KAICDA Introduction to Critical Discourse Analysis

Prague City University
summer 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Martin Kräussl (seminar tutor)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives (in Czech)
The Introduction to Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is designed to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the field of critical discourse analysis, which focuses on the study of language and its relationship to power. This course will cover a range of topics, including micro and macro textual analysis, conceptual metaphors, logical fallacies, fake news spotting, and other typical issues of media discourse. The course will involve a number of hands-on activities and assignments that will allow students to apply the concepts and theories that they have learned. These activities include analysing social media, memes, political debates, and other materials and sources. Previous knowledge of discourse analysis is NOT required.
Learning outcomes (in Czech)
Overall, this course will provide students with a comprehensive overview of critical discourse analysis and equip them with the tools and skills needed to analyse language effectively in various contexts of media discourse. Throughout the course, students will learn how to apply critical discourse analysis to a variety of texts and contexts, with a focus on understanding how language is used to shape and influence public opinion. Students will gain a thorough understanding of the key concepts and theories that form critical discourse analysis, and will learn how to identify and analyse the various linguistic and rhetorical devices that are used to construct meaning in the media. Students will also learn how to spot logical fallacies and other common tactics used to manipulate public opinion (i.e., practising critical thinking) and gain further insight into the role of media in our society.
Syllabus (in Czech)
1. Introduction to Critical Discourse Analysis 2. The Role of Context 3. Tools for Textual Analysis 4. Metaphors & Framing 5. Visual Grammar 6. Logical Fallacies 7. Fake News Analysis 8. Gender & Identity 9. Politeness and Indirectness 10. Spoken Discourse Analysis 11. The portrayal of Distant Suffering in the Media 12. Memes & the Participatory Culture
Assessment methods (in Czech)
Active class participation. Submission of short written assignments during the term, in which students apply the theoretical concepts presented in the twelve topics of the course.
Language of instruction
English
The course is also listed under the following terms summer term 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.praguecityuniversity.cz/course/pcu/summer2025/KAICDA