Department of English Language and Literature

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

YEAR ONE: FIRST SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE		COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	GSS 101		Use of English I	2
2	ENG 101		Elements of English Grammar & Usage I	3
3	ENG 111		Introduction to General Linguistics	3
4	ENG 141		Mechanics of Reading Comprehension	3
5	ENG 161		Introduction to Nigerian Literature I	3
			ELECTIVES
6		FRE 101	Elementary French OR	2
7		IGB 101	Elementary Igbo I	2
8		CHI 101	Elementary Chinese I	2
			TOTAL	14

SECOND SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE		COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	GSS 102		Use of English II	2
2	ENG 102		Elements of English Grammar & Usage II	3
3	ENG 112		Introduction to General Linguistics II	3
4	ENG 131		Basic English Composition	3
5	ENG 162		Introduction to Nigerian Literature II	3
ELECTIVES
6		FRE 102	Elementary French II OR	2
7		IGB 102	Elementary Igbo II	2
8		CHI 102	Elementary Chinese II	2
			TOTAL	15

YEAR TWO: FIRST SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	GSS 104	Introduction to History and Philosophy of Science 2	2
2	GSS 107	Nigerian People and Culture	2
3	ENG 151	Introduction to Fiction	3
4	ENG 173	Introduction to Poetry	3
5	ENG 241	Advanced English Composition I	3
		ELECTIVES
6	FRE 201	Intermediate French I	2
7	IGB 201	Intermediate Igbo	2
8	CHI 201	Intermediate Chinese I	2
		TOTAL	15

SECOND SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	GSS 103	Introduction to Philosophy and Logic	2
2	ENG 152	Introduction to Oral Literature	3
3	ENG 171	Elements of Drama	3
4	ENG 242	Advanced English Composition II	3
ELECTIVES
5	FRE 202	Intermediate French II or	3
6	IGB 202	Intermediate Igbo II	2
7	IGB 102	Elementary Igbo II	2
8	CHI 202	Intermediate Chinese II	2
		TOTAL	13/14

YEAR THREE: FIRST SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	CSC 101	Introduction to Computer Science Programming	2
2	ENG 221	Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology I	3
3	ENG251	Survey of Literature I	3
4	ENG 281	Modern Comedy	3
5	ENG 282	English Literature of the Renaissance Period	3
		TOTAL	14

SECOND SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	CSC 102	Computer Appreciation	2
2	ENG 222	Introduction to Phonetics & Phonology II	3
3	ENG 252	Survey of Literature II	3
4	ENG 253	Literary Appreciation	2
5	ENG 283	English Literature of Neo-Classical Period	3
		TOTAL	13

YEAR FOUR (Language Stress)

FIRST SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	ENG 301	Discourse Analysis	3
2	ENG 303	English as a Second Language	3
3	ENG 321	Phonology of English	3
4	ENG331	Contemporary English Usage	3
		TOTAL	12

SECOND SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	ENG 302	English Language in Nigeria	3
2	ENG311	Introduction to Applied Linguistics	3
3	ENG 332	Introduction to Semantics	3
4	ENG392	Research Methods	3
5	ENG 334	Morphology of English	3
		TOTAL	15

YEAR FOUR (Literature Stress)

FIRST SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	ENG 342	Advanced Prose Composition	3
2	ENG 361	African Fiction	3
3	ENG 381	English Literature of the Romantic Period	3
4	ENG 382	English Literature of the Victorian Period	3
		TOTAL	12

SECOND SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	ENG 353	Theory and Practice of Literary Criticism	3
2	ENG 362	African Poetry	3
3	ENG 383	English Literature of the Modern Period	3
4	ENG 334	Morphology of English	3
5	ENG 392	Research Methods	3
		TOTAL	15

YEAR FIVE (Language Stress)

FIRST SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	ENG 304	Introduction to Sociolinguistics	3
2	ENG 341	Creative Writing	3
3	ENG 384	Shakespeare	3
4	ENG 401	Multilingualism	3
		TOTAL	12

