Daily syllabus

This syllabus is updated after each day's class.
Use it to keep track of what we've done and where we're going.

• Jump to the most recent date

[01] M Aug 18

• Covered today: Intro to this course [outline]
  • Handout - Course information and policies
  • Audio clip - Naomi Oreskes on "Why should we believe in science"? (TED Radio Hour)
    • Click on big ▶ in blue box for NPR radio episode/podcast (video is full TED Talk)
    • Audio transcript
• To read for W Aug 20: Kaplan, ch 1, Introduction
  • Also: Read the "Course information and policies" handout (above); bring any questions next time
  • Use our class Padlet board to share questions or comments
• Prep questions: 08.20, due W Aug 20 by 11:00am

[02] W Aug 20

• Covered today: Language myths and linguistics [outline] [Padlet]
  • Blog post - "An invented statistic returns" | Mark Liberman at Language Log, Feb 22, 2013
• To read for F Aug 22: Kaplan, ch 2, 'A dialect is a collection of mistakes'
  • On Friday, we will discuss sec 2.1 and 2.2
• Prep questions: 08.22, due F Aug 22 by 11:00am

[03] F Aug 22

• Covered today: Dialects, mental grammar, language attitudes; African-American English (AAE) [outline] [Padlet]
  • See Online course materials for additional resources
• To read for M Aug 25: Kaplan, ch 2, 'A dialect is a collection of mistakes'
  • Read sec 2.3 and prepare to discuss Kaplan's case studies (focus on Österberg 1961 and Yiakoumetti 2006)
  • Be prepared to discuss the research results: see last slide from today's outline
• Prep questions: 08.25, due M Aug 25 by 11:00am

[04] M Aug 25

• Covered today: Case studies (sec 2.3): "What is the best way to teach the standard dialect...?" [outline] [Padlet]
• To read for W Aug 27: Kaplan, Appendix, through the end of sec A.2
• Prep questions: 08.27, due W Aug 27 by 11:00am in Canvas Assignments

[05] W Aug 27

• Covered today: Statistics; data graphics (part 1) [outline] [Padlet]
• To read for F Aug 29: Kaplan, Appendix, sec A.3
• Prep questions: 08.29, due F Aug 29 by 11:00am in Canvas Assignments

[06] F Aug 29

• Covered today: Statistics; data graphics (part 2); experiment design [outline] [Padlet]
• Reminder: Please fill out the background & interests survey if you haven't yet (link via Canvas Announcement)

M Sept 1

Labor Day — no class

[07] W Sept 3

• Covered today: Research questions; experiment design; research papers [outline] [Padlet]
• Prep questions: 09.05, due F Sept 5 by 11:00am in Canvas Assignments
  • Includes topic/group preferences survey for case-study presentations!

[08] F Sept 5

• Covered today: Finding and evaluating research articles; parsing and interpreting data graphics [outline] [Padlet]
• Prepare: Go back over the objectives for each class meeting (at the beginning of the discussion slides)
  • This will prepare you for the prep questions (see below) and Monday's discussion
  • Feel free to post (anonymous?) questions or discussion requests on the Padlet board, too!
• Prep questions: 09.08, due M Sept 8 by 11:00am in Canvas Assignments
  • Name a topic from the course so far that you would like to review/discuss on Monday
  • Write your own review question on a topic covered so far
  • Includes a redo of the topic/group preferences survey for case-study presentations (with names)!

[09] M Sept 8

• Covered today: Review and discussion — Basic course concepts [outline] [Padlet]
• To read for W Sept 10: Kaplan, ch 3, 'Sign language is skilled charades'
• Prep questions: 09.10, due W Sept 10 by 11:00am in Canvas Assignments

[10] W Sept 10

• Covered today: Signed languages and iconicity (Kaplan Ch 3 | Group 1) [outline] [Padlet]
• To read for F Sept 12: Kaplan, ch 4, 'Chimpanzees can talk to us'
• Prep questions: 09.12, due F Sept 12 by 11:00am in Canvas Assignments

[11] F Sept 12

• Covered today: Non-humans and language(?) (Kaplan Ch 4 | Group 2) [outline] [Padlet]
• To read for W Sept 17: Kaplan, ch 5, 'Children have to be taught language'
• Prep questions: 09.17, due W Sept 17 by 11:00am in Canvas Assignments

