Discourse Analysis

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• analyse a range of text types, using appropriate linguistic and sociolinguistic tools;
• compare and evaluate differing theoretical and analytic approaches to discourse;
• apply computational tools to the analysis of texts;
• relate a theoretical understanding of various discourse genres to practical proposals for language teaching.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• 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;
• link academic theory and professional practice;
• use information technology appropriately to support research and professional activity.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• contextual and pragmatic factors contributing to discourse coherence;
• structure of a range of spoken, written and computer-mediated language genres.
• a selection of contemporary theoretical approaches to discourse analysis;
• the contribution of grammar, lexis and phonology to discourse structure;
• psycholinguistic processes in discourse;

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.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

• Online tutor led discussion forums
• Interactive tasks in topic learning objects
• Presentations and lectures via podcasts/audio/video files
• Synchronous chat/small group discussions
• text analysis exercises

Learning activities include

• Reading key texts
• Accessing online resources
• Participating in online forums
• Private study, research and reflection
• undertaking a small scale text analysis project.

Resources & Reading list

Textbooks

Cook, G (1989). Discourse. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Nunan, D (1993). Introducing Discourse Analysis. London: Penguin Books.

Schiffrin, D, Tannen, D and Hamilton, H E (eds.) (2001). The Handbook of Discourse Analysis. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

Johnstone, B (2008). Discourse Analysis. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

Jaworski, A and Coupland, N (eds.) (1999). The Discourse Reader. London: Routledge.

McCarthy, M (1991). Discourse Analysis for Language Teachers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External