This tasks ask students to use the interaction of the collaboration as data for a small scale sociolinguistics study, which they will then write up in the form of a popular science paper.
Institution reporting the task:
Language of task instructions:
English
Target Group:
| Social sciences |
|---|
| Foreign languages |
| Foreign language teachers |
Level:
| B2 |
|---|
| C1 |
| C2 |
References and acknowledgements:
None
Type:
Comparison & analysis
Estimated Duration:
4 sessions
Topic:
Sociolinguistics
Tags:
| sociolinguistics |
|---|
| popular science |
| language analysis |
| language variation |
Acknowledgements:
None
Language Configurations:
Lingua Franca
Language(s) that the task can be used in:
Any
Dominant language production:
Writing/reading asynchronous
Target Competences:
| Language competence |
|---|
| Intercultural skills |
| Content knowledge |
Specific pedagogical objectives:
Development of students analytical skills
Suggested Communication Tools:
Asynchronous text
Suggested Resources:
None
Instructions:
Students will engage with one module from the online exchange per week outside of class and are to be prepared to discuss the readings and topics for that week’ s module during class. The telecollaboration will then serve as the source of data for a minor sociolinguistics study (on a topic of the students' choosing and which is inspired by the course literature) to be written in the form of a popular science piece, in other words, something that could be published in a newspaper science section or science magazine read by non-experts/non-academics.
Guidelines
The popular science piece needs to include the following:
&bull A title and byline
&bull An overview of the results of a minor sociolinguistic study that includes information about
o What sociolinguistic issue was investigated.
o Participants and or context the data came from and how the data were elicited.
o What digital tool was involved in either the elicitation or analysis.
o The results.
&bull Reference to scientific articles drawn from research databases to justify, critique, or explain the results of the minor sociolinguistic study.
&bull A reference list in APA format of scientific sources found using international research databases.
In addition, the popular science piece must reflect the genre norms of popular science writing.
- Language that is clear and accessible to a non expert audience.
- Rhetorical strategies commonly used in popular science articles. See for example:
- Carrière, P. (29 April 2014). Tips to writing popular science articles: Bridging the gap between science and society. Retrieved fromhttp://www.united-academics.org/magazine/sex-society/11-tips-to-write-popular-science-articles/
- Pelger, S. (2007). Popular science writing. Retrieved fromhttp://awelu.srv.lu.se/genres-and-text-types/writing-in-academic-genres/popular-science-writing/
- Writing Studio Duke University (n.d.). Scientific writing for a popular audience. Retrieved fromhttp://twp.duke.edu/uploads/assets/science_pop.pdf
Learner Texts:
None
Document related to the task:
Criteria for Completion:
Suggeted Rubric
|
High Pass |
Pass |
Unsatisfactory |
|
|
Sociolinguistic Study |
The piece reports on a minor sociolinguistic study (i.e. draws upon a topic covered in the text or course lectures) that is carried out carefully and with scientific rigor and includes the use of digital technology. |
The piece clearly reports on a minor sociolinguistic study (i.e. draws upon a topic covered in the text or course lectures) and includes the use of digital technology. |
It is not entirely clear that this piece reports on a minor sociolinguistic study. |
|
Popular Science |
The piece makes sophisticated use of multiple rhetorical strategies found in popular science writing, including, for example, graphics, clever headings, personal stories, metaphor, etc. and is written in language that is academic yet clear and accessible to a non expert audience. |
The piece makes use of rhetorical strategies found in popular science writing, and is written in language that is academic yet clear and accessible to a non expert audience. |
The piece does not clearly make use of rhetorical strategies found in popular science writing AND/OR is written in language that is unclear and not accessible to a non expert audience. |
|
Use of Sources |
The piece cites scientific articles, all of which were found using international research databases. |
The piece cites scientific articles, few of which were found using international research databases. |
The piece cites no scientific articles or only articles that could be found outside of international research databases. |
|
Language |
The rhetorical organization facilitates the presentation of ideas throughout the response AND all ideas are presented in cogently written sentences. |
The rhetorical organization facilitates the presentation of ideas in most of the response AND/OR most ideas are presented in cogently written sentences. |
Large portions of the response are difficult to comprehend due to poor organization of ideas AND/OR incoherent writing. |
Comments and suggestions:
None
Author/copyright:
Shannon Sauro