Projekt závěrečné bakalářské práce

Autor projektu, UČO - Veronika Babčanová, 481735

Studijní program, obor:PdF – SPE Specializace v pedagogice, PdF MA3S Matematika se zaměřením na vzdělávání, PdF AJ3S Anglický jazyk se zaměřením na vzdělávání

Datum předložení projektu - 21.9. 2020

Téma práce česky - Modální slovesa v písemném akademickém diskurzu

Klíčová slova česky - Modalita, modální slovesa, diskurzní analýza

Téma práce anglicky - Modal verbs in written academic discourse

Klíčová slova anglicky - Modality, modal verbs, discourse analysis

Vedoucí práce - doc. PhDr. Renata Povolná, Ph.D.

Katedra - Katedra anglického jazyka a literatury

1. Introduction

We all use modal verbs in everyday conversation. Some selected modal verbs (and their usage) are taught already in primary schools. The students often use the modal verbs in the wrong way; they can not distinguish semantic differences. The thesis will deal with the use of selected modal verbs in written academic discourse with an emphasis on their function.

2. Planned structure of the thesis

The theoretical part will begin with the notion of modality. In this chapter there will be defined the terms deontic and epistemic modality. The following part will discuss modal verbs and their characteristics and the topic of the thesis – the selected basic modal verbs. The following chapter will address the features of academic English. Some main differences between written and spoken English will be mentioned. The most important features of written academic English will also be discussed. The following part will shortly introduce the term discourse analysis and its tools since the whole analysis will be conducted from the viewpoint of discourse analysis. The last chapter will describe sample texts selected for analysis. In the practical part of the thesis I will analyse the selected samples and will focus on the meanings of selected modal verbs as well as their frequency in the material. I am going to use the academic journal Discourse and Interaction. I will focus only on articles written by non-native speakers in order to find out how they use selected modal verbs.

Planned structure of the chapters

INTRODUCTION

THEORETICAL PART - Modality and modal verbs (modality and its types, basic modal verbs),Academic English (spoken and written language, written academic English), Discourse analysis (definition and different theoretical approaches), The corpus

PRACTICAL PART - Analysis (introduction to analysis, analysis, interpretation of results)

CONCLUSION

3. Aim

The aim of the thesis is to help the readers to understand possible different meanings the selected modal verbs can express as well as to describe their usage in academic discourse, represented by research articles.

4. Methodology

I will combine quantitative and qualitative methods. The main method used in the practical part will be those of discourse analysis.

5. The schedule of the thesis

August 2020 - Completion of the bachelor thesis project

September 2020 – October 2020 - Study of the relevant literature and selection of the academic texts, introduction

November 2020 - Theoretical part of the thesis

December – January 2020 - Analysis of the texts, practical part of the thesis

February 2020 - Conclusion, work modifications

According to current assumptions, the work will not require particular financial needs. The work results will help the people with studying the English language (and other interested parties). The thesis can also be used as a supportive source of information for self-education.