2.4. Criteria for assessing complementing peers’ talks

Complementing a peer’s talk will get you 0,9 – 1 point if your complement has relevant content, contains information attained independently from additional sources and is reported logically and linguistically correctly in full accordance with the norms of the English scientific language. The quantitative differentiation of your mark is done by the language criterion (see Tables 2.2 and 2.3).

Complementing a peer’s talk will get you 0,7 – 0,8 point if your complement has relevant content, contains information attained from your lecture notes or textbook and is reported logically with minor deviations of the norms of the English scientific language and minor language mistakes. Your mark is differentiated (В / С) by the language criterion.

Complementing a peer’s talk will get you 0,5 – 0,6 point if your complement is not relevant, lacks logics, contains serious deviations of the norms of the English scientific language and language mistakes impeding communication. Your mark is differentiated (D / E) by the language criterion.

2.5. Criteria for assessing reviews of peers’ talks

Reviewing a peer’s talk will get you 1,9 - 2 point if the content of your review displays critical perception of the reviewed talk, your ability to assess it objectively according both to its content and form; your critical remarks are apt and well-grounded; the language of the review is in full accordance with the norms of the English scientific language and is free of mistakes impeding communication. The quantitative differentiation of your mark is done by the language criterion (see Tables 2.2 and 2.3).

Reviewing a peer’s talk will get you 1,5 - 1,8 point if the content of your review displays critical perception of the reviewed talk, your ability to assess it objectively according both to its content and form; your critical remarks are apt but lack argumentation; the language of the review does not seriously deviate the norms of the English scientific language and is free of mistakes impeding communication. Your mark is differentiated (В / С) by the language criterion.

Reviewing a peer’s talk will get you 1,1 - 1,4 point if your review is of assertive character; not all of your critical remarks are justified, and they lack argumentation; the language of the review deviate the norms of the English scientific language and contains mistakes impeding communication. Your mark is differentiated (D / E) by the language criterion.

2.6. Criteria for assessing blitz-control tests

Blitz-control tests check your knowledge of the terms within the theme under study. The 7-8 minute test contains 5 short test tasks of the cloze type. Your maximum rating mark for such a test is 3 points. Each error will cost you 0,5 point.

2.7. Criteria for assessing module tests

You will write two module tests in the course of study the stylistics of the English language: the first one will reveal your knowledge of the functional styles of English, while the second is aimed at checking your command of the system of stylistic devices and expressive means of the English language.

Doing well in module tests is not less important than your efficient participation in seminar classes. In fact, your rating mark in each of the two modules is split in two equal parts: that for your seminar classes and that for your module test.

Module test 1 takes 40 minutes and contains 5 written tasks. Tasks 1 and 2 are of reproductive nature and their value is 2 points each. Task 3, though also reproductive, requires certain generalization and is therefore assessed in 3 points. Tasks 4 and 5 will require making and proving your own conclusions, and they will get you 3 points each. Thus, your maximum rating mark for Module Test 1 is 10 points.

The answer erroneous in content will get you nothing. Provided your answer is correct in its content, you can lose points for language mistakes: 0,5 point for each grammatical, spelling or stylistic mistake; 0,25 point for the wrong use of the article or preposition.

Module test 2 also takes 40 minutes and contains 2 written tasks. Task 1 asks you to identify expressive means and stylistic devices in 5 suggested sentences. Each correct definition will get you 1 point, so maximum rating mark for the first task is 5 points.

The second task involves stylistic analysis of the suggested extract and can get you 5 points. The points are granted for:

а) correct definition of the functional style the extract belongs to – 1 point;

b) singling out and correct definition of all the expressive means and stylistic devices used by the author – 2 points;

c) correct definition of the function of all the expressive means and stylistic devices used by the author – 2 points;

You can lose your points for:

а) wrong definition of the functional style the extract belongs to – 1 point;

b) each missed expressive means or stylistic device – 0,25 point;

c) each wrong definition of the function of the expressive mean or stylistic device – 0,25 point;

d) each wrong definition of the kind of expressive mean or stylistic device – 0,25 point;

e) each grammatical, spelling or stylistic mistake – 0,5 point;

f)) each wrong use of the article or preposition – 0,25 point.

Table 2.4