Students

APPL8100 – Exploring Discourse in Context and Action

2021 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor and Lecturer
Dariush Izadi
Contact via darish.izadi@mq.edu.au
Applied Linguistics and TESOL Course Director
Peter Roger
Contact via peter.roger@mq.edu.au
Margaret Wood
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MAppLing or MAppLingTESOL or MTransInterMAppLingTESOL
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit focuses on the analysis of spoken, written and multimodal discourses in a range of real-life settings and domains. It locates such discourses in their historical, institutional, and local contexts and presents a range of methodologies associated with key questions raised by scholars and researchers in discourse analysis research and practice, focusing on descriptive, interpretive and explanatory analysis.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: characterize discourse as a rich, complex phenomenon with qualities that can be understood through a wide range of different theoretical approaches.
  • ULO2: differentiate how discourse functions in everyday and professional encounters, emphasizing the links to be made between social and institutional practices, and discursive practices.
  • ULO3: apply a multi-perspectival approach to design your own discourse-related research
  • ULO4: analyse naturally occurring discourse in relation to key theoretical concepts.
  • ULO5: critique discourse theories in relation to their suitability for addressing practical problems
  • ULO6: appraise discussions of discourse analysis in relation to new data and contexts

General Assessment Information

Requesting an extension to assignment due date

On occasion, you may be in a situation when you aren't able to submit an assessment task on time. Extensions are only given in special circumstances, by completing a Special Consideration request. For more information on Special Consideration, see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration  

Late submission of assignments

If you haven't been approved for an extension and you submit your assessment task late, penalties are applied. You should consult your unit convenor if you are in this position. Late submissions will receive a 5% per day penalty. If you submit the assessment task 10 days or more beyond the due date, without an approved extension, you will be awarded a maximum of 50% of the overall assessment marks. Weekends and public holidays are included.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Discourse Analysis Task 45% No Week 7
Class/Group Participation 5% No Ongoing - see dates posted for each discussion forum
Critical Review Essay 50% No Week 13

Discourse Analysis Task

Assessment Type 1: Qualitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 45%

 

This 2000-word task involves analysing discourse in relation to methods and theories covered in the first half of the unit.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • characterize discourse as a rich, complex phenomenon with qualities that can be understood through a wide range of different theoretical approaches.
  • differentiate how discourse functions in everyday and professional encounters, emphasizing the links to be made between social and institutional practices, and discursive practices.
  • apply a multi-perspectival approach to design your own discourse-related research
  • analyse naturally occurring discourse in relation to key theoretical concepts.
  • critique discourse theories in relation to their suitability for addressing practical problems
  • appraise discussions of discourse analysis in relation to new data and contexts

Class/Group Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Ongoing - see dates posted for each discussion forum
Weighting: 5%

 

Participation in online group discussion forums will be noted, but the content of your contributions will not be evaluated

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • characterize discourse as a rich, complex phenomenon with qualities that can be understood through a wide range of different theoretical approaches.
  • differentiate how discourse functions in everyday and professional encounters, emphasizing the links to be made between social and institutional practices, and discursive practices.
  • apply a multi-perspectival approach to design your own discourse-related research
  • analyse naturally occurring discourse in relation to key theoretical concepts.
  • critique discourse theories in relation to their suitability for addressing practical problems
  • appraise discussions of discourse analysis in relation to new data and contexts

Critical Review Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 45 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 50%

 

This 4000-word essay involves writing an extended critical review essay integrating three (3) academic articles or book chapters related to a particular Theme from APPL8100

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • characterize discourse as a rich, complex phenomenon with qualities that can be understood through a wide range of different theoretical approaches.
  • differentiate how discourse functions in everyday and professional encounters, emphasizing the links to be made between social and institutional practices, and discursive practices.
  • apply a multi-perspectival approach to design your own discourse-related research
  • critique discourse theories in relation to their suitability for addressing practical problems

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

APPL8100 is delivered through a weekly two-hour on-campus seminar, which is also broadcast via a video-conferencing platform (e.g. Zoom).  This weekly session is recorded and is made available through Echo 360.  It is essential for students to listen each to these recordings in full if they are not able to attend in real time.

Lecture slides and other material will be posted weekly on the APPL8100 iLearn site.

There is a textbook for this unit: Candlin, C.N., Crichton, J., & Moore, S.H. (2017). Exploring Discourse in Context and in Action. Palgrave Macmillan. This book is available to Macquarie students as an e-book through the Macquarie University Library, or students may purchase their own copy if they prefer.

Participation in online discussion forums is part of the assessment for this unit, and the discussion topics, dates and instructions will be posted on the APPL8100 iLearn site.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.


Unit information based on version 2021.01R of the Handbook