Module overview
This option provides an overview of the main contemporary currents in the diverse field of discourse analysis. Topics to be covered include the role of grammar, vocabulary and information structure in discourse; the psychology of discourse processing and discourse comprehension; distinctive characteristics of spoken and written discourse; genre analysis; and critical discourse analysis. Applications in language education will be discussed, and you will gain extensive experience of the practical analysis of a variety of text types.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- the contribution of grammar, lexis and phonology to discourse structure;
- a selection of contemporary theoretical approaches to discourse analysis;
- psycholinguistic processes in discourse;
- contextual and pragmatic factors contributing to discourse coherence;
- structure of a range of spoken, written and computer-mediated language genres.
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- link academic theory and professional practice;
- select and analyse texts from a variety of genres, and present your analysis confidently and effectively to others with your own critical interpretation;
- identify and use academic and professional resources, printed and electronic;
- use information technology appropriately to support research and professional activity.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- apply computational tools to the analysis of texts;
- relate a theoretical understanding of various discourse genres to practical proposals for language teaching.
- compare and evaluate differing theoretical and analytic approaches to discourse;
- analyse a range of text types, using appropriate linguistic and sociolinguistic tools;
Syllabus
This option provides an overview of the main contemporary currents in the diverse field of discourse analysis. Topics to be covered include the role of grammar, vocabulary and information structure in discourse; the psychology of discourse processing and discourse comprehension; distinctive characteristics of spoken and written discourse; genre analysis; and critical discourse analysis. Applications in language education will be discussed, and you will gain extensive experience of the practical analysis of a variety of text types.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching methods include
- tutor led seminars;
- text analysis exercises;
- individual tutorials;
- virtual learning environment (Blackboard).
Learning activities include
- preparing and delivering a presentation
- selecting and using online resources
- undertaking a small scale text analysis project.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Teaching | 24 |
Independent Study | 126 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Jaworski, A and Coupland, N eds (1999). The Discourse Reader. Routledge.
Van Dijk, T A ed (1997). Discourse as Structure and Process. Sage.
Nunan, D (1993). Introducing Discourse Analysis. Penguin Books.
Schiffrin, D, Tannen, D and Hamilton, H E eds (2001). The Handbook of Discourse Analysis. Blackwell Publishing.
Brown, G and Yule, G (1983). Discourse Analysis. Cambridge University Press.
Coulthard, M (1985). An Introduction to Discourse Analysis. Longman.
McCarthy, M (1991). Discourse Analysis for Language Teachers. Cambridge University Press.
Hatch, E (1992). Discourse and Language Education. Cambridge University Press.
Cook, G (1989). Discourse. Oxford University Press.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Written assignment | 50% |
Text analysis | 50% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Coursework | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External