Required Text: Syntax: A Generative Introduction, by Andrew Carnie. Blackwell Publishing

Course Objectives:

To develop an understanding of the basic theoretical constructs underlying generative syntax.

To learn basic structures and principles used in generative approaches to syntax.

To learn to use syntactic analysis to examine a variety of structures.

To learn to use syntactic argumentation to compare possible analyses of structures.

To apply syntactic structures and argumentation to novel structures and/or new languages.

Student Learning Objectives:
At the end of Syntax, students should be able to:

Describe how syntax is a part of Cognitive Science

Define the difference between prescriptive and descriptive rules of grammar

Describe how to apply the scientific method to syntactic data

Define the three levels of linguistic adequacy: observational, descriptive and explanatory

Define parameter and its role in accounting for syntactic variation

Use morphological, semantic and syntactic information to identify word classes and phrase types

Determine the relationships within and between phrases and phrase markers

Use several different diagnostic tests to determine phrases and constituents

Summarize and apply arguments for constituent and phrasal structures for phrases, clauses and sentences

Summarize the arguments for X' (X-bar) structures

Apply X-bar structures to all types of phrases (lexical and functional)

Define thematic relations and theta roles

Explain how theta roles can be used to constrain syntactic structures

Define and illustrate the concepts of: S-structure, D-structure and transformations

Summarize the evidence for movement rules for different kinds of movement

Apply movement rules to several different kinds of structures: head-to-head movement, NP/DP movement, Raising and Wh-movement

Explain principles constraining syntactic structures and movement rules.

Describe and identify the differences between raising and control structures.

Employ phrase structure rules, movement rules and syntactic constraints to analyze sentences

Formulate, test and revise hypotheses about grammatical structures.

Students in 511 will also: Apply theoretical terminology and argumentation to current research in the areas of 1^st or 2^nd language acquisition or psycholinguistics.

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Students with special needs:
Please see me if you have a disability that may require some modification of the seating, testing or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements may be made.

Format of the course:
The course will combine a lecture/discussion format with in-class exercises (at least once a week). These in-class exercises will serve to introduce you to some of the kinds problems and argumentation that you will be required to complete on assignments or exams.

Study/Discussion Groups:
It is often helpful to discuss ideas, problems or issues with other students. You will have some opportunity to do this in-class. However, it may also be useful to meet or discuss problems outside of class. Students are welcome to form their own study groups. In addition, I will make the Discussion List on WebCT available so all students can participate in on-line discussions, if necessary. Caution: The purpose of study groups is to facilitate learning, not to replace individual effort. All work that you turn in must still be your own. If there is clear evidence that it is not, all students involved will receive a "0" for the assignment.

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You must turn in at least 75% of the homework and both the midterms and final to pass.

Requirements and Grading Criteria:
Exams
There will be two midterm and one final exam. The final will be cumulative. Exams will be graded on a point scale. An A or A- will fall between 91-100% of the points, a B+, B, or B- will fall between 90-81% of the points, a C, C+, or C- will fall between 80% and 71%. Late exams will not be allowed, except in case of emergency (see below). In the case of emergency, you must contact me within 3 days of the exam. Note: Students in 511 must receive 83% or better to satisfy the syntax requirement for the MA degree.

Homework Assignments
Homework assignments will be drawn from the textbook. Students in 511 may be asked to complete additional exercises, and will be asked to lead some in-class discussions of problems assigned. All assignments must be legible, in ink, with pages stapled together. Exact problems to hand in and due dates will be announced in class. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to get the assignments.

Homework assignments will be graded on a point scale. An A or A- will fall between 91-100% of the points, a B+, B, or B- will fall between 90-81% of the points, a C, C+, or C- will fall between 80% and 71% . Note: Students in 511 must receive 83% or better to satisfy the syntax requirement for the MA degree.

• There will be 9 homework assignments.
• Scores for the assignments will be averaged.
• You may drop the lowest homework score, if you hand in all assignments.
• If you fail to hand in all homework assignments, your scores for all assignments (including the "0" received for the missing assignment(s)) will be averaged.
• Late homework will be penalized 5 % per day (5% one step of a letter grade).
• Homework more than 4 days late will not be graded, except in cases of emergency (see below). In the case of emergency, you must contact me within 3 days of the assignment being due.

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Participation
Participation:
During the quarter, you will be regularly asked to contribute to the group as a whole. In addition, you will be asked to participate in small group problem-solving or discussions. These activities are important for your learning of syntax, so participation and attendance are critical. In addition, these activities will require you to come to class prepared.

Participation will be graded on:

Regular attendance

How well prepared you are for the class

Appropriate contributions to both small and large group discussion

Ability to respond appropriately to classmates' questions, comments and discussion.

For students in 511 (Graduate students), the participation grade will also include leading in-class discussion of problem sets

Appropriate contributions includes:

monitoring the tone and the amount of your own speech

allowing others a chance to speak

facilitating others' contributions

plus other definitions we may develop as a class throughout the quarter.

Regular attendance and appropriate contribution to only small groups will earn a "C". Regular attendance and appropriate contribution to both large and small groups will earn a "B". Superior participation in both large and small groups will earn an "A". Irregular attendance and/or failure to participate in discussions will earn a "D" or lower. Consistent inappropriate contributions will be penalized by one letter grade or more. I will inform you in private if I think your contributions are inappropriate.

Article Review (Graduate students, Ling 511 only)
Graduate students will be asked to review one journal article (or possibly book chapter) using one of the following sub-areas covered in class: Binding Theory, X-bar Syntax, Movement (head-to-head movement, NP/DP movement, Raising or Wh-movement), Control, or Empty Categories. It is suggested that this article deal with more "applied" articles using theory, e.g., 1^st or 2^nd language acquisition. The review will include examining the author's (or authors') stance on theoretical constructs, a description of the area of syntax examined in the article, a description of the data used and a description of the arguments the author(s) build. Some assessment of the argumentation will also be asked for. More detailed guidelines will be given after the 1^st exam.

Emergencies/Missed Deadlines:
If you are seriously ill or have a family emergency, you must notify me as soon as you know there might be a problem with meeting a deadline. My voice mail (503-725-4140) and e-mail: (santelmannl@pdx.edu) both work 24 hours a day, so you can call or send a message at any time. If you miss a deadline due to an emergency, I will need a written confirmation (on letterhead) of what the problem was.

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Schedule and readings (subject to change)
I will announce in class which of the assigned problems are to be handed in. It would behoove you, however, to do all of the problems.

Final Exam: Thursday, June 13^th 12:30 to 14:20 (in the same room)

Other Important Dates:
May 3: Last day to drop a class without instructor approval; last day to change grading option.
May 24: Last day to drop a class with dept. permission.

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