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English in the United States (Q1087)

15 credits, Level 5

Spring teaching

On this module, you'll explore the development of the English language in the United States from the colonial period to the present, examining the linguistic, historical, and social forces shaping its evolution. You'll consider:

• how the US has developed a standard language without an explicit language policy
• the differences between American English and British English compared to other former colonies
• regional varieties such as Appalachian and Californian English
• ethnic varieties including African-American and Chicano Englishes, their evolution and social functions
• whether distinctively American styles of communication exist.

You'll have the opportunity to explore topics of personal interest through portfolio writings, guided in creating short, well-researched articles in a journalistic style.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 22 hours of contact time and about 128 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.