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2005/06 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LING2250 Discourse Analysis

20 creditsClass Size: 45

Module manager: Dr Bethan Davies

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2005/06

This module is mutually exclusive with

LING3140

This module is approved as an Elective

Objectives

On completion of this module, the students should be aware of a wide range of approaches to the analysis of discourse. They should be able to analyse both spoken and written texts at a basic level using the core concepts of discourse analysis. This will include investigating the importance of context to both the interpretation and design of communicative events. The emphasis in this module will be on the practical analysis of real texts, and the student will be expected to contribute to practical work in lectures and seminars.

Syllabus

This module will consist of a combination of lectures and practical classes/seminars. It will cover a broad range of approaches to many types of discourse. These can be divided into broad areas: Analysis of textual structure e.g. reference and deixis, cohesion and coherence, theme and rheme, genre, rhetorical structure theory. Philosophical approaches e.g. speech act theory, implicatures, indirectness and politeness. Analysis of dialogue e.g. exchange structure, conversation analysis, dialogue games, Clark's collaborative model. In each case, the student will be encouraged to compare approaches, to see how the roots of different approaches cause analysts to approach texts in different ways, and to think about the strengths and weaknesses of each approaches.

Teaching methods

Lectures: 20 x 1 hour

Seminars: 5 x 1 hour

Private study

3 hours reading per lecture (75 hours);
10 hours preparation for practical classes;
20 hours preparation for non-assessed exercises;
45 hours preparation for essay;
25 hours preparation for exam.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress will be monitored by a combination of obligatory non-assessed exercises, and by observation during tutorials.

Methods of assessment

1 x 2500 word essay, to be handed in at the end of the semester. (50%)
1 x 2 hour exam, at the end of the semester. (50%)

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 29/03/2004

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