• To be determined by instructor.

• An investigation of the varieties of speech communities in America, emphasizing the practical applications of dialectology and discourse analysis.
• A further specific description pertaining to this section of the course may be added.

• Students will understand the basic concepts that inform language variation.
• Students will recognize how language variation is shaped by historical, social, educational, economic, and political conditions.
• Students will develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills by applying the tools of language analysis to "real-world" situations.
• Students will strengthen skills in oral and written communication through weekly class presentations and regularly assigned writing projects.
• Students will appreciate how language variation is related to issues of professional vocation, cultural diversity, information technology, and lifelong learning.
  

Program Goals

• Oral and written communication will be characterized by clarity, critical analysis, logic, coherence, persuasion, precision, and rhetorical awareness (Core Curriculum learning outcomes I)
  

• Speeches, papers, facilitated discussions, presentations, examinations, etc. as determined by the instructor.
• All sections must include at least (10) ten pages of writing in order to meet departmental expectations.

• Departmental plagiarism policies
• Other policy statements specific to this class should be included on the syllabus.
• Dates for completion of all assignments should be provided.
• MLA style should be emphasized and required on out of class essays.