M Sept 15

Well-being day — no class

[12] W Sept 17

• Covered today: Caregivers' input in child language acquisition (Kaplan Ch 5 | Group 3) [outline] [Padlet]
• To read for F Sept 19: Kaplan, ch 6, 'Adults can't learn a new language'
  • In-class discussion will focus on sec 6.0, 6.1, 6.2.5, 6.3
  • Sec 6.2 is the case-study section, but 6.2.5 is a useful set-up for 6.3
• Prep questions: 09.19, due F Sept 19 by 11:00am in Canvas Assignments
• Upcoming: Preview the case-study presentation assignment overview before Friday's class

[13] F Sept 19

• Covered today: Adult second-language learning (Kaplan Ch 6 | Group 4) [outline] [Padlet]
• To read for M Sept 22: Kaplan, ch 7, 'Being bilingual makes you smarter (or dumber)'
• Prep questions: (no prep questions due Monday - look over the upcoming assignment instead)
• Upcoming: Data graphic and research question preview assignment
  • Due for Groups 1-4 on F Sept 26
  • Due for remaining groups 3 class days after your topic's background chapter discussion (see Canvas "Assignment" for specifics)
  • See also: Case-study presentation assignment overview

[14] M Sept 22

• Covered today: Biligualism (Kaplan Ch 7 | Group 5) [outline] [Padlet]
• To read for W Sept 24: Kaplan, ch 8, 'Women talk more than men'
• Prep questions: 09.24, due W Sept 24 by 11:00am in Canvas Assignments
• Upcoming: Data graphic and research question preview assignment
  • Due for Groups 1-4 on F Sept 26, 11:59pm
  • Due for remaining groups 3 class days after your topic's background chapter discussion (11:59pm) (see Canvas "Assignment" for specifics)
  • See also: Case-study presentation assignment overview [updated!]

[15] W Sept 24

• Covered today: Language and gender (Kaplan Ch 8 | Group 6) [outline] [Padlet]
• To read for F Sept 26: Kaplan, ch 9, 'Texting makes you illiterate'
• Prep questions: (no prep questions due)
• Assignment: Data graphic and research question preview assignment
  • Due for Groups 1-4 on F Sept 26, 11:59pm
  • Due for remaining groups 3 class days after your topic's background chapter discussion (11:59pm) (see Canvas "Assignment" for specifics)
  • See also: Case-study presentation assignment overview
  • See also: Groups and topics list (link via Canvas)

[16] F Sept 26

• Covered today: Language and technology (Kaplan Ch 9 | Group 7) [outline] [Padlet]
• To read for M Sept 29: Kaplan, ch 10, 'The most beautiful language is French' [temporary link if publisher's website is down]
• Prep questions: (no prep questions due)
• Assignment: Data graphic and research question preview assignment
  • Due for Groups 1-4 on F Sept 26, 11:59pm
  • Due for Group 5 on M Sept 29, 11:59pm
  • Due for remaining groups 3 class days after your topic's background chapter discussion (11:59pm) (see Canvas "Assignment" for specifics)
  • See also: Case-study presentation assignment overview
  • See also: Groups and topics list (link via Canvas)

[17] M Sept 29

• Covered today: Perceptual dialectology and 'beautiful' languages (Kaplan Ch 10 | Group 8) [outline] [Padlet]
• To read for W Oct 1: Kaplan, ch 11, 'My language limits my thoughts' [temporary link if publisher's website is down]
• Prep questions: (no prep questions due)
• Assignment: Data graphic and research question preview assignment
  • Due for Group 5 on M Sept 29, 11:59pm
  • Due for Group 6 on W Oct 1, 11:59pm
  • Due for remaining groups 3 class days after your topic's background chapter discussion (11:59pm) (see Canvas "Assignment" for specifics)
  • See also: Case-study presentation assignment overview
  • See also: Groups and topics list (link via Canvas)

