This is an advanced undergraduate-level course on the discourse of social media. Through the lens of discourse analysis and (interactional) sociolinguistics, this course explores a wide range of discourse phenomena occurring in social media through instant messages, YouTube, email, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), online discussion boards, livestreams, blogging/vlogging, and Human-AI (Artificial Intelligence) interaction. Reading and discussing sociolinguistic studies on digital discourse, we will deepen our understanding of theoretical and methodological issues relevant to the discourse of social media. Course content will also reflect students’ interests. Students will conduct small-scale qualitative research projects by gathering and analyzing naturally occurring discourse in one or more of social media.
discourse Analysis, (interactional) sociolinguistics, and qualitative research methods
This course uses a lecture/discussion format
After successfully completing the course, students will be able to
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Critically examine and explain the use of language and discursive phenomena in social media.
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Better understand the ways social media affects how we use language, build relationships, and perform identities in everyday lives.
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Advance their knowledge of sociolinguistic theories and approaches in the context of digital discourse.
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Enhance their speaking and writing skills in academic contexts.
Engagement 15%
Social media use log 10%
Field notes 40%
Research paper 35%
Select scholarly articles and book chapters