum of four observations (see above) and at least 800 words, worth 50 points. You will receive 5 points for each relevant observation (20 max) and up to 30 points for being insightful, creative, and linking your observations with lecture and/or readings (see below).

Advanced 30	Thorough 25	Proficient 20	Basic 15	No Evidence 10
Wow! You can insightfully analyze and explain in depth how your observations relate to what we learned in class and readings	Great! You showed an understanding of how your observations relate to what we learned in class and readings	Pretty Good! You attempted to analyze and explain how your observations relate to what you learned, but you don’t provide enough connection to class material	Not Bad You attempted to analyze and explain how your observations relate to what you learned, but you are incorrect, or you have very little to no connection to class material	You did not attempt to analyze and explain how your observations relate to what you learned in class.