SECOND SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	ENG 333	Modern English Structure	3
2	ENG 432	English for Specific Purposes	3
3	ENG 433	Pragmatics	3
4	ENG 491	Research Methods/Seminar	3
		TOTAL	12

YEAR FIVE (Literature Stress)

FIRST SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	ENG 341	Creative Writing	3
2	ENG 363	African Drama	3
3	ENG 384	Shakespeare	3
4	ENG 473	Studies in Drama	3
		TOTAL	12

SECOND SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	ENG 432	English for Specific Purposes	3
2	ENG 443	Workshop in Creative Writing	3
3	ENG 471	Studies in Poetry	3
4	ENG 491	Research Methods/Seminar	3
		TOTAL	12

YEAR SIX (Language Stress)

FIRST SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	ENG 402	Language and National Development	3
2	ENG 431	New Trends in Syntax	3
3	ENG 442	Speech Writing	3
4	ENG 455	Stylistics	3
		TOTAL	12

SECOND SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	ENG434	Modern English Grammar & Usage	3
2	ENG 441	Psycholinguistics	3
3	ENG 492	Project	3
		TOTAL	9

YEAR SIX (Literature Stress)

FIRST SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	ENG 402	Language and National Development	3
2	ENG452	Commonwealth Literature	3
3	ENG 455	Stylistics	3
4	ENG 402	Language and National Development	3
		TOTAL	12

SECOND SEMESTER

S/N	COURSE CODE	COURSE TITLE	CREDIT UNIT
1	ENG 472	Studies in Fiction	3
2	ENG 482	Modern Authors	3
3	ENG 492	Project	3
		TOTAL	9

COURSE DESCRIPTION FOR UNDERGRADUATE

ENG 101: Elements of English Grammar and Usage I

This course is designed to explore the salient features of English grammatical structure in a fairly practical way. The students are exposed to the general principles of language, what grammar is, starting with the most basic elements of classification, forms, features and functions of the parts of speech, closed and open system.

ENG 102: Elements of English Grammar and Usage II

The course is a continuation of ENG101. Its focus is on the most basic elements of meaning and grammatical form the morphemes, words, phrases, clauses and sentences of English. The aim of this course is to improve students’ proficiency in English by highlighting their areas of difficulty and helping to sharpen their sense of grammatical correctness vis-a.-vis communicative effectiveness.

ENG 111 and 112: Introduction to General Linguistics I and II

The two courses run consecutively for two semesters. The courses are geared towards introducing students to the basic concepts and facts about language as a purely human capability. Topics covered include language origins theories of; language structure (levels of linguistic analysis language functions, relationship/differences between communication among human beings and other communication systems by animals), different approaches to the study of linguistics, the origins of written language. Emphasis should always be laid on the scientific study of language. Students should also be made to appreciate the general misconceptions about, and unique properties of natural human languages.

ENG 131: Basic English Composition

The course exposes students to paragraph writing generating the topic sentence developing the writing paragraph and essay. Basic composition writing using the controlled expression method is taught. Qualities of effective writing: unity economy, simplicity, clarity and coherence are emphasized. Emphasis is placed on narrative, descriptive, expository and argumentative essays.

ENG 141: Mechanics of Reading Comprehension

The emphasis of this course is on exposing students to the skills involved in intensive, extensive and faster reading to equip them for the numerous reading assignments in their course. Students are exposed to effective ways of analyzing comprehension passages, handling summary assignments and determining the readability of a text material. Suitable passages to enable students practise the necessary skills are provided.

ENG 151 and 152: Introduction to Oral Literature I and II

These courses introduce students to the major genres of oral literature: oral prose, oral poetry and traditional drama. The importance of these types as literary forms and their impact on the traditional society are discussed as students are introduced to field work.

ENG 161/162: Introduction to Nigerian Literature I and II

These courses are designed to introduce the “new” student to Nigerian literature. Major and minor genres of literature are discussed as well as the general socio- political milieu which has informed the literature. Also to be discussed is the inter-relationship between this literature and the oral tradition with which it co-exists.

