Syllabus for RUSSIAN 101: The Structure of Russian
Welcome to the Structure of Russian! The purpose of this course is to examine the Russian language as a
linguistics system and learn how to do basic research on it. We will discuss what languages are,
how they are organized, and how these concepts are realized in the case of Russian.
This course will satisfy the needs of students who want a systematic understanding of
the language, and be particularly valuable for people who will be teaching Russian.
Logistics
Time
& Place: MWF 11-11:50 in Dey 303
Instructor: Laura A. Janda (janda@unc.edu;
962-7549; Slavic Dept CB # 3165; office in 312A Dey Hall; mailbox in 425 Dey Hall)
Office Hours: M 10-11 & W 2-3 & by appt.
Materials
- The following textbooks have been ordered for this course and you should find
them in the bookstore:
- Inroduction to Russian Phonology and Word Structure, by William S. Hamilton
- Russian Declension and Conjugation, by Maurice I. Levin
- Russian Word-Formation, by Charles E. Townsend
- The Case Book for Russian, by Laura A. Janda and Steven J. Clancy
- We will use other
materials that can be accessed from this website
What we will accomplish
this semester
This is your course. Please take control of as much of it as you can, and use this
opportunity to make our classwork support your research and teaching interests. The purpose of
this course is to give you the tools you need to make sense of and solve linguistic problems.
This should be an experience of empowerment. It will
make a big difference if you come to class with the homework done and questions to ask.
Some of the homework will be tedious and time-consuming. It is important to get the most
out of this experience without letting it have a negative impact on your experience. One
way to do this is to plan your commitment to homework carefully. If you try to do a whole
assignment in one sitting and/or at the last minute, you are certain to find it very unpleasant.
Instead, please plan to spend a short amount of time at least twice a day, every day (not just
the night before something is due). You will learn much more this way and suffer less from
fatigue and frustration. You might actually enjoy it. And I am certain that by the end of the
course you will agree that the investment was worth it. The homework and other class activities
are described below and figure in the day-by-day syllabus.
How
to succeed in this course
Here are your keys to success in this course:
- Do a small amount of work in two or more sessions every day -- don't try to cram several days'
worth of assignments into one evening
- Keep up with the readings and other
assignments, and print out all the material assigned from the website
- Come to class every day
- When you come to class, be sure to bring at least one piece of paper that
you have prepared for the class -- a homework assignment,
questions you have about an assignment or reading, etc.
- Work on your Final Project early and often -- you should have selected
your text adn format (powerpoint, html, etc.) before the midterm and work on it consistently after the
midterm
How grades will be assigned
Homework.Homework is the backbone of this course. Yes, you may work in groups,
but ONLY if this does NOT mean that you just divvy up the assigments, but actually work together.
And if you work together, please sign all the names of the collaborators on your paper. I know
that this homework will be challenging. Please let me know if you find it is getting to be
unpleasant so that I can find strategies to help you succeed. Don't wait until you feel lost!
Please write out all your homework assignments and brign them to class for grading and group
discussion. For the Hamilton book, write the exercises in the coursepack. For the Levin book,
if there are more than twenty items in an exercise, stop at twenty. For the Townsend book,
you will find the readings and exercise assignments listed by page number; designations such as
"1st 3" indicate that you should do the first three words in each column of the exercise. The the
Janda & Clancy book, do the Level I interactive exercises on the CD at the conclusion of each case chapter.
Final Project. You will prepare a Final Project, which will analyze parts of
a text, preferably one for which you also own the soundtrack (a song or story from
a CD, DVD, etc.). The Final Project will contain a phonetic transcription,
a phonemic transcription, a morphophonemic transcription, analysis of derviational
morphology of interesting words, analysis of case usage, classification of verbs, and
analysis of aspectual usage for all or part of your text. The Final Project
will also identify some interesting problems or issues you encountered while
performing your analysis. The Final Project will be presented
in class during the last two weeks of class. You may use any medium you wish for your Final Project:
Poster, PowerPoint, Website, DVD, etc. If you choose a video or other
multimedia format, you may use the
Beasley Multimedia Resource Lab or
the Media Resources Center at House Library . You are welcome to work in groups on your
Final Projects if you wish to. There will
be opportunities to discuss and try out parts of your Final Projects during the semester.
Midterm.There will be a midterm that will summarize what we have covered before the spring break.
Final Exam and Project write-ups.You will take a brief final exam (covering only the material
since the midterm) and
write up summaries of some interesting issues that were addressed in your classmates' final projects at the Final
Exam.
Grades. Here is how grades will be assigned:
| Item |
Number of Items |
Points per Item |
Total Points |
| Homework assignments |
25 |
2 |
50 |
| Midterm presentation of Final Project |
1 |
10 |
10 |
| Midterm |
1 |
10 |
10 |
| Final Project |
1 |
20 |
20 |
| Final Project Write-ups |
1 |
5 |
5 |
| Final |
1 |
5 |
5 |
| |
|
Total: |
100 |
Important note: It is your responsibility to know
about the Honor System at UNC. Go
to this page and be sure you know how to avoid plagiarism and other forms of academic
cheating.
