Discourse Analysis

Discourse analysis is used to study language in social context. It focuses on the

purposes and effects of spoken and written communication. According to Locke
(2004), who quotes Norman Fairclough, discourse analysis aims to:

Systematically explore often opaque relationships of causality and

determination between (a) discursive practices, events and texts, and
(b) wider social and cultural structures, relations and processes; to
investigate how such practices, events and texts arise out of and are
ideologically shaped by relations of power and struggles over power.
(2004:1)

Another goal of discourse analysis is to identify dominant discourses. These

dominant discourses show how reality has been constructed. “A discourse is a set of
statements which construct an object” (Parker, 1992).

In this lesson we will define academic, scientific, opinion and journalistic discourses.

Scienti c and Academic Discourse

Referencias
Lesson 1 of 2

Scientific and Academic Discourse

Scientific literature is the main way of communicating the results of scientific

research and, as such, represents the permanent record of the collective
achievements of the scientific community over time. This scientific
knowledge base is composed of the individual "end products" of scientific
research and discovery and continues to grow as new research builds on
earlier research. This new research may add to, substantiate, modify, refine
or refute existing knowledge on a specific topic. As a cycle new research and
discovery in the laboratory or field is dependent on the existing scientific
knowledge base which, in turn, becomes valuable when the new research is
incorporated into the scientific knowledge base.

Scientific literature is often divided into three basic categories:

Primary literature
–
Publications that report the results of original scientific research. These
include journal papers, conference papers, monographic series, technical
reports, theses, and dissertations.
Secondary literature
–
Publications that synthesize and condense what is known on specific topics.
These include reviews, monographs, textbooks, treatises, handbooks, and
manuals. These take time to produce and usually cite key "primary"
publications on the topic.

Tertiary literature
–
It might include encyclopedias and similar works intended for a broad public
consumption.

Good scientific writing is clear, simple, impartial, logically structured, accurate

and objective.

Regarding academic discourse, it refers to all kinds of language used and

produced in academic settings - by professionals and by students, in written,
spoken and online forms.

Academic writing is clear, concise, focused, structured and backed up by

evidence. Its purpose is to aid the reader’s understanding.
The four types of academic writing are descriptive, analytical, persuasive and
critical. They will be explained on the following cards according to the
descriptions provided by The University of Sidney (2019) on its webpage.

DESCRIPTIVE
–
The simplest type of academic writing is descriptive. Its purpose is to provide
facts or information. An example would be a summary of an article or a report
of the results of an experiment.

ANALYTICAL
–
Analytical writing includes descriptive writing, but also requires you to
reorganize the facts and information you describe into categories, groups,
parts, types or relationships.

PERSUASIVE
–
Persuasive writing has all the features of analytical writing (that is,
information plus re-organizing the information), with the addition of your own
point of view. Points of view in academic writing can include an argument,
recommendation, interpretation of findings or evaluation of the work of
others.
CRITICAL
–
Critical writing is common for research, postgraduate and advanced
undergraduate writing. It has all the features of persuasive writing, with the
added feature of at least one other point of view. While persuasive writing
requires you to have your own point of view on an issue or topic, critical
writing requires you to consider at least two points of view, including your
own.

Source: Elaborated by the author based on “Types of academic writing”, by The University of Sydney, 2019.

(https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-academic-

writing.html#:%7E:text=The%20four%20main%20types%20of,use%20more%20than%20one%20type).

In many academic texts you will need to use more than one type of academic
writing. For example, an empirical thesis combines critical, descriptive and
analytical writing.

The following texts are also considered academic writing: books and book
reports, translations, essays, research papers or research articles,
conference papers, academic journals, dissertations, thesis and abstracts.
Notice most of these texts can be also identified as scientific literature. This
occurs because scientific and academic discourses share a lot of
characteristics and features.
 DISTINCTIVE_FEATURES_OF_POPULAR_SCIENCE.pdf
349.3 KB

Source: Aubakir, N. (2017). Distinctive Features of Popular Science Discourse. World Science, 2(11(27)), 32–35.

https://www.academia.edu/35290037/DISTINCTIVE_FEATURES_OF_POPULAR_SCIENCE_DISCOURSE

Opinion Discourse

Opinion discourse is another way of naming argumentative writing or

speaking. As it was already explained in the first lesson, argumentative
discourse implies a situation in which the speaker or writer communicate a
point of view or stance on a certain issue/topic.

In this section we will analyze argumentative writing and its structure. The
most common piece of argumentative writing in academic settings is the
argumentative essay.

The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following.

