LIN8005 Discourse Analysis

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

RATIONALE

To know how language works, a student of second language teaching needs to understand the systematic nature of the language of communication by analysing discourse. The course emphasises how to describe discourse patterns in context for a range of language situations. It aims to show how coherent communication occurs in both spoken and written forms, and how listeners and readers interpret the messages they receive taking into account pragmatic and linguistic contexts.

SYNOPSIS

This course looks at the nature of discourse from a Pragmatics perspective taking account social, psychological and linguistic aspects of discourse. Conversations and oral interaction among first language speakers and between native and non-native speakers of English in classroom and community contexts will be analysed as part of studying how goals of communication are achieved. The role of speech act theory and communication constraints in the effective processing of spoken text, and of discourse features and markers in coherent written texts will be examined as a means of understanding the nature of spoken and written discourse. Students will have the opportunity to study a specific cultural setting or language community and review theory in the field of pragmatics relevant to their setting. NOTE: Minimum enrolment numbers apply to this offering. Should enrolments not reach the minimum number required for on-campus study, students may be transferred to the EXT or WEB offering and advised of this change before semester commences.

OBJECTIVES

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item(s) that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective are shown in parenthesis. On successful completion of this course students will be able to demonstrate:

1.

knowledge of system constraints on communication and awareness of the cultural and social influences on communication; (Journal 1; Transcript and 1000 Word Text)

2.

analysis of speech acts and speech events in the context of communication; (Journal 1; Transcript and 1000 Word Text)

3.

ability to identify elements of classroom or community discourse from students' own transcribed sample; (Journal 1; Transcript and 1000 Word Text)

4.

ability to examine the structure of information and coherence in discourse and to analyse discourse markers in oral and written texts locating issues for second language writers; (Journal 1; One 2500 Word Text Analysis)

5.

analyse an aspect of discourse in classroom or community interaction from a Pragmatic viewpoint. (Journal 2; One 2500 Word Project)

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Hatch, E 1992, Discourse and language education, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Whether you are on, or off campus, the USQ Library is an excellent source of information http://www.usq.edu.au/library. The gateway to education resources is here... http://www.usq.edu.au/library/faculties/education/default.htm

Brown, P, & Levinson, S 1987, Politeness: some universals in language usuage, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Johnstone,B 2008, Discourse Analysis, 2nd edn, Malden, MA, Blackwell.

McCarthy, M 1991, Discourse analysis for language teachers, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

McHoul, A, & Rapley, M 2001, How to analyse talk in institutional settings: a case study of methods, Continuium, New York.

Thomas, J 1995, Meaning in interaction: an introduction to pragmatics, Longman, New York.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

APA style is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use APA style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The USQ library provides advice on how to format information sources using this system. http://www.usq.edu.au/library/help/ehelp/ref_guides/apastyle/default.htm

2.

Submit one journal entry with each of the 3 assessment items, i.e. 27/03/2009, 08/05/2009 and 12/06/2009.

3.

Submit one journal entry with each of the 3 assessment items, i.e. 27/03/2009, 08/05/2009 and 12/06/2009.

4.

Submit one journal entry with each of the 3 assessment items, i.e. 27/03/2009, 08/05/2009 and 12/06/2009.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no examination in this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   As there are no examinations in this course, there will be no deferred or supplementary examinations.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm.

This version produced 11 Dec 2009.