TSAK319 covers a limited area related to contemporary German linguistics, where empirical, theoretical and methodological questions will be discussed, preferably from a contrastive point of view. Through working with selected topics, the students will become familiar with empirical/corpus based work, i.e. through the use of electronic corpus. The students will be able to specialize in a chosen area by working on the term paper.

TSAK319 is recommended for all students planning to write a master's thesis in linguistics.

Knowledge

The student

• has in-depth theoretical and empirical knowledge of a limited topic related to contemporary German linguistics
• has in-depth knowledge of methods related to the discipline
• has knowledge about important contrastive differences between German and Norwegian related to the selected topic

Skills

The student

• can use and reflect independently on theoretical and methodological approaches related to a limited research area
• can present, analyse and compare different presentations, theories and methods related to the discipline
• can use a precise linguistic set of terminology in German
• can find relevant sources and bibliographies, and use these critically in order to structure and formulate scientific arguments related to the discipline in German
• can reflect over (i.e. present, discuss, analyse) important contrastive differences between Norwegian and German related to the discipline

General competence

The student

• can plan and conduct an independent, limited research project under supervision and in German
• can use a scientific set of terminology when discussing a complex topic
• can present and relate to scientific issues, analysis and conclusion related to contemporary German linguistics, using an appropriate scientific language, both orally and in writing.
• can use his/her knowledge and skill in new areas in order to complete advanced tasks and projects

Lectures, seminars and exercises. Part of the teaching is conducted via the internet (i.e. using Adobe Connect).

The students must have access to the internet and a computer with a camera and microphone. It is also expected that the students are prepared and participated actively and regularly in the lectures and seminars. In order to take the exam, the students must be present at least half the internet-based lectures.

A short written summary of about 600 words of a text from the reading list.

An approved paper of about 2000 words written in German.

Students must attend at least half of the lectures.