Faculty course: Metaphors in Political, Scientific, and Everyday Discourse, 7.5 Credits

Contents

The course is divided into two modules:

Module 1: Theory and Method, 4.5 credits
This module studies metaphor and metonymy, two basic processes and concepts in cognitive linguistics, from a theoretical and methodological perspective. The use of metaphors and metonymies in everyday, academic and political discourses is studied on the basis of basic definitions of these processes.

Module 2: Individual specialization, 3.0 credits  
In this module, students will carry out a practical application of the theories and methods discussed in Module 1 in the form of an analysis of an example of a discourse relevant to their main field of study.

Expected learning outcomes

To be awarded a Pass grade, the student should be able to:
 
Knowledge and understanding

• account for established theories and models in cognitive linguistics relating to metaphor and metonymy  
• describe the use of metaphors and metonymies in everyday, academic and political discourses
• discuss reasons for similarities and differences in the use of metaphors and metonymies in everyday, academic and political discourses
• describe the relationship between embodied experience and metaphorical and metonymical patterns in language and thought

Competence and skills

• analyze manifestations of metaphors and metonymies in texts with regard to their function in the discourse in question (e.g., politics, religion)
• independently find literature needed to complete assignments
• demonstrate an ability to clearly account for and discuss, both in writing and orally, their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based

Judgement and approach

• independently evaluate the reliability of different kinds of sources
• independently assess, rank and critically evaluate the ability of different kinds of texts to describe and model theory.

Required Knowledge

English B/6 and one of the following alternatives:
1) Bachelor's degree (180 credits)
2) 90 university credits, of which at least 7,5 credits must come from an independent project, or equivalent qualifications

Form of instruction

Teaching is partly net-based and consists of lectures, group exercises and seminars, mainly via an online learning platform.
The medium of instruction is English, but written assignments can be written in either Swedish or English.

Examination modes

Module 1: Examination consists of assessment of students' active participation in seminars and an individual written assignment.
Module 2: Examination consists of assessment of an individual written assignment consisting of a text study, and a seminar where the text study is presented and discussed.  

The examiner can decide on deviations from the modes of examination in the syllabus for a student who has been determined eligible for pedagogical support due to a disability. Individual adjustments to the mode of examination will be made on the basis of the student's needs. The mode of examination will be adjusted in relation to the expected learning outcomes. Student in need of Individual adjustments to the mode of examination, should request this at the department no later than 10 days before the examination. The examiner makes a decision based on the request, and the decision is communicated to the student.

The grades Pass with distinction (Väl godkänd (VG)), Pass (Godkänd (G)) or Fail (Underkänd (U)) are used in the assessment of written assignments. The grades Pass (Godkänd) or Fail (Underkänd) are used in the assessment of students' active participation in seminars. Where the examination of a module consists of several parts, the student must have passed all parts in order to receive a Pass grade. In order to be awarded the grade Pass with Distinction on the entire course, a student must have achieved a Pass with Distinction on both modules.

A student who has been awarded a Pass grade cannot be re-examined.
 
A student who has not received a Pass grade on an exam has the right to re-take the exam (a re-sit) on a course on which they have ever been registered. The first re-sit shall be offered no later than two months after the regular exam, but no earlier than ten working days after the result of that exam has been announced. For tests held in May or June, the first re-sit may be offered within three months of the regular exam. The date for the re-sit shall be announced no later than in conjunction with the regular exam. At least one more re-sit shall be offered within a year of the regular exam.  
 
In cases where an exam cannot be repeated according to the rules in effect regarding re-sits, it will be replaced with another task. The scope and content of such a task should be reasonably proportionate to the missed exam.

An examiner may decide that a student who has not quite met the examination requirements, but is close to a Pass grade, be given the opportunity to take a supplementary examination to achieve the Pass grade. Such an examination shall be individually tailored to the goal(s) that the student has not met, and shall be arranged within two weeks after the result of the examination has been announced, but before the next examination session. A supplementary examination can only raise a Fail grade to a Pass grade; award of a grade higher than Pass is not allowed. If the student so wishes, they have the right to take a re-sit instead of a supplementary examination, which gives them the opportunity to achieve a Pass with Distinction.

Other regulations

The final date for the submission/completion of assignments falls on the last day of the semester, unless otherwise stated by the teacher. All assignments need to be completed or submitted within the time frame set by the teacher in order to be considered for examination, otherwise they must be completed over again.

In the event of a decision that the course will no longer be offered, or if the syllabus has been revised, students are guaranteed at least three exams (including the regular one) based on the previous syllabus during a time of no more than two years after the previous syllabus ceased to apply or the decision was made that the course no longer be offered.