ENG171: Elements of Drama

Using representative texts, the course is designed to introduce students to drama as an important and serious literary genre. Basic facts about types, origins, nature and form are explored. Illustrative texts span the centuries and will reflect works of authors from different literary backgrounds such as Africa, Europe and elsewhere.

ENG 173: Introduction to Poetry

The course introduces students to the nature, form and other unique characteristics of poetry. Different types of poetry (epic, lyric, ballad, etc.) are examined enable students to imbibe the process and techniques of literary appreciation. The assumed general fear and difficulty often erroneously attached to the comprehension and application of poetry should be demystified.

ENG 202: Language and Society

This course focuses on language as an indispensable binding force in any society. Students guided to appreciate the functions of language(s) in society. Topic discussed includes language and societal world view, and the contributions of ethnographers in our understanding of the phenomenon of language.

ENG 207: History of the English Language

The origin of English, the changing nature of the language and its present role as a world language form the focus of this course. Differences between old English, Middle English and Modern English, and the influences of other cultures especially on the vocabulary of English as it is known today are further explored. In establishing sources of words, concepts such as widening and narrowing of meaning, lowering and raising of meaning, borrowing and loan words are defined.

ENG 221: Introduction to Phonetics & Phonology I

This course covers the principle of phonetic description, vocabulary and taxonomy, using English and other languages for illustration. It also involves the identification, classification and description of speech sounds as basic raw materials with which human speech is formed, and establishes the relationship between human anatomy and sounds of speech. Students are introduced to broad phonetic transcription.

ENG 222: Introduction to Phonetics and Phonology II

The course complements ENG 221. Here, in addition to studying how speech sounds (in every language) combine systematically to form higher units of phonological structure, to form meanings and the effects of these combinations in speech production, interpretation and meaning, students examined the prosodic features (syllable structure, stress, intonation, etc.) that contribute to meaning in spoken English). Students are made to see that accent in L2 is a function of linguistic interference and other ethno-linguistic and sociolinguistic factors. The course is, therefore, designed to introduce students to some of the analytical procedures and approaches involved in the understanding of English phonology, hence the identification of phonemes of English.

ENG 241: Advanced English Composition I

This course deals with specialized composition writing. The focus is on the writing composing process as it concerns various types of essays, official correspondence and invitations and public announcement. Attention is paid to correct language use and technical matters connected with these kinds of writing.

ENG 242: Advanced English Composition II

The course is a follow-up to ENG 241. It focused on specialized composition writing with special attention to the art of discourse, long essays/term papers, terms paper introduction and abstracts, documentation styles, report writing, minutes of meetings, note-making, summary writing and speech writing. As in ENG 241, attention is paid to correct language use and other technical matters connected with these kinds of writing.

ENG 251 & 252: Survey of Literature I and II

These courses survey the history and development of English literature from the earliest time to the present. The first part consider the period between Old English (Anglo-Saxon literature and the Renaissance, the second from the Restoration (1660) to the present. Major inspirations as well as the prominent writers who affected the development of the literature are discussed.

ENG281: Modern Comedy

The course is aimed at a study of the main forms of comedy from Moliere to Soyinka. Representative texts are studies in details.

ENG 282: Literary Appreciation

The course embraces such areas as definitions of literature and literary studies, fictional terms and general literary principles. It serves as a bridge to the study of literary criticism and its application in the analysis of selected extracts from fictional and non-fictional writings.

ENG 283: English Literature of the Neoclassical Period

This course covers the literary period from John Dryden to Samuel Johnson from the Restoration period to the Late Augustans as well as works of Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift. Emphasis is laid on the period’s preoccupation with society, reason and satire and its reflection of the classical times.

ENG 301: Discourse Analysis

The course is an introduction to the principles and practice of discourse analysis with emphasis on practical analysis, study and description of relevant textual materials such as advertisement, obituaries, delivered lecturer (in print) political presenter, cartoons.

