Overview

This module will introduce students to the wide field of Discourse Analysis, using a combination of various approaches that help us understand discourse both from theoretical and from practical perspectives. We will examine the fundamental differences between discourse in different modes, look at how discourse is more than the sum of its parts (words and sentences) and how it’s embedded in wider social contexts, and examine how discourse both shapes and reflects our identities, perspectives and ideologies. The final sessions will take a closer look at specific discourse contexts such as politics, health contexts, and educational settings.

Whilst lectures will provide the conceptual foundations for theory-based discourse analysis, the workshops will be used for discussion and exercises appropriate for each week's topic.

Indicative course content list (with a choice of topics in weeks 8/9):
1. Introduction: Discourse Analysis – why, what, when, where, how? 2. Discourse structure in spoken and written modes 3. Cohesion, coherence, and reference 4. Discourse, context, and social action 5. Discourse and identity 6. Perspectives and opinions in discourse 7. Discourse and ideology 8. The discourse of politics and/or advertising 9. The discourse of health and/or law 10. The discourse of education 11. Wrapping up: Using discourse analysis to address exciting questions

Assessment Strategy

Threshold (D): The answers need to be relevant to the tasks given. The answers must show basic understanding of discourse analysis principles. The student must show evidence of being able to apply insights gained in the module to the analysis of language and linguistic examples and/or data. The answers must show evidence of some background study.

Good (B): The answers must be focussed and structured. The answers must show a better-than-average standard of knowledge and understanding of discourse analysis tools and principles. The linguistic analyses given in the assessments must be adequate to the task area, systematic, and well-motivated. The assessments must show evidence of background study including primary sources relevant to the specification within one area, going beyond lecture content.

Excellent (A): The answers must be highly focused and well-structured. The answers must show knowledge and understanding in state-of-the-art discourse analysis methodology and theory, beyond the basic textbooks. The assessments must show original interpretation, new links between analysis issues, and/or a new approach to a problem. The answers must show evidence of extensive background study using primary sources.

Learning Outcomes

• Conduct systematic analysis to address features, mechanisms and purposes of discourse.

• Integrate theoretical insights with practical discourse analysis methods and purposes.

• Interpret the complexity of features associated with different types of discourse.

• Specialise on one type of discourse to develop deeper insights and analyse samples of this type of discourse.