Course Overview
This course offers an intensive introduction to Discourse Analysis (DA) as both a theory of language-in-use and a method of research for analysing written, spoken, and multimodal communication. Drawing on foundational work by Gee, Fairclough, Wodak, van Dijk, Foucault, and others, the course explores how discourse constructs social realities, identities, and power relations.The course emphasises DA as “a forensics of communication” using a systematic approach to uncover how meaning is produced, circulated, and contested in society. Participants will engage with major theoretical traditions (including Bakhtin, Foucault, Fairclough, Wodak, van Dijk), examine methodological approaches, and apply analytical tools to a range of DA sample research. They will have the opportunity to position their work in relation to a DA approach in exploring how discourse shapes social realities, constructs identities, and reproduces or challenges power.
Course Lead
Dr Letizia Alterno is a Research Fellow at The University of Manchester and a Fellow of Advanced HE (FHEA). She is a published author and academic and her research background is in the field of Post-colonial Studies. She leads the Artsmethods Research Methodology and Theory Programme tailored to PGRs in the Arts and Humanities in the School of Languages, Arts and Cultures. Her research-based programme offers PhD students academic training in research methodology and theory promoting and facilitating methodological excellence, expertise, reflective practice, effective networking, innovation and inter-disciplinarity.
Course Objectives
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand key theories, definitions, and conceptualisations of discourse, and explain how discourse analysis functions as both a theory and a research method
- Analyse how discourse shapes power, ideology, identity and social practice
- Identify, compare, and apply major discourse analysis approaches using techniques such as coding, tracing discourse strands, analysing intertextuality, and mapping discursive "truths"
- Conduct structured analyses of political, media, or institutional texts, including formulating research questions, preparing data, and justifying methodological choices
- Interpret findings within broader social, cultural and political contexts and evaluate how discourse reproduces or challenges power and ideology
- Position their research within interdisciplinary perspectives
Is there any preparatory work or pre-requisites?
The module does not require any prior linguistic training. Familiarity with core concepts such as discourse is helpful but not essential.
This is a beginners-level course, so participants are not required to have experience in qualitative research methods, data collection and analysis. Following registration on the course, all attendees will be asked to answer a short questionnaire in order to provide some pre-course information about their interests in qualitative data and details of any data they will be bringing to the course.
Before Day 1, participants should:
- Read two introductory chapters from (1) Gee, An Introduction to Discourse Analysi, (2)Jørgensen & Phillips, Discourse Analysis as Theory and Method.
- Bring one short text (such as own research data, news article, political speech) to use in exercises.
Who should attend?
This course is intended for PhD researchers who are interested in Discourse Analysis as a qualitative and reflective practice research approach and wish to understand how to apply DA in qualitative research.
Course Timetable
This course will take place in-person Monday 30 June - Wednesday 1 July
1:30 - 5:00pm Monday
Foundations of Discourse Analysis
- Themes: What is discourse? Language as social practice; interdisciplinary origins.
- Key Topics: Gee’s definition; Wittgenstein’s language games; Bakhtin’s heteroglossia.
- Activities: Introductory text analysis; identifying practices, identities, and social conventions
9:00 - 12:30pm Tuesday
Language, Power, and Ideology
- Themes: Critical Discourse Analysis; discourse and power; ideology.
- Key Topics: Fairclough’s dialectical‑relational approach; Foucault’s discursive field.
- Activities: Analysis of political speeches; mapping subject positions and power relations.
1:30 - 5:00pm Tuesday
Methods and Research in DA
- Themes: Methodological approaches; coding; corpus linguistics; multimodality.
- Key Topics: Content analysis; grounded theory; conversation analysis; Sketch Engine.
- Activities: Coding and NVivo; designing a DA research question.
9:00 - 12:30pm Wednesday
Applied Discourse Analysis
- Themes: Media discourse; educational discourse; reflexivity in research.
- Key Topics: Media representations of Islam; Romaphobia in UK press; educational policy discourse.
- Activities: Group mini‑analysis; presentation of findings; peer feedback.
What's included in the course?
Each full day of the course includes a free vegan buffet lunch served 12.30-1.30pm. Each half-day session includes a refreshment break with tea, coffee, water, and pastries/cakes.
Included in the course fee is our social programme - these are optional but free social events for everyone attending our summer school to meet attendees from other courses in a relaxed environment. Full information at LINK
Accommodation and travel are not included in the course price. You will need to arrange any accommodation and travel separately - find more details on LINK
Cost
- Full price: £450
- PGR/Reduced Rate: £300
As well as PGRs, reduced fees are also available to those working within the voluntary, charity and community sector. We also have two bursary options available for those entitled to reduced fees. Please view more information on our page here to find out your eligibility and how to apply.
Book Your Place
Please purchase via our online store below before 20 June (payment by card only). If you any questions, or will have trouble purchasing by this date please get in touch with methods@manchester.ac.uk.
Any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on methods@manchester.ac.uk
Credits:
Created with images by Best - "Literature review studies summarize and analyze existing research, offering context, identifying gaps, and guiding the direction of new inquiries." • Studio Nova - "?,lose-up view of several hands collaboratively working on a project with colorful sticky notes, papers, and digital devices on a wooden table."