ENG 302: English Language in Nigeria

The course is designed to study the history of English in Nigeria, the consequent emergence of virile local variety (ies) and changes leading to the evolution of a Nigerian Standard. It includes the influence of indigenous Nigerian Languages on English (and vice-versa) – influences that have led to distinct written and speech characteristics of Nigerian English (NE) , especially along ethno-linguistic lines, and how these influences affect performance and mutual intelligibility both locally and internationally. The circles of English users the concept of “new English, the economics of English in Nigeria, gradations from basolect through mesolect to acrolect, which are not discrete and mutually exclusive in terms of phonology, syntax and usage.

ENG 303: English as a Second Language (ESL)

The learning of English as a second language is examined as well as thereafter problems and prospects topics explored include: the differences between a second language and a foreign language, the difference in the acquisition of L1 and L2, the status of English as an L2 in Nigeria, sources of errors in second language learning, error analysis and contrastive analysis. Textual examples and practice exercises are provided.

ENG 304: Introduction to Socio-linguistics

The course provides an introduction to the history, methodology, basic concepts and applications of sociolinguistics. It considers the relationship between language and society, focusing attention on attitudes towards language varieties and social dialects, and the problem of multilingualism. It includes discussion on the importance of language in relation to development. Attention is drawn to language variation.

ENG 311: Introduction to Applied Linguistics

The course examines the contributions which the science of language and the theories of language can make in other areas of human knowledge, especially in such areas as second language learning and teaching; language planning and policies in a multilingual nation; psychology, textbook writing, etc. The course includes discussions on the influence of different linguistic theories on approaches to language acquisition and learning.

ENG 321: Phonology of English

This course provides a detailed study of segmental and prosodic features of RP English and their organization in concrete discourse. It includes practical exercises on transcription and an introduction to various approaches to the description of English phonology, taxonomic (phonemic), prosodic, and generative; the taxonomic principles of phonemic analysis (contrastiveness, similarity, random and non-random variations, etc.) introduction to generative phonology (notion of distinctive features, phonological processes, phonological rules in English, underlying representation, systematic photometric, etc.).

ENG 331: Contemporary English Usage

The focus of this course is on the use of English (written and spoken) in English speaking communities, both as a world language and as a lingua franca in different communities. Emphasis states on the notions of variation and grammaticalness as indices in definition of standards of correctness and acceptability.

ENG 332: Introduction to Semantics

This course introduces students to the different possible approaches to the study of “meaning”, situating the investigation within the general framework of linguistic structure. It also looks at “sense properties and sense relations, problems of word vs sentence meaning, semantic markedness”, etc. It will also include areas of pragmatics. That is, the utterance-meaning as distinct from sentence meaning on socio-cultural and linguistic rules that determine correct interpretation of terms in the real world.

ENG 333: Modern English Structure

The course examines some theories of grammar, traditional, structural, transformational generative. Modern English structure parsing (encompassing the idea of case) of traditional grammar, bracketing or chain diagram of structural grammar; phrase structure rules or tree diagram of generativism and such principles embodying functionalism as ideational, interpersonal and textual meaning will form the basic structural teachings of the course. The grammatical units: morphemes, words, phrases, clauses and sentences as well as the various roles they perform (SVOCA) in sentences will be looked into. Other structural considerations are paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations grammatical categories of nouns: number, gender case; and verbs: tense, mood, voice, aspect and how they influence change in sentence constructions.

ENG 334: Morphology of English

This course examines the formation of words and the internal structures of words formed. Such elements or derivation and inflection generally called affixation are emphasized to enable students understand and exemplify the complexities made possible by morphemic components. Terms like root, base, stem, bound/free morphemes, word, functional and lexical morphemes are explained.

ENG 341: Creative Writing

The course is designed to stimulate the creative potential of students. It provides instructions in imaginative writing – prose, drama, and poetry. It runs on a seminar or workshop basis, with available writers leading the discussions.

