Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2026 - LING 322 B100

Syntax (3)

Class Number: 2356

Delivery Method: Blended

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 11 – Jun 19, 2026: Wed, Fri, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    LING 220.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces theories of sentence structure.

COURSE DETAILS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces the major issues in syntactic theory within the generative framework along the lines of Principles and Parameters, and Minimalism.  Topics to be covered include principles that govern the derivation of phrases and sentence structures, syntactic conditions on the interpretation of different types of noun phrases, motivation and constraints on movement, and locality conditions.  The theoretical concepts introduced in this course will be employed in the analysis of empirical data drawn not only from English but also from many different languages.

MODE OF INSTRUCTION: Blended

MODE OF DELIVERY: 2 hours per week in-person sessions, 4-5 hours per week pre recordeed lectures

Grading

  • Assignment presentation 20%
  • Quiz 1 20%
  • Quiz 2 20%
  • Quiz 3 20%
  • Quiz 4 20%
  • No Final Exam

NOTES:

Assignments and exams will include problems that require you to account for various syntactic phenomena from different languages.  They will have a substantial writing component and will be evaluated based on the correctness of your analysis and coherence of your argumentation.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

PLATFORM USED: Whiteboard in classroom, PDF slides and movie files on Canvas

TECHNOLOGY REQUIRED: Laptop/desktop/tablet, Internet

REQUIRED READING:

Andrew Carnie. 2021. Syntax:  A Generative Introduction, Fourth edition. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. 

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Students should familiarize themselves with the Department's Standards on Class Management and Student Responsibilities.

Please note that a grade of “FD” (Failed-Dishonesty) may be assigned as a penalty for academic dishonesty.

All student requests for accommodations for their religious practices must be made in writing by the end of the first week of classes or no later than one week after a student adds a course.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.