[18] W Oct 1

• Covered today: Language and thought (Kaplan Ch 11 | Group 9) [outline] [Padlet]
• To prepare for F Oct 3: Read the case-study presentation details handout and prepare for workshop time with your group in class on Friday:
  • Groups will submit their article choice & two backup options (during class on Friday)
    • Group article proposal assignment handout
  • Groups will decide who takes which roles in the presentation (during class on Friday)
  • Groups will work together to understand the chosen data set/data graphic and relate it to research questions and the Kaplan chapter myth (to be continued in workshop time on Monday)
• Prep questions: 10.03, due F Oct 3 by 11:00am in Canvas Assignments
  • You will be asked to provide bibliographic citations for three research papers, ideally 2015 or later, related to the chapter your case-study group is presenting for
  • You will be asked to include what search terms you used to look for relevant papers (no right/wrong answer)
  • You may talk to your group to brainstorm search terms or strategies, but find and report the three articles on your own
• Assignment: Data graphic and research question preview assignment
  • Due for Group 6 on W Oct 1, 11:59pm
  • Due for Group 7 on F Oct 3, 11:59pm
  • Due for remaining groups 3 class days after your topic's background chapter discussion (11:59pm) (see Canvas "Assignment" for specifics)
  • See also: Case-study presentation assignment overview
  • See also: All case-study presentation assignment handouts

[19] F Oct 3

• Covered today: Workshop time - Case-study presentation articles and data graphics [Padlet]
  • All case-study presentation assignment handouts
  • Goals for today:
    • Choose your group's case-study article
    • Assign roles in the group
    • Work together to choose or create a data graphic
• To prepare for M Oct 6:
  • If your group hasn't finished creating or discussing your data graphic, work on this (individually or together) and prepare to finalize your group discussion on Monday
  • Work on a draft of your individual slides that you can bring to class on Monday (or share with your group ahead of time)
• Upcoming: Individual slides (for group presentation) due for Groups 1, 2, 3 on M Oct 6, 5pm
• Assignment: Data graphic and research question preview assignment (see Canvas "Assignment" for specifics)
  • Due for Group 7 on F Oct 3, 11:59pm
  • Due for Group 8 on M Oct 6, 11:59pm
  • Due for Group 9 on W Oct 8, 11:59pm
  • See also: All case-study presentation assignment handouts

[20] M Oct 6

• Covered today: Workshop time - Case-study presentation data graphics and slides [assignment handouts] [Padlet]
  • Goals for today:
    • Work together to understand the data graphic deeply
    • Work together to understand how the data graphic (Role 3) relates to the myth and research questions (Role 1) and the experiment design (Role 2)
    • Give each other feedback on individual slides
    • Decide on the slides template/style/skin (formatting) so that everyone is coordinated
    • If time: Start brainstorming as a group about possible exam questions (Role 4) at both the short-answer and big-ideas levels
• To prepare for W Oct 8:
  • Groups 1, 2, and 3: Submit individual slides (due M 5pm), watch for slides feedback from me (by Tu 11am at the latest), and prepare the group slides (due W 11:30am)
  • Non-presenters: Prepare to attend class and fill out a comments form about how well each presentation communicates myth, RQs, methodology, results, and implications
• Current and upcoming assignments:
  • Due dates for individual slides (but early submission = early feedback!)
    • Groups 1, 2, 3 due M Oct 6, 5pm
    • Groups 4, 5, 6 due W Oct 8, 5pm
    • Groups 7, 8, 9 due F Oct 10, 5pm
  • Due dates for group slides:
    • Groups 1, 2, 3 due W Oct 8, 11:30am
    • Groups 4, 5, 6 due F Oct 10, 11:30am
    • Groups 7, 8, 9 due M Oct 13, 11:30am
  • Due dates for self & peer feedback:
    • New: Due for all groups on M Oct 20, 11:59pm
  • DG/RQ preview: Data graphic and research question preview assignment
    • Due for Group 8 on M Oct 6, 11:59pm
    • Due for Group 9 on W Oct 8, 11:59pm (but early submission = early feedback!)

