School of English
Module manager: Dr Mel Evans
Email: m.evans5@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Experience in studying language(s) or linguistics at A-Level or equivalent
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module introduces students to the study of language of power and of persuasion. It looks at a range of discourse types, such as traditional and digital journalism, political speeches, social media and advertising. We consider how linguistic choices can shape the worldview presented in a given text, and how such texts can be used to normalise or challenge how society thinks about a topic, an event, or a community of people. We investigate texts using computational and quantitative tools and through qualitative analysis, developing original lines of enquiry using both large collections of texts (corpora) and singular examples of communication explored in their original contexts.
The module provides an introduction to the relationship between language, power and persuasion. Its main objectives are to enable students to engage with key theoretical frameworks around language, discourse and ideology, to explore how language features are manipulated to create desired effects, and to think critically about the potential implications of those effects for the depiction of people, events and ideas in the world. The students will develop digital, quantitative and qualitative analytic skills working on authentic texts, handling large-scale and micro-level data. They will gain a greater critical and analytic perspective on the role of language in the enaction of power and persuasion in daily life.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1- Demonstrate an understanding of linguistic approaches to power and persuasion when applied to real-world texts and discourses
2- Employ independent thought and judgement in the investigation of power and persuasion in real-world materials
3- Organise quantities of complex information in a structured and systematic way
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1- Select and use computational tools for data collection and analysis.
2- Develop effective methods for analysis and interpretation using quantitative and qualitative approaches.
3- Communicate ideas, arguments and evidence using different kinds of media; e.g. spoken, written, and digital.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Practical | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Seminar | 7 | 1 | 7 |
| Private study hours | 176 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 24 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students get weekly feedback through their participation in seminars, lectures and in the collaborative workshops.
They receive formative feedback on their presentation, prior to preparing the second assessment.
Discussion time to explore ideas and approach for both assessments with their seminar tutor are built into the module schedule.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | OTLA- Presentation | 40 |
| Coursework | Report | 60 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The slide presentation for assessment 1 is pre-recorded, rather than a live presentation. Students can submit slides with accompanying notes (with a word limit) or with a recorded voice-over (with a time-limit).
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 17/02/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team