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ASSIGNMENTS AND MATERIALS
Note: All materials on this page are password-protected. Access is limited to current class members only. The password is available on the course information packet distributed on the first day of class. If you misplaced the packet, you can download a copy below; however, you will need to have the course username and password. You can also request the username and password via email from the professor or the TA. Your name must appear on the class list in order for you to receive the password. If it doesn't, you will need to make your request in person.
General Information
In-Class Exercises and Handouts
- Exercise 1a and 1b: What is African American English? and Perception test
- Exercise 1c: Representations of AAE in introductory linguistics textbooks
- Exercise 2: AAE and the American English lexicon
- Exercise 3: The AAVE verbal system
- Exercise 4: Analyzing AAVE grammar
- Exercise 5: The phonology of AAE
- Exercise 6: English-based creoles and AAVE
- Exercise 7: African American discourse and cross-cultural (mis)communication
- Exercise 8: The "izzle" language game
- Exercise 9a: The poetics and performance of rap
- Exercise 9a: Answer sheet: The poetics of rap
- Exercise 9b: Battling in the cipher
- Exercise 10: Representations of African American English
- Exercise 11: The (mis)education of African American children
- Exercise 12: Oakland School Board resolution on Ebonics
Homework Assignments
- HW 1: What Is African American English?
Due at the beginning of lecture Wednesday, Oct. 7
- HW 2: African American Slang
Due at the beginning of lecture Wednesday, Oct. 21
- Guide to phonetic symbols: For use in homework assignments
- HW 3: African American English Structure
Due at the beginning of lecture Wednesday, Nov. 4
- HW 4: African American Discourse Genres
Due at the beginning of lecture Wednesday, Nov. 18
- HW 5: AAVE in Hip Hop and the Media
Due at the beginning of lecture Wednesday, Dec. 2
- Extra Credit Opportunity: Videos
Due at the beginning of lecture Wednesday, Dec. 2 (and preferably sooner)
Reading Guides
Viewing Guides
Final Exam Information
- Final exam guidelines
- Final exam take-home essay questions
- Final exam: Friday, December 11, 12:00-3:00 p.m., South Hall 1431
286 Information
Links
This space contains links to items useful for class assignments.
Online IPA keyboard (for typing phonetic symbols into your homework assignments, if you prefer not to write them by hand)
The Rap Dictionary
Bay Area Hip Hop Dictionary
IPA guide for English
Peter Ladefoged's IPA chart with sound
African American English Gallery
This space contains links to interesting sites related to course material. If you know of other interesting links that are relevant to this course, please let me know.
Sinfest online comic: "Racist" (hat tip to Mika Yukimura)
Wale: "The Kramer" (a rap remix of Michael Richards's racist rant) (hat tip to Franciscus Rebro)
Ban the N Word
McNugget Love (hat tip to Catrina Cummings)