ENG 361: African Fiction

This course is designed to introduce students to novels by African (or/and non African) authors dealing with African themes, life and experiences. The course covers the regions of Africa: (Francophone and Anglophone) West Africa, East

Africa, South Africa and North Africa

ENG 362: African Poetry

The course treats the concerns, texture and content of most poetry written by mainly Africans about African issues or themes. Attention is given to orality; its form and influence on modern written African poetry. Other issues include: the concept of Negritude, its proponents (Cesairé, Senghor, Dadie, Diop bothers, etc.) and their poetry; culture conflict and the problems of identity crises for the neocolonial Africa and extreme Westernization as they constitute subjects for African poets (Okigbo, P’Bitek, etc.); myth, African pantheons and war (Soyinka, Achebe, Clark, etc.); apartheid, post-apartheid and racial segregation (Dennis Brutus, etc.), and the introductory verses of praise for and subservience to the colonial powers (Armattoc, Anang, Osadebay, etc.). Changing trends, experimentations and the harsh realities of the disillusionment accompanying self-rule became the concern of younger poets of the eighties and nineties (Ndibe, Ohaeto, Nwankwo, Ojaide, Osundare, etc.), these and other studies are set against the unique African background of orality and oral elements as constituents of a colourful and rich culture.

ENG 364: Survey of American Literature

This 300 level course provides students with a cursory knowledge of the “how” and “why” of American Literature: the periods, trends, major writers and works. Most studies in the course are done with an implied comparison with English Literature in order to enhance differentiation and understanding.

ENG 363: African Drama

The course attemots to focus on written drama by playwrights of African descent both in the continent and in the diaspora traces the development and growth of the genre from emergence to the present in different parts of the continent. Thematic, aesthetic and structural trends are examined alongside are in-depth study of the major playwrights. The course offer insights into the practice of drama as theatre.

ENG 382: Literature of the Victorian Period

This course bridges the gap from the Romantic to the Modern period. Major writers and major movements of the period are studied

ENG 383: Literature of the Modern Period

The course is a study of twentieth century literature. Major literary movements and representation authors of the content are discussed.

ENG 384: Shakespeare

The course is designed to look at the life of William Shakespeare and his works in reference to the Elizabethan period when he lived and wrote. The study of language, thematic trends, stage conventions and belief system is imperative in the course. Representative texts are explored.

ENG 401: Multilingualism

Course Description / Objective

The introduces students to the problems of having several languages operating simultaneously within same linguistic environment community or country. Nigeria is a good example. In the course, these problems are identified, classified and analysed; and solutions to them proffered.

ENG 402: Language and National Development

The course focuses on constraints on national development by the linguistic situation in developing African nations, language being the most effective means of human communication and the corner-stone of mass participation

in the development process itself.

ENG 431: New Trends in Syntax

This course introduces functional loads and information contents of syntactic elements, as well as more technical names of subject as agent, object as recipient, and instrument referring to elements acting on another element. Major syntactic constructions- endocentric, exocentric and clause are explained. In addition is the introduction of linguistic minimalism, X Bar Theory, GB Theory and others.

ENG 432: English for Specific Purposes (ESP)

The course examines the reasons for making English functional in particular circumstances for the purposes of effective communication and understanding. Emphasis is on specialized varieties of English such as the language of journalism, bureaucracy, a science and technology, public speaking, law, medicine, ordinary conversation, etc. are given. Students are required to write a fieldwork project on any of the areas covered.

ENG 434: Modern English Grammar and Usage

The course, Modern English Grammar and Usage, gives a detailed study of modern English structure and usage with reference to syntax and word choice. Emphasis is on an indepth study of the relationship between the grammatical and lexical characteristics that mark contemporary usage in selected areas of English grammar which co-relate English structure, vocabulary and usage in both writing and speech. Thus, elements of the English sentence would be considered from both syntactic and functional perspectives; the basic sentence patterns, different kinds of concord, special characteristics of the sentence constituents, an in-depth examination of adjuncts, disjuncts, the verb and its complementation, the complex noun phrase etc, would be studied in detail. Besides, there would be some critical analysis of the English spelling system, passivization, the use of figurative expressions, etc. As usual, textual examples and practice exercises would be provided.

