Planning your coursework article

The first coursework piece this term is a feature article that could appear in a broadsheet newsaper (ie in the 'opinion' section of the paper). Your topic is the debate that you have been studying about the perceived differences between the way men and women use language.

You can choose the focus or 'angle' for your article and can decide which aspects of research and theory are most relevant to your audience and to your argument. You may find imaginative ways to bring the theory to life and ways to make the researchers more memorable for your readers. The piece is assessed on three counts -

• general interest and entertainment value
• academic content (made appropriate for your readers)
• personal style including technical accuracy

Use your blog to tell me which aspects of the debate you find interesting and suggest an angle or 'way in' for your article - how can you relate what you have been learning to the real world of autumn 2010?

The Macmillan Dictionary blog

I enjoy dipping into this blogsite from time to time. It's full of current debates about English language , quirky stories and examples of odd uses (or misuses) of English. It's a treasure-trove of examples that will show your wider reading and a general interest in the subject. Let me know about an item you've found interesting! Use the Macmillan Dictionary link on this page and then, to keep things simple, just follow the 'Live English' link - these stories and examples will connect more closely with our current work on the way English useage varies with people, context and locality. 'Love English' can be explored later when we are looking for examples of recent language change and also historic background of words.

Inappropriate language

Welcome back to a new term!

Before we delve into details of social variations in English, there’s time to consider a topic which crosses all sorts of social groups. Ideas about what is appropriate and not appropriate language for context are regularly being debated. Last June, Ofcom published a report of its survey into public attitudes to swearing on television. Press responses ranged from ‘public relaxed about swearing’ (The Guardian) to outrage at the misrepresentative research methods (Daily Mail). As we start a new school year, it's worth remembering that the issue of acceptable language inside schools requires definite decisions from head teachers and managers. Some schools opt for ‘zero tolerance’, not just policing language in the classroom but also in the corridors and playground.

The question, of course, raises many linguistic issues. Dominant groups and social norms are important here. Public and private uses of language also matter. And of course, the idea that language is an aspect of identity, whether of an individual or a group. Is swearing in school an expression of personal freedom, or is it a rejection of social conventions and a deliberate choice to offend others? In school contexts, is it a part of ‘not knowing better’ that a good education can remedy?

Use the suggested reading to help you think through what matters and what you think about a ‘zero tolerance’ approach. Then explain your findings and argue your opinions in a clear and interesting way. Make sure you include some academic material (see the David Crystal extract ) as well as researched opinions and your own ideas.