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CAS LX 522 Syntax I
Course information


Professor. Paul Hagstrom, 718 Commonwealth Ave. (Dept. of Modern Foreign Languages & Literatures), Office 401D. Email: hagstrom@bu.edu (likely to get a quick response). Phone: 617-353-6220 (x3-6220). Office hours: MW11-12, R10-11.

Prerequisites. CAS LX 250 (a.k.a. CAS LX 253) ("Foundations of Language"–Intro to linguistics), EN 511, or equivalent.

Meeting time. Monday 4-7 in CAS 222.

Course goals. This is part one of a two-part syntax course. In the first semester, we will concentrate on introducing some fundamental concepts of the "Principles & Parameters" approach to syntax. We will not be discussing more recent developments (in particular the Minimalist Program) until the second semester. However, the concepts and terminology covered in this course will be those which have most wide recognition and use in the world outside cutting-edge theoretical linguistics. We will be reading roughly half of the course textbook, with some supplementary materials as well (which will be made available as the course progresses).

Course Requirements. Homework. Weekly homework assignments. Midterm exam. Monday October 21 (in class). Final exam. December 16, 5:30-7:30pm, in the nromal classroom (CAS 222).

Homework. Whenever feasible, homework can be emailed to me at hagstrom@bu.edu. Text-only is preferred, but you may also send PDF, RTF, or Microsoft Word files. Postscript files are less welcome, and don’t even bother sending Word Perfect, TeX or LaTeX files. Wherever email won’t work for any reason (e.g., for tree diagrams), homework can be turned in at the beginning of class. Be aware that if you use any special fonts, I may not be able to read your homework–be sure you know how to "include" nonstandard fonts (or send it to me early, so I can let you know if I was unable to read it).

Late assignments. Late assignments will not be accepted without prior arrangement.

Grading scheme.

Homework (lowest score dropped)

40%

Midterm exam

25%

Final exam

25%

Regular attendance, participation

10%

Textbook (required). Andrew Carnie (2001). Syntax. Blackwell Publishers. Publishers page.

Readings. Occasionally, supplemental readings may be assigned. These readings will be available in the hallway outside my office suite, in a folder labeled LX522. You may take the readings out for no more than an hour to make a personal photocopy, and then they should be returned to the folder so that others may photocopy them.

CAS Student Academic Conduct Code. As a member of a CAS course, it is essential that you read and adhere to the CAS Student Academic Conduct Code. In particular, several types of plagiarism (any attempt to represent the work of another as your own) are defined by this academic conduct code. A copy is available in CAS 105.

Announcements:

Wed Nov 20: Homework 8 is now posted.

Thu Sep 12: I have established a Courseinfo site for this course, for the purpose of seeing the grades I have recorded for you and communicating amongst yourselves or with me via the chat rooms or message boards. Note that the site you are looking at now is still the primary course site for LX522.

Tue Sep 10: Welcome to the semester. I've put together an email list for class announcements, and I have just today sent out the first message to it. If you did not receive that message and think you should (or if you want to be added to the mailing list for any other reason), email me at hagstrom@bu.edu and I'll add you to it.