The course focuses on the field of English stylistics for the analysis of fictional and non-fictional texts, using a series of critical and methodological tools. In particular, the course’s aim is to discuss some useful concepts for the studies of different texts from the linguistic, stylistic and narratological point of view, considering, for example, the use of metaphors, figurative language, point of view and focalization, use of verbs and transitivity, as well as text-worlds theory. Text analysis is conducted on the basis of the authors’ choices and strategies regarding the theories considered, looking into similarities and differences in a number of Anglophone writers.

The course develops according to the following issues:

1) Presentation of the main features of stylistics and cognitive linguistics.

2) Presentation of the categories of Critical Discourse Analysis, in particular Transitivity, Social Actors and Lexical Choices. 

3) Elaboration of conceptual metaphors and activities.

4) Analysis of fictional and non-fictional texts to apply the studied theories. 

4) Discussion of the texts in class: students are required to actively participate in the debate and in the analyses to prepare for the final exam. 

At the end of the course, the students will have acquired analytical abilities and a good working knowledge of textual analysis e stylistics. They will be asked to apply those abilities and that knowledge to various text genres. They will be expected to be able to form independent judgments in their analyses, and to expound the same both in written and in spoken form. More specifically:

Knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course, the students will be required to show extensive knowledge of the above linguistic theories.

Applying knowledge and understanding: the students must be able to apply their knowledge of these theories to the analysis of various textual genres.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

The course includes:

• classroom lectures
• group activities and production of written papers
• oral presentations
• interactive lessons aimed at discussing the papers prepared by the students

Innovative teaching methods

Didactics in presence is implemented with individual and group activities to better explain and understand the arguments of the course, using the moodle platform of the University; some issues will be explored through the practice of the flipped lesson. 

Attendance

Attendance is highly recommended, in order to actively participate to discussions and analyses in class.

Course books

A. Gibbons, S. Whiteley, Contemporary Stylistics. Language, Cognition, Interpretation, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2018, (selected chapters).

M. Lakoff, M. Johnson, Metaphors we live by, Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2003, (selected chapters).

L. Jeffries, Critical Stylistics. The Power of English, London, Bloomsbury, 2009, (selected chapters).

Assessment

Written test: guided analysis of different texts and stylistic exercises. Use of monolingual dictionaries is allowed. The final assessment will be based not only on the validity of the analysis, but also on methodological relevance (references to the course books) and on the student's argumentative abilities in English. In practice, in their written tests, the students will have to demonstrate notions in the field of linguistic theory and stylistics, to apply these notions to their analysis, to exercise their own judgement in their analytical choices, and to show a good command of written English (at the level required by the course). 

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Non-attending students do not have a different programme from attending students and must follow the indications for course-books in the programme and use the materials uploaded on the moodle platform.

Course books

A. Gibbons, S. Whiteley, Contemporary Stylistics. Language, Cognition, Interpretation, Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press, 2018, (selected chapters).

M. Lakoff, M. Johnson, Metaphors we live by, Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2003, (selected chapters).

L. Jeffries, Critical Stylistics. The Power of English, London, Bloomsbury, 2009, (selected chapters).

Assessment

Written test: guided analysis of different texts and stylistic exercises. Use of monolingual dictionaries is allowed. The final assessment will be based not only on the validity of the analysis, but also on methodological relevance (references to the course books) and on the student's argumentative abilities in English. In practice, in their written tests, the students will have to demonstrate notions in the field of linguistic theory and stylistics, to apply these notions to their analysis, to exercise their own judgement in their analytical choices, and to show a good command of written English (at the level required by the course). 

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.