How to write a discourse analysis paper
Discourse Analysis
Before looking at the discourse analysis, let us first understand discourse. The meaning of discourse is given as a formal lengthy exposition of a subject, or an expression of words either spoken or written. For example, a research paper or a dissertation is a discourse. In Linguistics, it is described as the use of language in speech and writing in order to produce meaning; language that is studied usually in order to see how the different parts of a text are connected (Dictionary meaning). So, what is the meaning of discourse analysis? Analysis refers to breaking down of something into its component parts for the purpose of making a close study of the matter.
What is discourse analysis?
Discourse analysis is stated as any of a number of approaches to analyzing written, spoken or signed language use, sometimes known as text linguistics. It is a research method that analyses and looks at a large language context, and not a sentence as such, aiming at understanding how language is used in a social situation. There are mainly four types of discourse analysis approaches. These are narrations, descriptions, expositions and arguments. An argument becomes persuasive when the reader or audience becomes convinced and takes action towards your arguments hence persuasion and arguments go together.Narratives: – these are words used in telling stories. The words are used in relating events and bringing up mental imaginations. The stories can be imaginary or made up as in fiction, or narrations of real happenings hence non-fiction. Biographies, autobiographies, historical events and reports are examples of non-fictional narrations. Descriptions: – these are words that give an account of something or an event using imageries, metaphors, and similes. Actions, characters, settings, or objects are pictured or visualized through words that engage the five senses namely smell, sight, sound, taste and touch senses. The descriptor uses the senses to draw a mental picture of something, a scene, a situation and the like.Exposition: – information is given through these words for example define, analyze, compare and contrast, explain, solve, differentiate, classify and many more. Academic explanation of facts, theories and hypotheses is expositive in nature.Argumentative: – the words are logically presented so as to advance an idea that one holds to be true as opposed to the contrary view. You take sides in building up an argument through reasoning and present supporting evidence. Persuasion is achieved when the audience is convinced by your argument and agrees to take action.
It is therefore clear that discourse analysis is based on text content, and through the various types of discourse analysis, disciplines like linguistics, psychology, literature, history, health science and sociology can conventionally engage in conversations and discussions, which is actually what is called discoursing. Critical discourse analysis involves scrutinizing the structure, form and content of a discourse. How is the grammatical structure of the discourse? How has the discourse fashioned the words towards the audience? Were the words interpreted appropriately by the audience? Answers to such questions formulate the critical discourse analysis. The proper and correct use of nouns, pronouns, verbs, and non-verbal communication in content and discourse analysis propagates what the discourse is meant to achieve through the use of language. Content and discourse analysis is a combination of content analysis which investigates the non-verbal communication aspects of a discourse, and discourse analysis which investigates the language functions in the social context. Content analysis is quantitative while discourse analysis is qualitative. In linguistics for example, discourse analysis will focus on language rules but in other disciplines, the contextual meaning of the language in discourse is the key factor in the analysis. Aspects that are analyzed include vocabulary, grammar, structure of the text, genre, non-verbal communication and conversational interactions. In analyzing a conversation, you should observe how conversation – turn-talking is utilized, check the application of the cooperative principle, examine the use of hedging phrases like not sure, sort of; look for in words in the discourse that imply proper knowledge of the discourse analysis, check for schemas and scripts that are accessed in the discourse.
How to write a discourse analysis paper
Just like any other research paper, a discourse analysis paper is a formal qualitative research paper whose methodology is centered on analysis of language in a discourse. The paper can be written in sections as follows: –
Introduction: – outline the purpose of the discourse analysis clearly indicating your targeted audience and giving a brief summary of the paper. Explain the focus of your discourse analysis paper stating the research question(s) to be answered in the paper. Show how language achieved its objectives in communicating to the audience.
Discourse analysis: – present discourse information and data that support your language ideas explaining your claims and relating the information to the practices that you are analyzing. Consider cultural rules and conventions, beliefs and values, socio-political and historical contexts in the discourse. Describe content and discourse analysis, and work on the critical discourse analysis. show how power, rhetoric strategies and language use has been used to persuade or convince the audience.
Discussion: – evaluate and present your arguments in line with the research question describing the implications of the discourse analysis. Show the meaning of the contextual language used and its powerful impact on the audience. Explain how language was used to communicate to the discourse and social groups stating limitations and assumptions that were considered. Cite your sources properly in the recommended style throughout the paper to give credibility and validity to your discourse analysis.
Conclusion: – summarize your arguments showing key points, and state how the research question has been answered, and the context in which language was used.
References: – produce a list of the references you have made following the recommended citation style such as APA or MLA.
Discourse analysis in dissertation
In a dissertation, discourse analysis will be used to analyze the language in context and define whether the dissertation is a narrative discourse, expository discourse, argumentative discourse or a descriptive discourse.
