School of English
Module manager: Alison May
Email: a.j.may1@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
Experience of language study at school or university, including English language or foreign languages
| ENGL2047 | Trial Discourse: The Proceedings of the Old Bailey 1674-1913 |
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module falls within the specialist field of Forensic Linguistics. It investigates trial discourse in a historical database of trials held at the Old Bailey courthouse in London from 1674 to 1913. The module is based around the 127-million-word Old Bailey Proceedings, an online digitised resource of trials held at the Old Bailey over two and a half centuries. The module focuses on the records as trial discourse and students will investigate the nature and form of contemporary and historical trial discourse. Focusing on particular periods, a variety of criminal offences, and specific themes, study will concentrate on topics such as rape trials in the 18th century and the testimony of expert medical witnesses in 19th century trials involving an insanity defence. We will examine a range of discourse styles: examination and cross-examination of witnesses in court by barristers, the discourse of defence advocacy, the discourse of expert witness, the interaction of judges, narrative etc. In the earlier period there is also an opportunity to study the discourse of confession in the Ordinary's Accounts (the Ordinary of Newgate was the prison priest who took the dying confessions of convicts), in combination with the associated trial, allowing students to study the way that the crime and the offender is represented in the record across the legal and religious modes. Students will be introduced to a range of qualitative, quantitative, and computational methods for analysing the texts. The module is related to, but not overlapping with the module: Forensic Approaches to Language. If students take both modules, it is desirable but not necessary to take Forensic Approaches to Language first. Each module stands on its own, but with some obvious overlap in the bibliographies and background reading. This module may appeal to students from law, sociology, history, religion, and psychology as well as students in English language and literature and linguistics. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
By the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of a range of aspects of lay and institutional language use in a selected area of the legal process and understand the role of language as an investigative tool in the study of written and spoken language in legal contexts. Students will gain an understanding of the interfaces of legal, medical, religious and social discourse in the arena of the historical courtroom and, after undertaking guided analysis of trials, will undertake their own research study in the Proceedings materials.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Analyse the discourse of the historical courtroom, understanding crime in its social, legal, and historical context.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of appropriate reading and use citations expertly to support and extend the argument.
3. Select a range of appropriate methods of analysis, including qualitative, quantitative and computational, where appropriate.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate sophisticated communication.
2. Show sophisticated research skills, including information retrieval, organisation of material, the evaluation of its importance, identifying appropriate resources, and using critical thinking.
3. Deploy advanced IT skills for writing and those appropriate to the analysis of historical trial discourse.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 1 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Lecture | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Practical | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Seminar | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Private study hours | 181.8 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 18.2 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will give a work-in-progress presentation to get formative feedback on their written assignment work. This will be in the form of peer and tutor feedback. In addition, each student will have a 10-minute supervision to discuss plans and feedback for assessed work.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team