ENG 441: Psycholinguistics

The course presents the psycho-linguistic account of language and the relationship between language and the mind. Topics are to cover language acquisition and language learning, language, thinking cognition, language and the brain, language localization, linguistic behaviour, production, comprehension, language impairment, etc.

ENG 442: Speech Writing

This course is designed to focus closely on speech writing as a, communicative skill. Topics to be included are speech wording, organization of speeches and different types of speeches.

ENG 443: Creative Writing Workshop

ENG 443 is a continuation of ENG 341. It is a practical course through which the students’ works are read and discussed. At the end of the course, students should be able to write fairly publishable works in genres of their interest.

ENG 452: Commonwealth Literature

Since this is a study of commonwealth literature, a selection of representative texts will be made from different zones of the commonwealth including Britain, Australia, Canada, West Indies, India, New Zealand. Thematic and stylistic issues in the literature of the commonwealth are studied. Comparative issues vis-a-vis the uniting thematic factors will be studied too. Concentration will be more on poetry and short stories form of literary expression. The special characteristics of fiction as a form as well as the intellectual and socio-political situations and movements which informed these developments will be highlighted. A textual analysis of selected novels written in or translated into English will be critically studied in order to understand this historical development. Since these situations and movements will be studied in great detail, one of them (for instance, existentialism and literature or folklore and literature), will be selected each year, relevance being the major criterion.

ENG 455: Stylistics

This is an introduction to the significant features, principles, ideas and concepts related to English stylistics. The definition of stylistics is used to reinforce its relationships and distinctiveness from linguistics and literary criticism. The course is designed to utilize the resources or the principles of linguistics in the analysis of texts. The importance of foregrounding, deviations, grammatical, lexical, morphological as well as context and coherence are highlighted. The usefulness of register and other relevant aspects of language use are discussed in order to emphasize how stylistic value could be derived in texts.

ENG 471: Studies in Poetry

This course involves a concentrated study of major forms of poetry-epic, lyric, ballad, etc, – with a view to understanding the special characteristics of the poetic forms as well as the intellectual and socio-political situations and movements which informed these poetic forms. The language of poetry will be given a special attention. Instruments for critical appreciation of poetry as well as major theories of poetry will be studied.

ENG 473: Studies in Drama

This is a study of the development of dramatic traditions through a selection of significant texts from the Greeks to the modern era. It traces the evolution of drama through the classical, middle ages, Elizabethan, Neoclassical period to the modern age. It discusses the texts and relates them to the various concepts that have influenced the course of drama: realism, naturalism, theatre of the absurd, etc. Modern African drama is placed in its proper perspective as a 20th century enrichment of world drama in terms of subject matter and theoretical concepts.

ENG 482: Modern Authors

The course covers important, major and prominent writers from circa 1900 to the present in literature written or translated to English. Their study is important because of literary trends and movements they either started, made popular or propagated; which in unique symbiosis based on the relationship between literature and life, changed man’s view of life, existence, race, segregation, value and man’s place and responsibility in the general scheme of things. Their major works, often representative of their ideas and views are the main issues of concern. Their personalities, where applicable and necessary also form part of the course content. These authors include Pound, Eliot, Beckett, Yeats, Woolf, Achebe, Soyinka, Dostoyevsky, Gordimer, Auden, Marguez, Okri, etc.

ENG 491: Research Methods and Seminar

The course is a prerequisite for the project or long essay. Students are introduced to methods and tools of research and, differences between field and library research are highlighted. The format of the research paper discussed. Emphasis is on content, organization, data analysis, description and bibliography, to prepare students for the project/long essay and future research.

ENG 492: Research Project

Under the supervision and direction of a lecturer, each student is expected to present an original independent research on any topic of interest related to the different courses studied throughout the programme. The final product should be a sustained and well- organized work and should demonstrate sound knowledge of the field and the theoretical and methodological issues involved. Emphasis is placed on appropriate documentation and knowledge of referencing. The final product should not exceed 40 pages.