Discourse Analysis in the Language Classroom

This book presents an approach to the teaching of second language writing in which students themselves work as discourse analysts. By investigating genres of writing as they occur in authentic social contexts, learners can become more versatile and independent, applying genre knowledge to their own writing needs.

Discourse Analysis in the Language Classroom is highly practical. It gives step-by-step instructions for how to design a discourse-based curriculum, how to adapt existing materials, and how to create new activities. It can also be used to stimulate further research and discussion: it explains the rationale behind a discourse-analysis approach and the foundations of genre theory, including discussion questions for each topic and an annotated bibliography of related work.

Ann Wennerstrom is Professor of ESL, University of Washington.