SE1339: Social Interaction

School Language and Communication
Department Code ENCAP
Module Code SE1339
External Subject Code 101016
Number of Credits 20
Level L6
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Dr Nicholas Wilson
Semester Autumn Semester
Academic Year 2014/5

Outline Description of Module

This module explores social interaction in a range of public and private contexts.  It critically examines various theoretical and methodological perspectives used in the analysis of social interaction as talk and text, in relationship building and maintenance and in conflictual discourse.  It explores the constitutive nature of social interaction in the formulation and performance of identity, in relation to age, gender, sexuality and membership of social groups, and in relation to power and asymmetry in professional and institutional roles, through studying data from a range of social contexts.

The module aims to develop knowledge, understanding and skills in studying social interaction and to equip students with skills to compare and evaluate theories, to collect, transcribe and analyse data, and to present in oral and written forms project work on various aspects of social interaction. 

On completion of the module a student should be able to

Knowledge and understanding

·       Describe, evaluate and apply different theoretical models and analytical tools to study social interaction in talk and text.

·       Understand how spoken data should be collected, presented, and transcribed.

·       Recognise and analyse socially and culturally significant aspects of social interaction in a range of types of talk and text.

Skills

·       Plan and present research.

·       Gain understanding of and practice in data collection, transcription and discourse/ conversation analysis.

·       Summarise, discuss and critically evaluate relevant literature on social interaction.

How the module will be delivered

Timetabled sessions include2 lectures and 1 seminar per week.  During seminars, you may be required to make presentations and/or lead discussion, as well as take an active part in discussions.  Lectures are usually supplemented with PowerPoint slides and handouts summarising content at a reasonable level of detail. These are usually made available on Learning Central. Students are encouraged to discuss any specific access needs with staff in advance of taking this module.

Skills that will be practised and developed

In addition to the skills above, students will:

·         further develop their abilities to put forward arguments in a small group environment

·         further develop discussion skills

·         further develop oral and visual presentation skills

·         the module is also relevant to all the employability pathways.

How the module will be assessed

100% Coursework (consisting of: 10% group seminar presentation on a set reading; 10% presentation of project plan; 80% project of approximately 2600 words).

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Written Assessment 25 Social Interaction - Critical Review N/A
Written Assessment 75 Social Interaction - Research Project N/A

Syllabus content

Topics covered in the module include:

·                Studying social interaction: interactional sociolinguistics, (critical) discourse analysis, conversation analysis, face work and politeness.

·                Talk as communion: ritualised communication, small talk and gossip.

·                Narrative: the interactional significance of telling stories

·                Identities in talk: how speakers construct and jointly negotiate their identities in talk.

·                Social interaction in institutional settings: negotiation of asymmetries in interaction in e.g. service encounters, job interviews and meeting talk.

·                Mediated social interaction: talk as performance.  

Essential Reading and Resource List

Coupland, N. and Jaworski, A. (eds.) (2009) The New Sociolinguistics Reader. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Benwell, B. and Stokoe, E. (2006) Discourse and Identity. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Drew, P. and Heritage, J. (1992) Talk at Work.  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Jaworski, A. and Coupland, N. (eds). (2006, 2nd ed). The Discourse Reader. London: Routledge.

van Dijk, T. A. (1997) (ed.) Discourse as Social Interaction. London: Sage.

Schiffrin, D. Tannen, D. and Hamilton, H. (2001) The Handbook of Discourse Analysis.Oxford: Blackwell (2003, available as electronic book)

Background Reading and Resource List

A course pack of readings will be provided to support this module.


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