Advanced Studies in Syntax
LIN 614 – 22526– Spring 2012
Monday 4:40-7:30 pm, LL 114
Instructor: Elly van Gelderen
E-mail:
Home page: http://www.public.asu.edu/~gelderen/elly.htm
Home page for the class: http://www.public.asu.edu/~gelderen/advanced-syntax.htm
Office Hours: M 1-2pm; M 3:15-4:15pm; W10-11am and 1-2pm, and by appointment.
Office: LL 226C
Aim and Organization: To be able to read and discuss current syntactic literature in the Minimalist framework and in the generative frameworks leading up to it. The course will be organized around the three layers that make up the clause, i.e., the CP, TP, and VP layers. There will be lectures, discussion, and problem solving. The textbook is called The Minimalist Clause; it is electronic and you will get pdfs from the instructor.
Learning outcomes: know how a sentence is derived using merge and checking, read current minimalist work, write or present a paper using appropriate arguments and well-glossed examples in this framework.
Requirements: 4 Homework assignments; one final paper (20 pages) or conference handout (15 pages and abstract) or other project that is useful. A draft of the paper/project is due by 26 March and the final version is due by 9 April.
Evaluation:
4 Homework Assignments @ 30 points each: 120 points
Final paper: 80______
200 points
Points will be converted as follows: 200 - 195: A+, 194 - 187: A, 186 - 180: A-, 179 - 175: B+, 174 - 167: B, 166 - 160: B-, 159 - 155: C+, 154 - 140: C, 139 - 120: D, 119 - 0: E. You are welcome (and encouraged) to discuss homework assignments with each other, but answers should be your own.
Tentative Schedule
Week 1 (9 January): Review of LIN 514; warming up trees.
Week 2 (16 January): MLK Holiday, no class
Week 3 (23 January): Chapter 1, HW 1 due
Week 4 (30 January): Chapter 1 and 2
Week 5 (6 February): Chapter 2, HW 2 due
Week 6 (13 February: Chapter 3
Week 7 (20 February): Chapter 3; HW 3
Week 8 (27 February): Chapter 4, and review so far
Week 9 (5 March): no class
Week 10 (12 March): Chapter 4
Week 11: Break from 19-25 March
Week 12 (26 March): Chapter 5, draft of the paper/project is due.
Week 13 (2 April): Chapter 5, HW 4
Week 14 (9 April): Conclusion, Papers/projects due
Week 15 (16 April): Syntax Symposium
Week 16 (23 April): Syntax Symposium continued, and wrap-up