Syllabus

BCSC 261: Syllabus

Fall 2022

Time & Location

Mon/Wed 3:25-4:40pm
Meliora 474

Personnel

Instructor: Florian Jaeger

Office hours: by request

Course Description

This course explores the cognitive mechanisms used to speak and understand language. We will focus, in particular, on the relation between social cognition and language. This includes questions about how social perception can affect how we understand speech, or how we express ourselves, depending on who we are talking to---for example, subconscious alignment or anti-alignment in speaking styles, pronunciation, and lexical choices. We will also ask how our brain manages to map sound (or sign) onto meaning given that even speakers of the same dialect can differ starkly in the physical (acoustic) signals they produce.

This is an advanced seminar in the cognitive/neuroscience of language. It is intended to let you explore research topics in more depth than is possible during introductory lectures. Learning how to approach, explore, and discuss scientific topics in this manner can prepare you for graduate/med school, or can simply be fun. Required readings are uploaded to Blackboard. Please be sure to read them before each class. Announcements will also be made via Blackboard when new materials are posted.

This course follows the College credit hour policy for four-credit courses, including independent out-of-class assignments (completion of the required readings) for at least 1 academic hour per week.

Course Requirements and Grading

  1. Participation (25%): Active participation in discussions and class activities are expected. Completion of the required readings and your active participation in discussion are crucial in your effective learning in a seminar. Everyone should contribute at least one insightful comments/questions to each reading by posting the questions on Slack by midnight on the day before class. You can also participate by trying to answer questions that are posted on Slack.
    I recognize that different people have different communication preferences. While I will actively elicit your participation in class, you can alternatively provide your thoughts via Slack. Grading is based on the overall quality and participation, regardless of whether it happens over Slack or in class. Regardless of whether in class or over Slack, I would like all of us to approach this class without fear of being wrong. One of the most effective ways to learn is to express our ideas, understanding, hypotheses, etc. and then correct and revise them based on the feedback we receive.
  2. For the remaining 75% of the grade, you can EITHER lead 2 class discussions and submit 1 written assignments OR lead 1 class discussion and 2 written assignments.
    Leading class discussion (25% each). A discussion leader will be assigned for each class (starting the third week). The discussion leader should prepare a 10- to 15- minute presentation that summarizes the reading for that class (slides recommended), and then facilitate the discussion. The discussion leader should make sure to read the comments/questions posted prior to the class, and select some of them for further discussion in class.
    Written assignments (25% each) are about 10 pages double-spaced plus bibliography. If two written assignments are submitted, the second assignment can be a revision of the first assignment (incl. extension to an additional 5 pages if necessary). Revisions will be graded based on how well you integrated feedback—an essential skill for scientific writing. For writing assignments, you have three options:
    1. A small project that involves some informal data collection from 5-10 people (e.g., speech perception, sentence comprehension, language production, computer-mediated communication, etc.)
    2. A research proposal: similar to option 1.) but without data collection. Instead, I will evaluate the clarity of the hypothesis that you propose to investigate, and the logical cohesion between the hypothesis and the way to propose to test it.
    3. A review paper: review at least 8 journal articles on a similar topic and write a coherent essay. You should also include your own perspectives and possible future directions or how you would replicate some of the studies.

    Formatting requirements: All written assignments should follow the same format: 1" margins, double-spaced, 12-pt Times New Roman. The course number and your name should be stated at the top of the document.
    For every single written assignment, be sure to properly cite your resources. Citation should follow one commonly accepted format (e.g., APA format), This is most easily done by use of a reference manager like Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote (free license provided by the university), or alike.
    Due dates: If you submit one writing assignment it is due on the last day of classes. If you submit two writing assignment, the first is due 10/30, and the second is due on the last day of classes.

Final grades will be based upon the following scale:

  • A 93 -100
  • A- 90 - 92
  • B+ 87 - 89
  • B 84 – 86
  • B- 80 - 83
  • C+ 77 – 79
  • C 73 – 76
  • C- 70 – 72
  • D+ 67 – 69
  • D 63 – 66
  • D- 60 – 62
  • E below 60

Class Policies

  1. Academic misconduct. Please read the policy posted online
  2. Diversity and inclusion: Please read the statement posted online.
  3. Special accommodation: If you need special accommodation, please let me know. I will do my best to accommodate your needs (and will, of course, follow CETL recommendations).
  4. COVID-related policy:
    1. If are not feeling well (even just with some mild symptoms), are waiting for COVID test results, have been in close contact with COVID patients, or need to take care of someone, just let me know by sending me an email. Don't worry about missing classes/assignments – your health is way more important than the coursework. We can discuss how to make up your missed work. If you suspect that you might have COVID or have close contact with someone who has COVID, please carefully follow the instructions and procedures to report to the UHS
    2. You must follow current university guidelines.
  5. Attendance is optional (but determines up to 50% of your grade through participation and leading of discussion). I trust you can make your own choices.
    1. Exceptions for religious holidays or events of comparable cultural or personal significance will always be granted, provided you bring them to the instructor’s attention at least 2 weeks in advance.
    2. Emergency exceptions due to documented medical reasons, family emergencies, or alike will also always be granted.
    3. All other missed classes result in an E for participation for that day (the semester has many days, so that’s not the end of the world).
  6. Mobile devices: While the class is ongoing, mobile phones, laptops, etc. should only be used as required for class (e.g., to take notes, present slides, look back through papers). Let’s make the best out of the time we have available to learn. If you are expecting urgent messages that require you to monitor your phone, please let the instructor know at the beginning of the class.