Exam Sample Questions and Syllabus - First Part
Content
2ND-YEAR ENGLISH MODULE – CONQUESTS OF THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE
SYLLABUS PART 1 – RECAP 1-7
CLASS TOPICS AND MATERIALS
Class 1 (3 February)
TWO CONTENDING PERSPECTIVES ON
WORLD ENGLISHES.
(Class notes; Svartvik and Leech: Chapters 1
and 12)
Class 2 (17 February)
THE CORE OF THE CONTENTION:
COMMUNICATION VERSUS IDENTITY?
(Texts by David Crystal and Kamala Das
Suraya)
Class 3 (24 February)
THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH.
(Svartvik and Leech: Chapters 2-4; text by
David Graddol.)
Class 4 (3 March)
THE FIGHT BETWEEN FIXITY AND
CHANGE.
(Texts by S. Johnson and O. Equiano.)
Class 5 (10 March)
ENGLISH IN THE COLONIES.
(Text by V.S. Naipaul.)
Class 6 (24 March)
CREOLE CULTURE AND CREOLISATION:
THE CASE OF V.S NAIPAUL
(Texts by Eduard Glissant, D. Walcott and V.S.
EXAM SAMPLE QUESTIONS
(FOR ATTENDERS)
1. Compare and contrast the two
main perspectives on world
Englishes.
2. Discuss the future of English as
accounted for by Svartvick and
Leech.
3. Discuss the twofold perspective
on Kachru’s world-English
diagram.
1. Discuss pros and cons of David
Crystal’s view of the use of
English for international and local
purposes.
2. Evaluate how English may be
used to express identity in
international context.
1. Critically discuss the history of
English as told by Svartvik and
Leech pointing out its most
relevant events.
2. Assess Graddol’s view about
the traditional way of telling the
history of English.
1. Discuss a crucial moment in the
history of English when fixity was
imposed and language change
demonised.
2. Evaluate Johnson’s “Preface” to
his Dictionary pointing out positive
and negative aspects.
1. Discuss the reasons why
English was exported to the
colonies.
2. Evaluate the way English was
learnt in the colonies.
1. Compare and contrast pidgin
and Creole Englishes.
2. Discuss the way Glissant’s
“Poetic of Relation” may
contribute to global English.
1
Naipaul; Svartvik and Leech: Chapter 8.)
Class 7 (31 March)
THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH AS A WORLD
LANGUAGE
(Text by M.A.K. Halliday, “Written Language,
Standard Language, Global Language.”)
1. Evaluate Halliday’s theory of
the history of English.
2. Compare and contrast the
history of English as told by
Halliday and by Svartick and
Leech.
2
LANGUAGE
SYLLABUS PART 1 – RECAP 1-7
CLASS TOPICS AND MATERIALS
Class 1 (3 February)
TWO CONTENDING PERSPECTIVES ON
WORLD ENGLISHES.
(Class notes; Svartvik and Leech: Chapters 1
and 12)
Class 2 (17 February)
THE CORE OF THE CONTENTION:
COMMUNICATION VERSUS IDENTITY?
(Texts by David Crystal and Kamala Das
Suraya)
Class 3 (24 February)
THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH.
(Svartvik and Leech: Chapters 2-4; text by
David Graddol.)
Class 4 (3 March)
THE FIGHT BETWEEN FIXITY AND
CHANGE.
(Texts by S. Johnson and O. Equiano.)
Class 5 (10 March)
ENGLISH IN THE COLONIES.
(Text by V.S. Naipaul.)
Class 6 (24 March)
CREOLE CULTURE AND CREOLISATION:
THE CASE OF V.S NAIPAUL
(Texts by Eduard Glissant, D. Walcott and V.S.
EXAM SAMPLE QUESTIONS
(FOR ATTENDERS)
1. Compare and contrast the two
main perspectives on world
Englishes.
2. Discuss the future of English as
accounted for by Svartvick and
Leech.
3. Discuss the twofold perspective
on Kachru’s world-English
diagram.
1. Discuss pros and cons of David
Crystal’s view of the use of
English for international and local
purposes.
2. Evaluate how English may be
used to express identity in
international context.
1. Critically discuss the history of
English as told by Svartvik and
Leech pointing out its most
relevant events.
2. Assess Graddol’s view about
the traditional way of telling the
history of English.
1. Discuss a crucial moment in the
history of English when fixity was
imposed and language change
demonised.
2. Evaluate Johnson’s “Preface” to
his Dictionary pointing out positive
and negative aspects.
1. Discuss the reasons why
English was exported to the
colonies.
2. Evaluate the way English was
learnt in the colonies.
1. Compare and contrast pidgin
and Creole Englishes.
2. Discuss the way Glissant’s
“Poetic of Relation” may
contribute to global English.
1
Naipaul; Svartvik and Leech: Chapter 8.)
Class 7 (31 March)
THE HISTORY OF ENGLISH AS A WORLD
LANGUAGE
(Text by M.A.K. Halliday, “Written Language,
Standard Language, Global Language.”)
1. Evaluate Halliday’s theory of
the history of English.
2. Compare and contrast the
history of English as told by
Halliday and by Svartick and
Leech.
2
