How do collections of sentences function together in order to create text rather than just sequences of unrelated sentences? In this course, we will examine this question from several perspectives, starting from the account by Martin and Rose (2003). We will discuss and evaluate this and other approaches to analysing text structure critically, focusing particularly on accounts that have been developed for written texts. Evaluation and comparison of approaches will in part be accomplished by applying the proposed methods of analysis in class, using a variety of texts across genres. As an outcome, students will be able to

• evaluate different approaches to the same topic critically and carefully;
• understand and apply basic notions of text structure with respect to different genres of discourse, such as: development and perspectivisation of argument, cohesion and coherence, style, and other aspects crucial to understanding the features of written text;
• identify critical research questions concerning the structure of a text; and
• choose a suitable method of analysing text structure that is suitable for a particular research question, focusing particularly on explicit linguistic clues for any proposed analysis.

Literature:

Martin, J.R., & David Rose, 2003.Working with Discourse: Meaning Beyond the Clause. Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.