[21] W Oct 8

• Covered today: Case-study presentations - Groups 1, 2, 3 [Padlet]
• To prepare for F Oct 10:
  • Groups 4, 5, and 6: Submit individual slides (due W 5pm), watch for slides feedback from me (by Th 11am at the latest), and prepare the group slides (due F 11:30am)
  • Non-presenters: Prepare to attend class and fill out a comments form about how well each presentation communicates myth, RQs, methodology, results, and implications
• Current and upcoming assignments:
  • Due dates for individual slides (but early submission may mean early feedback!)
    • Groups 4, 5, 6 due W Oct 8, 5pm
    • Groups 7, 8, 9 due F Oct 10, 5pm
  • Due dates for group slides:
    • Groups 4, 5, 6 due F Oct 10, 11:30am
    • Groups 7, 8, 9 due M Oct 13, 11:30am
  • Due dates for self & peer feedback:
    • New: Due for all groups on M Oct 20, 11:59pm
  • DG/RQ preview: Data graphic and research question preview assignment
    • Due for Group 9 on W Oct 8, 11:59pm
• FYI: Role 4 (exam question) information available here by Th evening F morning
  • Assignment handout

[22] F Oct 10

• Covered today: Case-study presentations - Groups 4, 5, 6 [Padlet]
• To prepare for M Oct 13:
  • Groups 7, 8, and 9: Submit individual slides (due F 5pm), watch for slides feedback from me (by Sa 11am at the latest), and prepare the group slides (due M 11:30am)
  • Non-presenters: Prepare to attend class and fill out a comments form about how well each presentation communicates myth, RQs, methodology, results, and implications
• Current and upcoming assignments:
  • Due dates for individual slides
    • Groups 7, 8, 9 due F Oct 10, 5pm
  • Due dates for group slides:
    • Groups 7, 8, 9 due M Oct 13, 11:30am
  • Due dates for self & peer feedback:
    • New: Due for all groups on M Oct 20, 11:59pm
  • Info and due dates for exam question presentation: Assignment handout (Role 4 presenters)
    • Submit individual slides (due M 11:59pm)
    • Slides feedback from me (by Tu noon)
    • (optional) Submit revised slides (due W 11:30am; use "Individual slides" Assignment for the revision)

[23] M Oct 13

• Covered today: Case-study presentations - Groups 7, 8, 9 [Padlet]
• To prepare for W Oct 15:
  • Role 4 presenters, all groups:
    • Individual slides due M Oct 13, 11:59pm in Canvas Assignments: "Presentation exam questions" (assignment handout, updated)
    • Slides feedback from me will be posted by Tu noon
    • Revised slides (optional) due W Oct 15, 11:30am (use same Canvas Assignment for the revision)
  • Non-presenters: Prepare to attend class, try out the exam questions, and fill out a comments form
• Current and upcoming assignments:
  • Due dates for self & peer feedback:
    • Due for all groups on M Oct 20, 11:59pm
  • Info and due dates for exam question presentation: Assignment handout, updated
    • See above for deadline reminders
• FYI: Spring 2026 courses in linguistics
  • List of all courses
  • Posters for selected courses
  • Note 203 (Language Acquisition), 230 (Constructed Languages), 335 (Structure of AAE)

[24] W Oct 15

• Covered today: Presentation exam questions [Padlet]
• Plan for M Oct 20 (no preparation needed):
  • Information about the midterm exam on F Oct 24
  • Collaboration: Key topics from Kaplan chapters
  • Time permitting (or Wed):
    • General debriefing about the presentation content and process
    • Goal-setting for the "novice" presentation coming up in a few weeks
• Upcoming: Self & peer feedback due for all groups on M Oct 20, 11:59pm in Canvas Assignments
• FYI: English native speakers sought for a 5-10 minute sentence-judgment experiment
  • See details and link in this Canvas Announcement

F Oct 17

Fall Break — no class

[25] M Oct 20

• Covered today: Midterm exam information and review [outline] [Padlet]
  • Midterm exam info and review guide
• Upcoming: Self & peer feedback due for all groups on M Oct 20, 11:59pm in Canvas Assignments
  • Direct link to GDocs! (use this link if Canvas is down)

[26] W Oct 22

• Covered today: [Padlet]
  • Make-up presentations
  • Midterm exam review [info and review guide]
• Upcoming: Midterm exam on F Oct 24
• Reminder: Self & peer feedback due for all groups in Canvas Assignments
  • Direct link to GDocs! (use this link if Canvas is down)

[27] F Oct 24

• Covered today: Midterm exam

[28] M Oct 27

• Covered today: Planning for the "novice" presentations [outline] [Padlet]
• Prep questions: 10.29, due W Oct 29 by 11:00am
  • Some quick survey questions about your experience with and htughts about generative AI (like ChatGPT)
  • Some quick survey questions to follow up on today's discussion about the "novice"-level presentations

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