A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the

first paragraph of the essay. In the first paragraph of an
argument essay, (the author) should set the context by
reviewing the topic in a general way. Next the author should
explain why the topic is important (exigence) or why readers
should care about the issue. Lastly, (the author) should present
the thesis statement. It is essential that this thesis statement be
appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in the
assignment. If (the author) does not master this portion of the
essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an effective or
persuasive essay.

Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body,

and conclusion. Transitions are the mortar that holds the
foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression of
thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and
the structure will collapse. Transitions should wrap up the idea
from the previous section and introduce the idea that is to follow
in the next section.

Body paragraphs that include evidential support. Each

paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general
idea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the
essay. In addition, such conciseness creates an ease of
readability for one’s audience. It is important to note that each
paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical
connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph.
Some paragraphs will directly support the thesis statement with
evidence collected during research. It is also important to
explain how and why the evidence supports the thesis (warrant).
However, argumentative essays should also consider and
explain differing points of view regarding the topic. Depending
on the length of the assignment, (the author) should dedicate
one or two paragraphs of an argumentative essay to discussing
conflicting opinions on the topic. Rather than explaining how
these differing opinions are wrong outright, the author should
note how opinions that do not align with their thesis might not be
well informed or how they might be out of date.

Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or

anecdotal). The argumentative essay requires well-researched,
accurate, detailed, and current information to support the thesis
statement and consider other points of view. Some factual,
logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should support the
thesis. However, (the author) must consider multiple points of
view when collecting evidence. As noted in the paragraph above,
a successful and well-rounded argumentative essay will also
discuss opinions not aligning with the thesis. It is unethical to
exclude evidence that may not support the thesis. It is not the
(author’s) job to point out how other positions are wrong outright,
but rather to explain how other positions may not be well
informed or up to date on the topic.

A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but

readdresses it in light of the evidence provided. It is at this point
of the essay that authors may begin to struggle. This is the
 portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate
impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be
effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into
the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information presented in
the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review
the main points, and review your thesis. You may also want to
include a short discussion of more research that should be
completed in light of your work. (Purdue OWL, n. d.)

VIDEO 1: How to write an argumentative essay – Planning

How to Write an Argumentative Essay - Planning

Source: Britishcouncilsg. (2015, April 30). How to Write an Argumentative Essay - Planning [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAUKxr946SI
Journalistic Discourse

Journalism is a profession that involves collecting information about a

particular subject, then reporting findings and conclusions to a wider
audience through print, digital or broadcast media. Journalists report
information in the form of investigative reports, news, features, columns and
reviews. Investigative reports and feature articles are longer forms that fully
develop a story and include more detail. News, columns and reviews are
shorter article forms intended to address a specific topic without expanding
into as much detail.

According to José Marques de Melo (2010) there exist five journalism

genres:

Informative genre: Notice, news, reports, interview.

Opinionative genre: Editorial, comment, article, review, column,

caricature, letter, chronicle.

Interpretative genre: Analysis, profile, survey, chronology, dossier.

Diversional genre: Human interest history, color history.

Utility genre: Indicator, quotation, script, service.

In which journalistic genre would you put a chronology?

Informative

Diversional

Utility

Interpretative

Opinionative

SUBMIT

C O NT I NU A R
Lesson 2 of 2

Referencias

Aubakir, N. (2017). Distinctive Features of Popular Science Discourse. World

Science, 2(11(27)), 32–35.
https://www.academia.edu/35290037/DISTINCTIVE_FEATURES_OF_POPUL
AR_SCIENCE_DISCOURSE

Britishcouncilsg. (2015, April 30). How to Write an Argumentative Essay -

Planning [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=oAUKxr946SI

Gee, J. P. (1999). An Introduction to Discourse Analysis: Theory and Method.

Routledge.

Locke. (2004). Critical Discourse Analysis. Continuum Publishing Group.

Marques de Melo, J. (2010, September 2–6). Panorama diacrônico dos

gêneros jornalísticos [Paper presentation]. XXXIII Congresso Brasileiro de
Ciências da Comunicação, Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil.

Parker, I. (1992). Discourse Dynamics: Critical Analysis for Social and

Individual Psychology. Taylor & Francis/Routledge.
Petterson, R., & Wiedeman, A. (2013). The Typicality of Academic Discourse
and Its Relevance for Constructs of Academic Literacy. Journal for Language
Teaching, 47 (1), 107-123. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jlt.v47i1.5

Purdue OWL. (n.d). Argumentative Essays. Purdue University, Purdue Online

Writing Lab.
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing
/argumentative_essays.html

The University of Sidney. (2019, October 3). Types of academic writing. The
University of Sydney. https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-
academic-
writing.html#:%7E:text=The%20four%20main%20types%20of,use%20more%
20than%20one%20type.

C O NT I NU A R