Advanced Russian for Graduate Students

This course focuses on the explicit study of advanced aspects of the grammar, syntax, and morphology of the Russian language. Emphasis will be placed on increasing students’ proficiency and on ensuring they have knowledge of the language needed to successfully complete graduate-level work. Course assignments will include grammar exercises, frequent essays of varying length, and oral reports. The course will be based on materials from contemporary political and intellectual discourse and advanced-level internet materials for language study. Readings on a range of social, political, and cultural topics will be drawn from a mix of genres, from journalism to advertising to the blogosphere. Many texts will be presented in oral form, to help students develop advanced listening skills. Counts as a course in language and linguistics. This course is required for first-summer graduate students; two sections will be offered to keep the class sizes small. Graduate students with native or near-native speaking and writing skills may petition for a waiver of this requirement.