This is a course that focuses on the analysis of discourse in a wide variety of social contexts (journalistic, legal, political, medical, familial). Discourse analysis examines both verbal and non-verbal communication to explore the making of claims of meaning, truthfulness, authority, in everything from political speech to advertising to scientific reports. The goal of the course is to provide a solid grounding in both the theories of speech, writing, symbols, and images, and in the empirical studies that have grown out of these theoretical frameworks. As well, the course provides a range of methodologies for carrying out systematic discourse analysis. This course is affiliated with "Discourse Analysis: Case Studies of Contemporary Crises" and the two courses may be taken in sequence or separately. Undergraduate juniors and seniors are permitted to take this course only with the permission of the instructor.