Sociology, Critical discourse analysis and discourse theory 7,5 credits

Syllabus:

Sociology, Critical discourse analysis and discourse theory 7,5 credits

General data

Code: SOA016F
Subject/Main field: Sociology
Cycle: Third cycle
Credits: 7.5
Answerable department: Humanities and Social Sciences
Approved: 3/20/2019
Date of change: 6/8/2023
Version valid from: 5/8/2023

Aim

The aim of this course is to introduce existing discourse analytical research traditions, with a particular emphasis on theory and method within Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Political Discourse Theory (PDT). The aim is also to provide knowledge about the different methodological approaches and an understanding of the relationship between theory and methods in the field of discourse studies.

Course objectives

After completing this course, the student is expected to:
• Have a good overview over existing discourse analytical research tradition, with a particular emphasis on theory and method within Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Political Discourse Theory (PDT),
• Have developed an ability to independently reason and evaluate these theoretical strands in relation to her or his own research, as well as having acquired knowledge about relevant methodological options.
• Have developed an ability to apply discourse analytical arguments and theoretical concepts on his or her own empirical material.

Content

This course provides an introduction to the two influential discourse analytical research traditions Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Political Discourse Theory (PDT), paying particular attention to how these theories and methods can be applied I to an empirical material. The course also offers insights into contemporary theoretical debates about the relationship between discourse, experience and materiality.

Entry requirements

A person meets the entry requirements for the course if he or she has been admitted to a third-cycle study programme and will be given credit for the course in that study programme.
(Äldre gymnasiebetyg)

Teaching form

This course will be organised in three moduls: (1) Conceptualization of Discourse, (2) Analysing discourse and (3) Political discourse theory. Each model are combining lectures and workshops. These workshops are partially theoretical, and partially research-driven. The course will be delivered in lectures and seminars.

Examination form

Seminar and workshop participation and a final paper demonstrating a conceptual understanding of critical discourse analysis and the application of a discourse analytical approach to an object of the student's choice (ca. 6000 words)

Grading system

Fail (U) or Pass (G)

Course reading

Required literature

Author: West, Karen
Article title: Articulating Discursive and Materialist Concepts of Practice in the Logics Approach to Critical Policy Analysis
Journal: Critical Policy Studies
Year/Volume/nr/pages: 2011. 4(5), pp. 414-433

Author: Torfing, Jacob
Title: "Discourse Theory: Achievements, Arguments and Challenges" in: Torfing & Howarth (red.), Discourse Theory in European Politics: Identity, Policy and Governance
Edition: 2004
Publisher: Palgrave

Author: Tonkiss, Fran
Title: "Analysing Discourse" In: Clive Seale (Ed.) Researching Society and Culture
Edition: 1998
Publisher: Sage
Comment: pp. 245-260

Author: Janks, Hilary
Article title: Critical discourse analysis as a research tool
Journal: Discourse: studies in the cultural politics of education
Year/Volume/nr/pages: 1997. 18(3), pp. 329-342

Author: Howarth, David, Stavrakakis, Yannis
Title: “Introducing discourse theory and political analysis” in David Howarth, Aletta J. Norval and Yannis Stavrakakis (eds.) Discourse theory and political analysis
Edition: 2000
Publisher: Manchester: Manchester University Press
Comment: pp. 1-23

Author: Howarth, David
Title: "Hegemony, political subjectivity, and radical democracy" in Simon Critchley and Oliver Marchart (eds.) Laclau: A critical reader
Edition: 2012
Publisher: London: Routledge
Comment: pp. 256-276

Author: Gunnarsson Payne, Jenny
Article title: The logics of Sisterhood: Intra-feminist debates in Swedish feminist zines
Journal: European Journal of Women’s Studies
Year/Volume/nr/pages: 2012. 19(2), pp. 187–202

Author: Glynos, Jason, Howarth, David, Flitcroft, Ryan, Love, Craig, Roussos, Konstantinos, Vazquez, Jimena
Article title: Logics, discourse theory and methods: Advances, challenges and ways forward
Journal: Journal of Language and Politics
Year/Volume/nr/pages: 2021. 20(1), pp. 62-78

Author: Glynos, Jason, Howarth, David
Title: Logics of critical explanation in social and political theory
Edition: 2007
Publisher: London and New York: Routledge

Author: Gee, James Paul
Title: Introduction to Discourse Analysis
Edition: 1999
Publisher: Routledge
Comment: Chapter 2-3

Author: Foucault, Michel
Title: "Politics and the Study of Discourse" in The Foucault Effect: Studies in Governmentality, Graham Burchell, Colin Gordon and Peter Miller (eds.).
Edition: 1991
Publisher: Chicago: University of Chicago Press
Comment: pp. 53–72

Author: Foucault, Michel
Title: "The Order of Discourse” in Untying the Text: A Poststructuralist Reader, R. Young (ed.), translated by Ian McLeod
Edition: 1981
Publisher: Boston: Routledge and Kegan Paul
Comment: pp. 48–78

Author: Foucault, Michel
Title: The Archaeology of Knowledge and the Discourse on Language, transl. from the French by A.M. Sheridan Smith
Edition: 1982
Publisher: New York: Pantheon Books
Comment: pp. 3-19 (available as a pdf file on Moodle)

Author: Foucault, Michel
Title: The Birth of Biopolitics: Lectures at Collègue de France
Edition: 2008
Publisher: Picador
Comment: Chapter 2 and 3

Author: Fairclough, Norman
Title: Analysing Discourse: Textual Analysis for Social Research.
Edition: 2003
Publisher: London & New York: Routledge
Comment: Chapters 2, 3, 4

Author: Fairclough, Norman
Article title: Critical discourse analysis
Journal: Marges Linguistiques
Year/Volume/nr/pages: 9/2002
URL: http://www.ling.lancs.ac.uk/profiles/263.