LANGTCHG 763 : Discourse Analysis

Arts

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines major theoretical approaches to the analysis of discourse and implications for pedagogy. Students acquire specialised knowledge of approaches to analysis and frameworks that underpin research, and develop advanced skills in written and spoken text analysis and critical awareness of issues and debates in the field. Assignments involve substantial independent research that includes analysis and interpretation of data.

Course Overview

The course begins with an examination of key notions in the field of discourse analysis including the notions of text, discourse and context. These will be recurrent themes in the course and in the first course session we establish working definitions of them. Following this, the course is organised round four major approaches to the analysis of text. The first of these approaches is Cohesion and Coherence, the search for features that provide unity to a text and allow one part to be interpreted in relation to another. The second main approach is Genre Analysis. Here we consider how genres (specific types of texts) are produced, reproduced and understood in particular discourse communities. Approaches to the description of genres and applications of genre-based descriptions in language teaching are discussed. In the second half of the course we focus on two further topics. The first of these is Pragmatics and here we examine the notion of speech acts and that of politeness as a linguistic phenomenon, as well as ways to incorporate a focus on pragmatics in language teaching. The last main topic is Critical Discourse Analysis, ways in which the analysis of texts can be used to investigate political bias and social discrimination. The final session on the course concerns research design in discourse analysis.  Classes include lecture content and class discussions of the weekly set reading(s). Course participants need to prepare for classes by reading the set works and preparing responses to Study Guide Questions in advance.    
 

Course Requirements

Restriction: LANGTCHG 744

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate understanding of ways texts are organised (Capability 1.1 and 4.2)
  2. Explain approaches to the analysis of discourse (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 4.2)
  3. Analyse texts using a range of approaches (Capability 1.2, 3.2 and 4.2)
  4. Apply approaches and findings from discourse analysis to language teaching (Capability 1.2, 1.3, 2.3 and 3.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 100% Individual Coursework

Learning Resources

The set textbook is Paltridge, B. (2012). Discourse Analysis, 2nd edition.  London: Bloomsbury.             
There is also a list of set chapters and articles.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures including class discussions,  56 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 40 hours of work on assignments.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 06/12/2019 03:19 p.m.