Associate Professor Rob Pensalfini
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (17/02/2025 - 14/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Languages & Cultures School
Introduction to generative grammar. The main focus will be on the theories of Noam Chomsky and their application to English.
This course uses the basic outline of Generative approaches to syntax to construct a theory that accounts for the majority of constructions in English and is able to be extended to a variety of typologically diverse languages. We will explore how to argue and exemplify in syntax, and use our own observations and judgments to contract and modify our own theory within a Generative approach.
Course requirements
Assumed background
It is assumed that students will understand basic syntactic categorisations such as noun, verb, adjective, preposition, and their respective phrases (noun phrase et cetera). It is further assumed that students are able to identify clauses (main versus subordinate) and phrases within sentences.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
LING1000
Course staff
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Public holidays:
Alternative arrangements for affected students will be announced through the Blackboard site.
Class allocation:
In order to optimise the student experience, it may be necessary to reallocate students to a different class from their first choice. Before this happens, every effort will be made to enable students to voluntarily change into an alternative class that is suitable. Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email hass.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
Full name,
Student ID, and
the Course Code
Additional information and support can be found here.
Aims and outcomes
The main purpose of the course is to introduce students to the kind of critical examination of data that is central to the development of syntactic theory, as well as to provide students with the ability to critically evaluate syntactic argumentation. The most important aspect of this is the ability to state syntactic generalisations in both prose and formal terms. By the end of the course, students will have a detailed knowledge of one of the major current syntactic theories (Government and Binding Theory), along with an understanding of its development and its assumptions. Students will also develop their ability to identify similarities and differences in the syntactic structures of different languages.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
read and understand articles on contemporary syntactic theory
LO2.
perform systematic syntactic analysis on sentences and groups of sentences in any language
LO3.
systematically compare and contrast syntactic structures within and across languages
LO4.
identify and characterise constructions and properties that provide challenges for contemporary theories
LO5.
compare and contrast competing analyses of the same data or constructions
LO6.
understand how superficial differences between languages arise from basic parameter settings
LO7.
identify similarities across apparently disparate properties within a language
LO8.
understand the basic enterprise of generative syntax and the extent and limits of syntactic autonomy
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Worksheets
|
50% (5 worksheets, 10% each) |
WEEK 3 - 13/03/2025 5:00 pm WEEK 5 - 27/03/2025 5:00 pm WEEK 8 - 17/04/2025 5:00 pm WEEK 10 - 8/05/2025 5:00 pm WEEK 12- 22/05/2025 5:00 pm |
| Examination |
Final Exam
|
50% |
End of Semester Exam Period 7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025 |
Assessment details
Worksheets
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 50% (5 worksheets, 10% each)
- Due date
WEEK 3 - 13/03/2025 5:00 pm
WEEK 5 - 27/03/2025 5:00 pm
WEEK 8 - 17/04/2025 5:00 pm
WEEK 10 - 8/05/2025 5:00 pm
WEEK 12- 22/05/2025 5:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Longitudinal.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08
Task description
Worksheets will be based on work covered in lectures and/or tutorials, but will often require an extension of the analyses presented in class. These are an opportunity to engage in theoretical analysis, not to simply regurgitate information learned in class or from readings. There are five worksheets, due in weeks 3, 5, 8, 10, and 12.
Accuracy of analysis and logical presentation of data and analysis are the key elements assessed.
Answers are NOT to be provided on the question sheet, but on separate sheets of paper.
Students are permitted to work with other students currently enrolled in the course (but NOT with anyone else), in pairs or groups, to solve the problems posed by the assignments. In such cases, each student should note on their submission, the names of the other students with which they worked. However, each student must individually write up their solutions to the assignment in their own words, to demonstrate their own unique take on and understanding of the material. While collaboration on problem-solving is permitted, collaboration on presentation and wording of submissions is viewed as plagiarism.
STATEMENT ON AI & MT
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
These are to be submitted via Turnitin (through the course Learn/Blackboard site) as PDF documents.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
As answers will be discussed in class seven days after the original due date, this is the maximum allowable extension in the interests of fairness.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
In the absence of an approved extension, marks will be deducted at 10% of the total maximum mark for the worksheet per day or part thereof that the submission is late.
Final Exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
7/06/2025 - 21/06/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05, L07, L08
Task description
The final exam will feature questions and problems similar to those in the worksheets, covering the material from both lectures and tutorials. It will take place during the Examination Period at the end of semester. The exam is open book. Specific details of what you may and may not bring into the examination will be provided well before the end of classes.
STATEMENT ON AI & MT
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 180 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Open Book examination |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Complete the examination on the exam paper (no additional pages permitted).
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
See individual assessment items for specific criteria.
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Students should be aware that it is not possible to pass the course unless ALL assessment is attempted (ie all worksheets plus the final exam must be submitted).
If a student has a problem with a mark, the appropriate procedure must be followed to re-quest a re-mark. Please view the following page on myUQ: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/academic-progress-and-final-results/querying-result
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Extensive lecture notes will be created in class - and students will be directed towards the appropriate chapters in Carnie and/or Haegeman to support their learning. Additional useful readings can be found in: Culicover, Peter (1997) Principles and Parameters: an introduction to syntactic theory. Oxford: OUP. Radford, Andrew (1997) Syntax: a minimalist introduction. Cambridge: CUP.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Lectures Weekly two-hour lectures, held in 32-401. In these lectures we will develop a theory of syntactic structure piece by piece. Held in 32-401 on Thursdays from 12-2pm. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Multiple weeks From Week 2 To Week 13 |
Tutorial |
Tutorials Discussion of problem sets, including alternate solutions, competing analyses, and extensions of analyses, tips and practice problems, and/or deeper exploration of the materials presented in the lectures. Held in 32-401 on Thursdays from 2-3pm, starting in week 2. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.