Workshop 2a (2.15 - 4.30) Critical Discourse Analysis in Education Research

Presenter: Dr Sue Thomas

This workshop will give participants an introduction to Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). It will demonstrate the relevance of CDA as a resource for investigating discursive practices in cultural contexts. CDA recognises the importance of text, language and discourse in contemporary societies, which are characterised by discourse-saturated environments. That is, CDA maintains that an analysis of the discursive is essential to furthering understandings of social life. A characteristic feature of a critical discourse analysis is the movement between analyses of texts to that of broad social formations. These understandings and the application of CDA will be explored further in the workshop, which will explore both theoretical understandings of CDA and the practical application of CDA to a variety of data. The first hour will focus on understandings of CDA, including a discussion of the nature and principles of CDA, key theorists, and the identification of issues and problems that have been the focus of critical discourse analysis. The second hour will look at various approaches to applying critical discourses analysis, illustrating these with the hands-on application of CDA to a variety of texts. Participants will have an opportunity to work with their own data and are encouraged to bring data sets to the workshop.

Afternoon tea will be served during the afternoon

How to Register.