English 418: Course Syllabus.
I have listed 25 topics below that students may choose from to write a term paper. The topics are intentionally
broad, and students will be expected to narrow and refine them. If students do not wish to write on any of
these topics, they may choose another and submit it for approval, or they may participate in the
course project. Students are encouraged to read the
instructions for writing a term paper.
2. Writing in a second language.
3. Language variation in second language acquisition.
4. Error analysis.
5. Contrastive Analysis.
6. First language acquisition as opposed to second language acquisition.
7. Critical period hypothsis.
8. The monitor model.
9. Bilingualism.
10. Bilingual education.
11. The Canadian immersion model.
12. Developmental sequences in L2 acquisition.
13. Social factors in L2 acquisition.
14. Input and interaction.
15. Language transfer.
16. The deletion of inflectional morphemes.
17. Language universals and L2 acquisition.
18. Individual differences among language learners.
19. Language learning strategies.
20. Classroom interaction and L2 interaction.
21. The role of motivation in L2 acquisition.
22. Foreign language learning as opposed to second language learning.
23. Bilingual literacy.
24. The role of formal instruction in L2 learning.
25. Pragmatics and language learning.