Step by step of writing a discourse analysis with examples
The following steps can be followed in writing a discourse analysis: -Step 1: – begin by identifying and clearly stating your research question. The rest of the work will be geared towards answering the research question. For example, a certain country named A changes its regime from dictatorship to democracy. Dictatorship would form one discourse group and democratic rule would form the other discourse group. Therefore, the research question would be; how has the change in regime, from dictatorship to democracy affected national business in country A? After establishing the research question, go ahead and select suitable discourse materials to be used in answering the research question.Step 2: – gather facts and details that will address the research question, and establish objectives and influence of various types of languages in the two discourse groups. Make observations on how cultural rules and conventions, beliefs, values and assumptions are communicated. The use of language associates with social, historical and political context should be discerned. Look at the theoretical framework of discourse analysis and relate the theories to dictatorship and democratic ruling. In the example of country A above, you can determine how the power of language has influenced returns on business after the change to democratic rule as compared to business returns during the dictatorship rule.
Step 3: – examine the elements of language for example, words, sentences and verb structure in the two discourse groups and relate the language used in the discourses to attributes, themes and relevant patterns of the discourse analysis. Prepare a critical discourse analysis determining how power transmitted through language has affected business after the change of regime in country A. Provide theories and methods behind your analysis. If the discourse is a conversation, then do a conversation or speaking analysis looking at the events in speech such as discourse markers. Ensure the discourse analysis is coherent and cohesive, and relates to the research question.
Step 4: – carefully study the effect of language and its function in the discourse analysis to examine the influence of the language on the audience in the broader context. Check how the authoritarian rule impacted on business as opposed to the new democratic ideologies. What is the current attitude towards business in country A? is there a paradigm shift in the national business of the country? Compare business returns in the two regimes. Is business more liberalized at the moment? Which regime is popular as far as business is concerned? Step 5: – draw conclusions. Describe what the discourse analysis has shown and give an answer to the research question. For example, in country A, the analysis shows that dictatorship regime discourse material used language that did not emphasize the quality of products and customer service but after the shift of the rule to democracy, discourse material in the regime used language that emphasized product quality and customer care services. These resulted in increased returns on business in the democratic regime and favored business in country A and other countries. The national and international business environments were enhanced by the power of language in the new regime. Communication strategies were improved after the shift in political context of country A hence making national business to grow and develop. The research showed that dictatorship rhetoric and authoritarian ideologies in country A actually suppressed national business and consequently suppressing business returns. A similar discourse analysis example would be done when country A or any other country decides to change its constitution. The language in the context of the new constitution would shift the national outlook and welfare of the country.
Discourse analysis research questions
Writing discourse analysis research questions will depend on the research to be conducted, and thesis and concerns of the researcher. Your research question will also depend on the research motivating factor and what the research aims to achieve. Discourse analysis is qualitative and hence discursive questions are more appropriate. For example, an earthquake is a discursive event and the research question would be. To explore the effects of an earthquake at place X. Discourse research questions may be synchronous or diachronic. Diachronic analysis is historical while synchronous analysis stretches over time. Research questions on energy, health and terrorism can form relevant and clear discourse analyses research topics.
What is a discourse analysis slideshare
Slideshare is one of the largest digital libraries on the internet hosting electronic books, audio and video documentaries, magazines, infographics, slideshare presentations and other electronic materials. It is a website for slides developed by scribd for business, and has grown to support a lot of writing works and power point presentations. As such, discourse analysis on slideshare is a write up presented on a number of slides developed by slideshare that covers discourse analysis topic. For example, the topic what is discourse analysis on slideshare is a presentation by Ikram-ul-Haq and Shagufta Aamer and can be accessed on the slideshare website at slideshare.net/Ikramulhaq45/what-is-discourse-analysis. some of the slides are headed; what is discourse, discourse analysis, critical discourse analysis (CDA), aim of CDA, and doing CDA. Similarly, we have a slideshare presentation by Melika Rajabi at slideshare.net/Melikarj/discourse-analysis-29464802 on discourse analysis.
Importance of discourse analysis
Discourse analysis helps us to understand the power and use of contextual language in our daily social and political life. It is important in making us also to understand the underlying meaning of a series of spoken or written words or a discourse. Consequently, discourse analysis plays an important role in the development of language, examination of functions of language, and language power in communication.
Concluding a discourse analysis paper
Concluding a discourse analysis paper should highlight how contextual language use brings out quality in the different types of discourse analyses. The conclusion should show the influence of language and its convincing power to the audience, thus showing how power can be propagated and communicated through language. It should show how the research questions has been supported or answered stating the relevance of the research to society at large. A summary of the key ideas of the research should be given.