Useful References
Don't forget to have fun! Czech conversation and film opportunities!
Please join us Tuesdays at 7:00. Click here to get the schedule!
Assignment Schedule
Jan 12 (W0): Hamilton 1
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Hamilton 2-3 and do Hamilton 3 exercise
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Hamilton 4-5 and do Hamilton 4 and
Hamilton 5 exercises
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Hamilton 6-7 and do Hamilton 6 and
Hamilton 7 exercises
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Hamilton 8-10 and do Hamilton 8,
Hamilton 9, and Hamilton 10 exercises
-
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Hamilton 11-12 and do Hamilton 11-12 exercises
- Print out this Handout on Polish nasal vowels and bring it to class
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Hamilton 13-15 and do Hamilton 13-14 and
Hamilton 15 exercises
Jan 28 (F2; Laura doing external review at ASU): No class today, but we will have a makeup
-
-
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Hamilton 16-17 and do Hamilton 16 and
Hamilton 17 exercises
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Hamilton 18-19 and do Hamilton 18 and
Hamilton 19 exercises
-
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Hamilton 20-21 and do Hamilton 20 exercise
Feb 7 (M4): Hamilton Chapter 20, and Hamilton 20-21 exercises THIS CLASS IS NOT CANCELLED!
There will be a substitute instructor! Be sure to come and show him your homework!
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Levin 1-2 and do Levin 1-2 exercises
- Read sample texts from Russian writers and be prepared to discuss them in class on Wednesday -- be sure to prepare questions!!!
- Writer Kochergin's Russian text, English translation
- Writer Slavnikova's #1 Russian text,
English translation; #2 Russian text,
English translation;
#3 Russian text, English translation
- Writer Bykov's Russian text
- Russian Writers' agenda
Feb 9 (W4): Levin Chapter 1,
Levin Chapter 2,
and Levin 1-2 exercises -- No, actually we will have the writers in our class, and we can go to lunch
(Dutch treat) with them after class
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Levin 3 and do Levin 3 exercises
-
Special Announcement:
The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures is pleased to announce a
lecture by Prof. John Hope, one of our three finalists for the position of
assistant professor of 19th-century Russian Literature. Prof. Hope (Ph.D.,
Michigan), who currently teaches at Williams College, will give a talk titled
“Fearsome under sultry skies? The East of Alexander Griboedov,” at 4:00 this
Friday, February 11, in 303 Dey Hall. Please mark your calendar and plan to
attend!
That’s 4:00, THIS Friday, February 11, 303 Dey Hall.
Feb 11 (F4): Levin Chapter 3, and Levin 3 exercises
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Levin 4-5 and do Levin 4-5 exercises
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Levin 6 and do Levin 6 exercises
Feb 16 (W5): Levin Chapter 6 and Levin 6 exercises
- What to prepare for next time:
- You might find this an easier description of conjugation
- Read Levin 7 and do Levin 7 exercises
-
Special Announcement:
The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures is pleased to
announce a lecture by Prof. Yuri Leving, the third of our three
finalists for the position of assistant professor of 19th-century
Russian Literature. Prof. Leving (Ph.D., The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem), who currently teaches at George Washington University, will
give a talk titled "'Neither Fiery Serpent nor Steaming Steed'": The
Mythology of Locomotion in Nineteenth-Century Russian Poetry," at 5:00
on Thursday, February 17, in Toy Lounge (Dey Hall, fourth floor).
Please mark your calendar and plan to attend!
That's 5:00, next Thursday, February 17, Toy Lounge.
Feb 18 (F5): Levin Chapter 7 and Levin 7 exercises
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Levin 8 and do Levin 8 exercises
- Note extra study session to catch up on homework: Thursday Feb 24 7:30-9pm in Dey 402
Feb 21 (M6): Levin Chapter 8 and Levin 8 exercises
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Levin 9 and do Levin 9 exercises
Special Announcement:
The Study Abroad Office will be accepting late applications until
March 2
for the new UNC Summer in Moscow program. The program offers either a
social sciences track with two courses on Russia, or an intermediate
language track with two courses equivalent to UNC's Russian 3 and 4.
More information and application procedures can be found on the
website,
http://studyabroad.unc.edu, or contact Regan Zwald
(rzwald@email.unc.edu)
or go by the Study Abroad Office, 201 Porthole Building which is just
north of Hanes Art Center.
Feb 23 (W6): Levin Chapter 9 and Levin 9 exercises
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Russian aspect
at your fingertips (through G. Conversions) and table and do
on-line exercises (login as: guest; password: 000000)
- Print out Russian table and
handout and bring to class.
