74978 - Language and Power in The English-Speaking World

Academic Year 2014/2015

  • Docente: Alan Scott Partington
  • Credits: 8
  • SSD: L-LIN/12
  • Language: English
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in International Relations (cod. 8782)

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to enable the students to improve their active and passive language skills. They will gain experience of study, reading, note-taking in a foreign language as well as knowledge of a number of specialised academic, political and mediatic types of discourse realting to international relations and international development. They will acquire the tools necessary for the comparative study of how language is used for rhetorical (persuasive) purposes in the political and media arenas in the USA and the UK.

Students will also prepare and give a short research presentation on a topic relevant to international relations and/or international development.

Course contents

Attenders: Readings and discussion of topics relevant to the field of international relations and international development. The detailed course programme will be outlined at the beginning of the first lesson.

Non-attenders:

Close reading of "Civilization: The West and the Rest" (Ferguson) & the folder ('dispensa') entitled "The Language of International Politics and Solidarity, available at the photoshop in via Broccindosso.

Readings/Bibliography

Attenders: Readings will be announced during the lessons of the course


Non-attenders:

"Civilization: The West and the Rest" (Ferguson)  &  the folder ('dispens') "The Language of International Politics and Solidarity" (available form the photoshop in via Broccindosso.

Highly recommended for all: "The Bottom Billion (Collier), "The Undercover Economist" (Harford); "The Rational Optimist" (Ridley).

Teaching methods

Lessons are conducted in English. Students are expected to take an active part in discussion and practical activities will be set for self study

Assessment methods

Attenders RILM:

Written exam: questions testing the undersatnding of the course contents and a reading comprehension on a topic relevant to international relations and / or international devlopment.

Oral exam: discussion of a topic in international relations chosen and prepared by the student.

Non Attenders

A written and oral exam on the texts:

"Civilization: The West and the Rest" (Ferguson) and the Dispensa (available from the Photoshop in Via Broccindosso).

Teaching tools

Lessons are conducted in English and where appropriate multi-media learning supports will be employed (especially PowerPoint and Internet). Students are encouraged to participate in class discussions and organised debates.

Links to further information

http://www.unibo.it/SitoWebDocente/default.aspx?UPN=alanscott.partington%40unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Alan Scott Partington