Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title ANALYSING DISCOURSE
Code ENGL307
Coordinator Dr KN Simms
English
Knsimms@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2018-19 Level 6 FHEQ Second Semester 30

Aims

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.


Learning Outcomes
On completion of the module, students will be able to:

Understand the theoretical principles behind discourse analysis.
Identify a broad range of discourse types.

Collect discourse data and analyse them according to an appropriate methodology.
Understand the implicit or concealed ideology that motivates discourse.

Syllabus
1 

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 disourse
  • Legal discourse
  • Academic discourse

Each topic will be introduced by way of weekly lecture. A follow-up workshop will then analyse samples of discourse supplied by both the tutor and the students themselves.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Lecture - Lectures will introduce the generic methodologies of discourse analysis, and/or the specific techniques of discourse analysis pertaining to various discourse types.

Seminar - In seminars, students will engage in practical discourse analysis, applied to samples of discourse supplied by both the tutor and the students themselves.

Workshop style

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 18
Lectures will introduce the generic methodologies of discourse analysis, and/or the specific techniques of discourse analysis pertaining to various discourse types.
18
In seminars, students will engage in practical discourse analysis, applied to samples of discourse supplied by both the tutor and the students themselves.
        36
Timetable (if known)   Workshop style
  		         
Private Study 264
TOTAL HOURS 300

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework  3,000 words  Semester 2 (at approximately t  33  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Essay 
Coursework  Up to 6,000 words  Semester 2 (near the beginning  67  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Project Notes (applying to all assessments) The Project should be 4,000 words long: it should be based on data collected by the student, which should be presented as an Appendix, and which may contain up to 2,000 words of text.  

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List: