Philadelphia University
Faculty of Arts
Department of English Language & Literature
1st Semester, 2015 /2016
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Course Syllabus
Course Title: Stylistics
Course Code: 0120422
th
Level: 4 year
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisite (s): Students are allowed to enroll on Lecture Time: Monday, Wednesday
this course only in their final semester of study.
12:45 -14:00
Co- requisite(s):
Lecturer's Name: Dr. Kadhim, N. Al Rifaee
Rank: Assistant Professor
Office Number: Department of English
Office Hours: Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday 10:00 –11:00
Monday and Wednesday 11:00-12:00
Phone: 06/4799000 Ext: 2420
E-mail: kad72@hotmail.com
Module Description:
This interdisciplinary module deals with some of the ways that linguistics can be used for
the analysis of literary texts, i.e. stylistics is taken as a link between two disciplines:
linguistics and literary criticism. Much of the stylistic analysis will be based on concepts
found in Halliday's Introduction to Functional Grammar. However, the literature content
of this course syllabus is reduced to make it more suitable for the practical needs of the
students at Philadelphia University who study English as a foreign language Among the
topics covered in this module are the grammatical features in literary texts, the sounds of
poetry, and discourse situations in fictional narrative. This module is designed to be
useful for MA English Language and Literature students who want to use literature in
their study, including those who have to use the language of literature for a more
comprehensive examination of a particular area of linguistic research. As this is an MA
graduate level module, it is expected that students deal with the linguistic analysis of
literature more widely, more critically, and with more depth.
Aims (Module Purpose/Objectives):
The basic aim of this module is to expose MA students to the analysis of literary texts,
using linguistic and discourse analytical tools, and the purpose underlying such an
analysis. The similarities and differences with the approaches to other texts will also be
discussed. Students should also arrive at a more mature understanding of how an
interpretive and qualitative approach to language can enhance their thinking not only
about the language of literature, but about language in general. Moreover, the attention to
language involved in stylistic analysis makes this module particularly appropriate for the
needs of MA students of English as nonnative speakers of the language. Furthermore,
although stylistics entails linguistic analysis, it also develops the learner’s literary
competence. The students of this course would be far better readers with a more active
and independent approach to literary texts. They would also be better speakers and
writers of English.
Teaching Methods: (Lectures, Discussion Groups, Tutorials, Problem Solving,
Debates…etc)
Although the teaching is lecture-based, the lecture sessions are interactive, and students
are expected to respond accordingly. The first hour of the three-hour sessions will involve
discussions among students on the topic dealt in the previous week.
Course/ Module Components:
For the detailed explanation of the main grammatical model used for this module,
students may refer to the following book:
Halliday, M. A. K. An Introduction to Functional Grammar. Second Edition. London:
Arnold, 1994.
Intended Learning Outcomes:(Knowledge and Understanding, Cognitive Skills,
Communication Skills, Transferable skills).
a. Knowledge & Understanding:
Students are enabled to understand how an interpretive and qualitative approach to
language can enhance their thinking not only about the language of literature, but about
language in general.
b. Cognitive Skills (Thinking & Analysis):
Students' literary competence is developed. The students of this course would be in a
position to approach, comprehend, and analyze literary texts independently.
c. Communicative Skills (Personal and Academic)
Students would be better speakers and writers of English as a foreign language.
d. Practical and Subject Specific Skills (Transferable Skills)
Students will be able to utilize the analytical techniques used in this module to enhance
the process of learning English and also to apply new methods in their teaching of
English literature.
Assessment Instruments
Modes of Assessment
Score
Mid- term Exam
Research paper
Presentations
Final Exam
Total
30%
20%
10%
40%
100
Date
Week 8
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Course / Module Academic Calendar:
Week
Date
(1)
October 1822, 2015
1. Introduction:
October 2529, 2015
2.
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
Nov. 1-5,
2015
Basic & Support Material to be covered
Preliminary Considerations
Linguistics, Style, & Stylistics
Overload
Works
A paper on
What
Linguistics is
Lexical Categories:
'Nouns' and 'Verbs' in Stylistic Analysis
.
3. Lexical Categories:
'Adjectives' & 'Adverbs' in Stylistic
Analysis
Nov. 15-19, 4. Lexical Categories:
'Clause Structure' in Stylistic
2015
Nov. 22-26, 5. 'Sounds' in the analysis of Poetry
2015
Nov. 29-Dec.
3 , 2015
First Exam
Dec. 6-10,
2015
A paper on
What Poetic
Devices
6. Mood & Modality
Dec. 13-17, 7. Transitivity
2015
A paper on
Transitivity
(9)
Dec. 20-24, 8. Point of View in Narratives
2015
(10)
Dec. 27-31, 9. Complex Clauses in Literary Texts
2015
(11)
(12)
Jan. 3-7,
2016
Jan. 10-14,
2016
10. Theme-Rheme
Second Exam
(13)
Jan. 17-21,
2016
11. Analysis of Cohesion in Literary
Texts
(14)
Jan. 24-28,
2016
12. Principles of Style Literary
Evaluation
(15)
A paper on
Cohesion &
Coherence
A paper on
Stylistics
General Revision
Course / Module Academic Calendar:
Expected Workload:
On average students are expected to spend at least (2) hours of study for each 50- lecture/
tutorial.
Attendance Policy:
Absence from lectures and /or tutorials shall not exceed 15%. Students who exceed the
15% limit without a medical or emergency excuse acceptable to and approved by the
Dean of the relevant college /faculty shall not be allowed to take the final examination
and shall receive a mark of zero for the course. If the excuse is approved by the Dean, the
student shall be considered to have withdrawn from the course.
Module/ Course Policies:
1. You are allowed up to (5) absences on Mondays/Wednesdays or (7) absences on
Sundays/Tuesdays/Thursdays. If you exceed this number, you will fail the course.
2. Tardiness will not be tolerated. If you come to class after I take attendance, you are
welcome to attend, but you will be considered absent.
3. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense that will result in your failing the course.
4. Learning notes by heart and repeating the information word by word in the exam is a
type of plagiarism.
5. Participation is and essential part of course work. It does not merely mean coming to
class; it involves preparing before hand and playing an active role in class discussion.
6. Make-up exams will be offered for valid reasons only with the consent of the Dean.
Text Book(s):
The course draws heavily from Ismail Abu Talib's WWW Course "Literary Stylistics".
References:
Carter, Ronald (ed.). Language and Literature. London: Unwin, 1982.
Hasan, Ruqaiya. Linguistics, Language and Verbal Art. Deakin UP, 1985.
Leech, Geoffrey N. A Linguistic Guide to English Poetry. London: Longman, 1969.
— & M. H. Short. Style in Fiction. London: Longman, 1981.
Short, Mick Exploring the Language of Poems, Plays, and Prose. Harlow, Essex:
Longman , 1996.
— (ed.). Reading, Analysing, and Teaching Literature. London: Longman, 1988.
Talib, Ismail S. The Language of Postcolonial Literatures. London: Routledge, 2002.
Toolan, Michael. Language in Literature: An Introduction to Stylistics. London: Arnold,
1998.
Wales, Katie. Dictionary of Stylistics. London: Longman, 1989.