Module Code - Title:
LI4016
-
DISCOURSE ANALYSIS FOR ARTS, HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES
Year Last Offered:
2021/2
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
PF
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
For everyone interested in how language works, our responses to it, and how it is implicated in everyday life, discourse analytic methods are relevant. Understanding and conceptualising discourse is fundamental to scholarship in disciplines across the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and this module is designed to provide an interdisciplinary introduction for students. Critical concepts of D/discourse/s, and the sorts of questions that discourse analysis, whatever its emphasis, sets out to pose and answer are explored. For example: How do language and communicative practices operate? How do writers and speakers use language in different contexts, and why? How do we go about systematically analysing discourse, and approach discourse as data? Students will be introduced to a range of critical touchstones and methodologies in discourse analysis, and will participate in seeking to explore discourse analysis in relation to their own particular interests, and fields of study.
Syllabus:
The syllabus will be responsive as far as possible to the needs and interests of the participants in the module. Core input will be organised around introductions to key concepts in, and approaches to, discourse analysis. Other areas include contemporary approaches, such as accessing and using language corpora and corpus tools for analysing language and discourse; describing and analysing different modes and genres in discourse; multimodal discourse analysis and expanding conceptualisations of texts; methodological issues involved in collecting texts and systematically collating and transcribing them; issues that arise in the interpretation of texts, and using texts as evidence.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On completion of the module students will be able to:
design a project to analyse discourse as a means of carrying out research and problem-solving in relation to their programme of study/future professional lives;
apply appropriate methods of discourse analysis, qualitative and/or quantitative;
demonstrate understanding of discourse and how to analyse discourse in relation to their own particular programme of study.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On completion of the module, participants will:
demonstrate an appreciation for the wide applicability of discourse analysis across a broad range of subjects;
demonstrate a greater appreciation of the role and importance of discourse in everyday life.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
Faculty teaching the module are all members of the Centre for Applied Language Studies and are among the most research active in the Faculty. Discourse analysis (particularly corpus methods and Critical Discourse Analysis) are two of the main methods used by researchers in CALS. Teaching will be very practically oriented. Students will do practical in-class and independent projects which will allow them to apply different approaches to discourse analysis to their own area of interest/discipline/programme of study.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Paltridge, B. (2012)
Discourse Analysis: An Introduction
, Continuum
Other Relevant Texts:
Baker, P. (2006)
Using Corpora in Discourse Analysis
, Bloomsbury
Johnstone, B. (2018)
Discourse Analysis, 3rd Edition
, Wiley Blackwell
Taylor, C. & A. Marchi (eds.) (2018)
Corpus Approaches to Discourse. A Critical Review
, Routledge
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BAULARUFA - ARTS
Semester - Year to be First Offered:
Module Leader:
elaine.vaughan@ul.ie