EN-467 Discourse Analysis (Autumn 2024)

Upon successful completion of this course, students have knowledge about

• discourse analytical theories
• discourse analysis methods and techniques
• contexts where discourse analytical tools can be used

Upon successful completion of this course, students are able to

• understand methods of discourse analysis, particularly when used to analyze public and political texts
• demonstrate critical thinking in the choice of analytical tools
• identify public and political documents that benefit from critical analysis
• develop independent written critical analyses of different types of texts

This course is designed to introduce students to discourse analysis and critical discourse analysis in the context of American and British public and political discourse. The course will begin with the theoretical foundations of these approaches and then examine concrete analytical sites including political speeches and debates, official and polemical websites, government policy documents and related texts in the North American and British contexts. The course addresses how to use these approaches as part of a qualitative toolkit with which to analyse public debate, official statements and governing documents.

The course encourages students to examine how language produces meaning, to study the denotative and connotative aspects of communication, and to appreciate the role of multiple discourse partners in the creation of texts and interpretations. Students will hone their abilities to analyse texts, discourse participant stance, and genre and generic expectations. In particular, the course aims to introduce students to the uses of discourse analytical tools to evaluate how language shapes and is shaped by public discourse, political conflicts and contested world views.