- Here it is: Flier's noun stress handout
Extra Study Session Feb 24 7:30-9pm in Dey 402
Let's blast through all the backed up homework and get some questions answered!
Feb 25 (F6): Russian aspect at your fingertips (through G. Conversions),
Metaforicheskaja model', and on-line exercises
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Russian aspect at your fingertips (through end) and analyze aspectual use in a text
-
Feb 28 (M7): Russian aspect at your fingertips (through end) and analysis of aspectual use in a
text
- What to prepare for next time:
- Fill in (digitally) and send to me your aspect survey
- Read Aspectual Clusters of Russian verbs
sections 1-4 and analyze the cluster types of verbs from a list
- Please print out and bring with you this handout
Mar 2 (W7): Clusters of Russian verbs part I
(Cluster presentation)
and analysis of cluster types of verbs from a
list
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Clusters of Russian verbs to end and analyze cluster types of biaspectual and motion verbs
Mar 4 (F7): Clusters of Russian verbs to end and analysis of cluster types of
biaspectual and motion verbs
- What to prepare for next time:
- Midterm presentation of Final Project, containing at least two types of analysis
-
Mar 7 (M8): Midterm presentation of Final Project
- What to prepare for next time:
- Review for Midterm
- Print out and bring (and prepare!) the Practice Midterm Exam
Mar 9 (W8): Review for Midterm
- What to prepare for next time:
- Study for Midterm
-
Mar 11 (F8): Midterm
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Townsend 116-134 & 143-148
- Do pt I for all items on 147-8
Mar 21 (M9): Townsend 116-134 & 143-148 and exercises (ppt)
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Townsend 149-70
- Do exercises on 151, 1st 3 on 157, 1st 3 on 166, 1st 3 on 170
Mar 23 (W9): Townsend 149-70 and exercises (ppt),
Midterm grades
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Townsend 171-192
- Do 1st 3 on 177, 180, 184, 186, 192
Mar 28 (M10): Townsend 171-192 and exercises
(ppt), talk about Spektakl'
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Townsend 193-227
- Do 194, 195, 200, 1st 3 on 206, 211, 214, 215, 1st 3 on 222, 227
Mar 30 (W10): Townsend 193-227 and exercises
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Townsend 227-241
- Do 1st 3 on top and all on bottom of 232, 234, 1st 3 on 241
- Mango-Tango song lyrics
- Music!
- Spektakl' assignments
Apr 1 (F10): Townsend 227-241 and exercises -- Well, actually we will hold a focus group
discussion of the Aspect in Russian MediaModule during this class
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Janda & Clancy Preliminaries, Nominative, and Instrumental: a Means
- Do Nominative exercises
Apr 4 (M11): Janda & Clancy Preliminaries, Nominative, and Instrumental: a Means
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Janda & Clancy Instrumental: a label, an adjunct, a landmark
- Do Instrumental exercises
Apr 6 (W11): Janda & Clancy Instrumental: a label, an adjunct, a landmark
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Janda & Clancy Accusative
- Do Accusative exercises
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Janda & Clancy Dative: a receiver and an experiencer 1 & 2
Apr 11 (M12): Janda & Clancy Dative: a receiver and an experiencer 1 & 2
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Janda & Clancy Dative to end
- Do dative exercises
- Rare dogs! -- a text for practicing case identification
Apr 13 (W12): Janda & Clancy Dative
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Janda & Clancy Genitive: a source and a goal
Apr 15 (F12): Janda & Clancy Genitive: a source and a goal
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Janda & Clancy Genitive: a whole and a reference
- Do Genitive exercises
- Feeling conflicted about Russian cases? You're not alone! Read
"Ne konfliktovat' s grammatikoj"
Apr 18 (M13): Janda & Clancy Genitive
- What to prepare for next time:
- Read Janda & Clancy Locative
- Do Locative exercises
- How good are you with the cases? Try: Russkaja lirika
- How good are you with word-formation? Try: Neologizm
Apr 20 (W13): Janda & Clancy Locative
-
- Worried about na vs. v? Look at these statistics.
- If you don't believe in the importance of po + loc, take a look at these statistics!
Apr 22 (F13):
- Presenters:
- Jenny Barrier's presentation
- Perry Sherouse's presentation
- Melissa Kotacka's presentation
Apr 25 (M14):
- Presenters:
- Heath Christensen's presentation
- Maya Bringe's presentation
- Biljana Belamaric's presentation
Apr 27 (W14):
- Presenters:
- Daniel Miller's powerpoint,
plus supplement and lyrics
- Olivia Lysakowski's presentation
Apr 29 (F14):
- Presenters:
- Sarah Martin's presentation
Sample items from the final exam
The FINAL EXAM is on Monday, May 9 at 8:00 am in Dey 405
- Be there or be SQUARE!
-
This website was last updated on: April 28, 2005