Skip to content Accessibility statement
Student home
HomeStudent homeStudying at YorkManage your studiesProgrammes and modulesHeader - DPLv2

Directed Readings in Linguistics - LAN00133M

«Back to module search

  • Department: Language and Linguistic Science
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2025-26

Module summary

The module focuses on developing core academic skills while conducting and engaging with primary research: short and long form writing, abstract writing, and poster design. The module is split into different thematic parts. Each topic will be managed by a different member of staff. From this pool of readings, you will write an abstract, and design a poster, culminating in an original research essay.

Related modules

Pre-requisite modules

Additional information

The student needs to have taken either Syntax or Phonetics and Phonology.

This requirement may not apply to all students as they may have taken either module in a previous degree, and if that is the case they would be allowed to take this module.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2025-26

Module aims

  • Engage with primary research and conduct independent research

  • Understanding the main theoretical and empirical issues and the competing analyses of specific phenomena within a particular area of linguistics

  • Communicate research effectively via a range of modalities

  • Develop core academic skills in communicating research through abstract writing and poster design

  • Conduct and communicate independent research by writing a long essay

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, you will be able to:

  • Read and engage with research articles in linguistics, broadly understand them and be able to articulate the issues that are addressed and the analysis proposed

  • Communicate research effectively through abstract writing and poster design

  • Navigate the differences between short-form and long-form writing

  • Identity a topic of research through the synthesis of key issues in the literature

Module content

This module will have a mixture of input sessions, practical sessions, and independent study time. Input sessions will introduce you to the relevant issues in different areas linguistics. Practical sessions will teach you advanced academic skills such as abstract writing and posters. Independent study and preparation time will be scheduled in between input and practical sessions .

Shared Teaching

There will be 4 -5 perspective taught on one topic, depending on staff availability, e.g., morphosyntax, semantics, phonetics, phonology, psycholinguistics, language acquisition, sociolinguistics and conversation analysis. Teaching will be shared, so that each staff member takes over at least one session. Students are expected to attend all sessions but would be summatively assessed only on their chosen area of specialisation.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Module feedback

Individual written feedback will be provided for all written pieces of work. In week 7 and 11, you will meet with a member of staff to discuss your essay proposal.

Indicative reading

Initial readings and topics for discussion and/or essays will be drawn from relevant journals, conference proceedings and state of the art papers.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.