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Social Interaction and Conversation Analysis - SOC00066I

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Merran Toerien
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

Conversation is far more than ‘just chat’. It is through conversation that we learn how to talk in the first place, and are socialised. We introduce you to the ways in which we go about our ordinary social lives through talk-in-interaction and various forms of embodied conduct.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

Conversation is far more than ‘just chat’. It is through conversation that we learn how to talk in the first place, and are socialised. Our everyday lives, social identities and relationships are managed through conversation. Moreover, the ‘big’ things in social, economic and political life are managed through various kinds of interaction, including often quite informal conversations as well as more formal meetings. There’s almost nothing that doesn’t happen - at least partly, but very significantly - through social interaction of one kind or another. We introduce you to the ways in which we go about our ordinary social lives through talk-in-interaction and various forms of embodied conduct. We also help you to develop the methods and principles of conversation analysis (CA), which is a key approach to understanding how interaction works in practice.

Module learning outcomes

Critically evaluate the claim that social interaction is fundamental to our human sociality

Critically discuss the principal findings of prior conversation analytic (CA) research

Assess the value of CA’s micro-analytic approach to the discipline of sociology

Apply a conversation analytic perspective and some of CA’s key methods to original data, so that you can conduct your own research in this area

Demonstrate advanced study skills, critical analysis and confidence in written and oral communication in a scholarly but accessible format

Demonstrate a capacity to take responsibility for working independently and effectively

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Analytical Project : Mini CA Project		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Analytical Project : Mini CA Project		 N/A 100

Module feedback

For formative work - preparatory analytic exercises and peer review of a short piece of their own CA writing - students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. The formative assessments provide practice for the summative tasks which are in line with LOs particularly 4-6.

For summative work - the mini CA project - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with LOs 1-6. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.

Indicative reading

Drew, P. (2005) Conversation analysis. In K. L. Fitch and R. E. Sanders (eds) Handbook of Language and Social Interaction. Mawah, NJ, Lawrence Erlbaum: pp. 71-102.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.