443_Revised Schedule for Unit 2—Syntax, Dialect, Style, and Context
In this unit, we’ll continue our dual focus on conversational narratives and literary narratives, again
working with some common examples from literary texts. There are 4 informal responses for this unit and
you must complete 3. I’d like every one to do #11 on narrative syntax.
Informal assignments:
10. Analyze coherence and information structure in a narrative text (literary or conversational)
11. Analyze narrative structure and syntax in a narrative text.
12. Analyze the use of dialect in Bambara’s “The Lesson” or Yamanaka’s “The Obituary”
13. Analyze the relationship of dialect, style, and context in a narrative text.
I’ll ask you to post a brief Unit 2 project proposal as #14, and to respond to two other students’
analyses for 11 and 13.
Week 8 (10/25, 10/27) Syntax, Information Structure, and Coherence; the Textual Function
For 10/25, complete Unit 1 projects. I’ll introduce Unit 2 and some preliminary concepts.
For 10/27. Read Roddy Doyle to p. 121, noting places that strike you in relation to the semantic,
pragmatic, and representation of discourse concepts we’ve discussed. We’ll use this reading
to look back to Unit 1and forward to Unit 2.
Week 9. Narrative Syntax
For 11/1 Read L&L Chapter 5. This chapter introduces key concepts in the study of syntax and
information structure. Please use Hacker if you want to review parts of speech and phrase
types and Fromkin and Rodman for a more extended discussion of syntax. Both are on
Electronic Reserves. The last part of the chapter (pp. 99-107) introduces Labov’s work on
narrative syntax. Use this section to get first idea of that work. You’ll be reading his whole
article and working with it for Thursday.
Following the suggestions for Chapter 5 A in the L&L Guide, p. 283, analyze briefly the topic
and cohesion structure of a selection of narrative discourse (a conversational or literary
narrative). Post this as #10.
In class: We’ll apply these concepts to portions of Doyle’s novel, and I’ll use a portion to
introduce Labov’s approach to the analysis of narrative syntax.
For 11/3 Read L&L Chapter 5, pp. 99-107, and Labov, “The Transformation of Experience in
Narrative Syntax” Choose a short narrative text to work with (it can be one you’ve already
worked on) and, as you read, identify its major elements of narrative structure and begin to
analyze its evaluative syntax, following the suggestions for Chapter 5 B in the L&L Guide,
pp. 284-85. Please post this as #11 (but you may do so after our class discussion on
Thursday.) And please respond to two other analyses.
In class: We’ll discuss key concepts re. narrative syntax and begin a more fine-grained analysis of
evaluative syntax in your sample texts.
Week 10 (11/8, 11/10) Representing and Using Differences in Dialect
For 11/8 Read L&L Ch. 6; and Elizabeth Traugott and Mary Louise Pratt, “Varieties of English,” In
Linguistics for Students of Literature. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1980. (The
Electronic Reserves reading is wrong, I’ll fix this or hand it out--it’s very short.) Read Roddy
Doyle, The Woman Who Walked into Doors, to p. 162.
In class: We’ll apply concepts on language variation to various sections of Doyle’s text.
For 11/10 Read Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson,” and Lois Ann Yamanaka’s “Obituary.” Write an
exploratory analysis of the use of dialect in one of these readings. Post as #12. Email and post a
brief proposal for your unit 2 project (#14).
In class: You’ll share analyses in groups; groups will lead class discussion of these texts.
Week 11 (11/15, 11/17) Seeing and Analyzing Differences in Style
For 11/15 Read L&L Ch. 7 to p. 155 ; and
Chafe “Integration and Involvement”
Tannen, “Imagining Worlds”
And Roddy Doyle to end.
In class: you’ll work individually and in groups to carry out a Chafean analysis on sample texts.
We’ll draw on that work to discuss Ch. 7 and Tannen.
For 11/17 Read O’Connor “The River”; then read the rest of L&L Ch. 7.
Following the suggestions for Chapter 7 C in the L&L Guide, pp. 288-89, extend your analysis of
a narrative text you’ve been working with. Post as # 13. Respond to two other postings.
Week 12 (11/22).
Unit 2 Portfolio Project due: Pull together informal analyses to create a coherent discussion of syntax,
dialect, and style (in relation to meaning and purpose) in a literary work (or in an extension of
your Unit 1 Project)
For 11/22. Also decide on Unit 3 focus: on literacy contexts, literary contexts, other non-literary
discourse.
In class, you’ll share your projects for Unit 2; we’ll discuss Unit 3 and form groups.