Linguistics 120: Introduction to Syntax

• Ivan A. Sag (sag@csli.stanford.edu)
  Office: Margaret Jacks Hall (Bldg. 460), Room 103. Telephone: 650-723-1578.
  Office hours: Mon: 4:30, Thu: 2:15, or by appointment

• Philip Hofmeister (philiph@stanford.edu)
  Office: Margaret Jacks Hall (Bldg. 460), Room 114.
  Office phone: (650) 723-8125
  Office hours: Mon: 1--2
  
• Neal Snider (snider@stanford.edu)
  Office: Margaret Jacks Hall (Bldg. 460), Room 40D.
  Office phone: (650) 723-2472
  Office hours: Thu: 10--11
  

• W, 12:15 - 1:05 (Hofmeister/Snider): 200-217
• Th, 12:15 - 1:05 (Snider): 60-62J
• Th, 7 - 8 (Hofmeister): 260-011

• This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of modern syntactic theory through the development of a rigorous grammar of a substantial fragment of English.
• There are no formal prerequisites, though being `formally oriented' will give you an advantage...
• The TEXTBOOK:, which is available in the bookstore is:
  
  Sag, Ivan A., Thomas Wasow, and Emily M. Bender. 2003. Syntactic Theory - A formal introduction 2nd Edition. Stanford: CSLI Publications.
  
  Please be sure you are not using the first edition (Sag and Wasow 1999).
• Please consult this webpage regularly, but also be sure to use our mailing list ling120@csli.stanford.edu for questions and discussion.
  
• Homework is due at the beginning of class on Fridays. Please be sure to write your name on your homework and to staple multiple pages. Also, make sure you write on only one side of each sheet, leaving large margins so that we can write comments.

Copies of the slides used in class will be posted as lecture notes (in .pdf format). To access these, click on the dates in the following table. The homework assignments are also linked into this table.

Workload, grading, etc.

There will be weekly problem sets, a midterm, and a final. The midterm will be in-class. The final will be take-home, open-book, and open notes. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss the weekly problem sets in groups, though each student must write up his/her homework individually. No group discussion of the final exam is permitted. The grading will be as follows: 50% for homeworks, 35% for the final, and 15% for the midterm. We allow about 2% adjustment for class or section participation.

Sections will be for the purpose of going over material not adequately covered in class, answering questions about the homework, and review. No new material (or at least none that you will be held responsible for) will be introduced in sections.

Notes

• Note 1: Expect to spend about 10 hours per week on the problem sets.
• Note 2: Students with documented disabilities: Students who have a disability which may necessitate an academic accommodation or the use of auxiliary aids and services in a class must initiate the request with the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC will evaluate the request with required documentation, recommend appropriate accommodations, and prepare a verification letter dated in the current academic term in which the request is being made. Please contact the DRC as soon as possible; timely notice is needed to arrange for appropriate accommodations. The DRC is located at 563 Salvatierra Walk (phone 723-1066; TDD 725-1067). See http://www.stanford.edu/group/DRC/ for more information.
• Late Homework Policy: Homeworks are due in class at the beginning of the lecture on the day indicated on the syllabus (always a Friday). Unavoidable late homework submissions (due to illness, death in the family, etc.) should be approved in advance by one of the instructors (NB--not by a TA). Homeworks submitted late without prior approval will be penalized. Those received later on Friday will lose 15% credit. Those received on Saturday will lose 30% credit. Never leave homeworks in the mailbox of a TA or instructor without explicit prior approval to do so.

Summary of Course Requirements