EUS4012 ¨C Discourse analysis: Language, Identity and Power

Course content

This course focuses on discourse as language use within specific contexts. Discourse is understood as a set of verbal and non-verbal practices that, on the one hand, represent reality through language and other forms of communication, and on the other hand, influence how we perceive reality. Thus, discourse plays a pivotal role in shaping our reality. Discourse analysis provides a methodology for critically evaluating normalized language usage across different contexts.

The course provides an overview of different approaches to discourse analysis, with a particular emphasis on Critical Discourse Analysis. It explores how the utilization of specific linguistic and multimodal devices constructs representations of social actors and their identities. Other key topics include positioning, power dynamics, modality, evaluation, and discursive discrimination.

We focus on textual and contextual analyses of various genres, including news stories, political speeches, advertisements, and informal conversations. By employing analytical tools to the studied objects, we delve into how textual representations are related to socio-political contexts.

Depending on the group's structure, teaching in this course can be offered either in English or Norwegian.

Learning outcome

After completing this course you will have:

• Acquired the skill to read texts critically with respect to their context.
• Developed an understanding of the reciprocal relationship between texts or utterances and their context.
• Learned how to identify discursive techniques used in specific contexts and genres and how to analyze their contribution to specific communicative goals and the overall message.
• Developed an understanding of how specific verbal and multimodal representations create ideologies, identities, and power relations.

Admission to the course

This course is for students admitted to the master programme European Languages (master).

Students enrolled in other master`s degree programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is approved by their own study programme.

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.

Overlapping courses

• 5 credits overlap with EUS4013.

Teaching

Seminar, two hours per week for 14 weeks, totalling 28 hours.

The quality of the course depends on students¡¯ active participation in all seminars.

Students are expected to prepare for each seminar by reading assigned literature and completing practice exercises. Regular practice before and during class is crucial, as conducting discourse analysis requires the development and application of specific skills.

Obligatory activities

• Students are required to submit a short essay at the designated time. The essay must be approved by the course teacher for students to be allowed to take the exam.
• Additionally, an oral presentation is mandatory, and the topic must be approved by the teacher prior to the presentation.
• It is obligatory to show up for a minimum of 60% of the teaching. In this course, you have to attend 8 of 12 seminars.?The requirement is absolute.

The allowed absence limit will cover all absences, including illness. You will not be granted valid absences with documentation, even when the absence is due to something beyond your control.

In certain circumstances, i.e. serious or chronic illness, you could apply for?special needs accomodations.

All obligatory activities must be approved?in the same semester for you to sit the exam.

Fulfilled course requirements are only valid the semester you attend the course.

Examination

The obligatory requirements must be fulfilled in order to qualify for the exam.

The evaluation will be based on a take home exam spanning over 3 days.

You are required to write 6 standard pages minimum / 10 standard pages maximum (a standard page consists of 2,300 characters). This does not include references and bibliography.?

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English. You can submit your response in English or Norwegian.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about?the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• How to use AI as a student
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.