Module assessment
The module will be assessed via a written essay between 4,500 and 5,500 words. You
will need to critically review three studies of one of the topical areas covered in
the module. The structure of the essay should be as follows:
1. State the topical area that you are dealing with, e.g. bilingual family, bilingual
cognition, bilingual acquisition, language policy and planning, etc. and say in one
paragraph what the area is about; what key questions researchers are pursuing,
and how important they are. You can only choose one topical area. Do not try to
cover more than one area.
2. State which 3 studies as represented in journal articles you have chosen to
discuss, and why. Give full references of the articles at the beginning of the
essay and include them in the bibliography too. (Parts 1 and 2 together should be
around 1,000 words)
3. Give a clear summary of each study, in about 1,000 words each. Highlight the
research questions, the research design and methods, key findings and
theoretical arguments, and the take–home message from each study/article.
4. Your comments on the strengths and any weaknesses of each of the studies,
especially in terms of design and methods, and what you have learned from the
studies. (Parts 3 and 4 together should be around 3,000 words)
5. Your comments on the connections between the studies and the key research
questions in the chosen topical area that you have outlined at the beginning of
the essay. (5 should be around 1,000 words)
6. Try NOT to choose books. Choose more recent in the last ten years and no
older!) journal articles. Book chapters may be OK, but journal articles are better.
7. The studies need to be related to each other thematically, addressing similar
research questions. You need to justify your choice clearly.
8. A list of references cited, as well as citations throughout the paper.
Journals
International Journal of Bilingualism
Bilingualism: Language and Cognition
Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development
International Journal of Multilingualism
International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism
Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism
Language Policy
Language, Culture and Society
Language Problems & Language Planning
Journal of Sociolinguistics
Psychological Bulletin
Trends in cognitive sciences
Annual Review of Linguistics
Applied Psycholinguistics
Suggested topical areas:
Bilingual families and communities
Becoming bilingual in childhood
Suggested Topic:
Bilingualism effects on working memory abilities in young adults
Bilingual acquisition: the role of input in vocabulary development
The Role of Input in Early Bilingual Acquisition
