The aim of this module is to equip students with a knowledge of how discourse works at linguistic, metalinguistic, and paralinguistic levels. Students will be exposed to a wide range of discourse types and will learn methodologies (and their theoretical bases) available for analysing them, especially with a view to exposing meanings which would otherwise remain hidden.

(LO1) Students will have the ability to understand the theoretical principles behind discourse analysis.

(LO2) Students will have the ability to identify a broad range of discourse types.

(LO3) Students will have the ability to collect discourse data and analyse them according to an appropriate methodology.

(LO4) Students will have the ability to understand the implicit or concealed ideology that motivates discourse.

(S1) Discourse analysis

(S2) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills

(S3) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S4) Critical thinking and problem solving - Evaluation

The module will begin with a theoretical overview that will introduce the principles behind discourse analysis, and the methodologies available for analysing discourse. A number of different discourse types will then be examined in turn. They will include:

• The discourse of news reporting
• The discourse of advertising
• Popular writing (magazine features, etc.)
• Institutional discourse
• Political discourse
• Legal discourse
• Academic discourse

Each topic will be introduced by two weekly whole-cohort workshops. A follow-up tutorial will then analyse samples of discourse supplied by both the tutor and the students themselves.

Teaching method 1: two one-hour workshops per week
Description: Workshops will introduce the generic methodologies of discourse analysis, and/or the specific techniques of discourse analysis pertaining to various discourse types. They will delivered online, normally synchronously.

Attendance Recorded: No

Teaching method 2: One one-hour tutorial per week.
Description: In tutorials, students will engage in practical discourse analysis, applied to samples of discourse supplied by both the tutor and the students themselves.
It is expected that tutorials will be delivered face-to-face on the main UoL campus; online attendance will be facilitated for those unable to attend in person owing to COVID restrictions.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Scheduled directed student hours: 33
Unscheduled directed student hours: 267

Notes:
Description of how self-directed learning hours may be used: Sourcing and selecting material for analysis; tutorial prepa ration; presentation and project research and writing.