Critical Discourse Analysis and Positionality

Course outline in development

From 2026-2027 onwards, this 7,5 ec course replaces the former UCACCMET25 Critical Discourse Analysis (5 ec) plus its corresponding module UCACCMET27 Power, Positionality & Self-Reflexivity (2,5 ec)
Critical Discourse Analysis is a suitable methodology course for all humanities students. It can also serve to meet the methodology requirement for social science students who wish to finish tracks in law or political sciences. It can be an elective for other students.

This practice-oriented course acquaints students with critical discourse analysis (CDA): a methodology for investigating the relations between language, power and ideology. CDA starts from the insight that language choices carry values, establish power relationships, and that these can be analysed systematically. CDA’s roots lie in multiple fields such as sociolinguistics, philosophy, literary studies, social psychology and anthropology, and it has developed into a methodology which is used in various humanities and social sciences disciplines (f.e. media studies and political sciences).
Rather than a single or explicit method, CDA represents an approach or attitude and provides different methods to critically assess verbal and non-verbal language in use: from texts and images in news articles, (social) media, legal documents to schoolbooks.
The course starts with the theoretical underpinnings and key concepts in CDA, addressing questions such as: what does ‘Critical’ in CDA mean? How do textual and visual representations shape our understanding of reality? How can we analyse the ideological dimensions of particular linguistic and visual choices?
Students practice with the analytical tools CDA offers on various verbal and visual (news and other media) sources. Through regular practical assignments students actively engage with the material and learn to offer feedback on the work of their peers. In the final part of the course students design a CDA-inspired research project on a topic related to their major, select an appropriate CDA method and do a sample analysis.

In the last five weeks, the course aims to foster the interpersonal and self-reflexive competencies required to effectively engage in international experiential learning and community-based research, with a special focus on decoloniality and self-reflexive practice. Although a research methods course, the focus is not on research tools and data collection but, rather, the positionality, critical consciousness and self-reflexivity of researchers.

From a critically-reflexive angle, the course will introduce students to a robust empirical and theoretical understanding of the various cultural, socioeconomic, and political dynamics of social justice within the broader umbrella of international experiential and community engaged learning/research. This will be done through a practical, interpersonal, and self-reflexive approach. The course more specifically deals with practical questions around concepts of diversity, inclusivity and perspectivism; positionality, postcolonialism and power relations; decolonizing development and international practice; cultural intelligence, mindfulness and use of self; critical self-reflexivity, contemplative learning & practice; and international allyship.

Format
Week 1–7 Interactive lectures and seminars (Q&A, discussion of assignments)
Week 8 Poster presentations
Week 9-10 Work on research proposal (workshops & individual consultations)
Week 11-15 Power, Positionality & Self-Reflexivity

week 11-15: The course will comprise a combination of weekly small group exchange, learning and group activities, as well as a weekly large symposium. The former will facilitate personal reflection and peer-based learning/exchange associated with student’s personal reflections and growth. In the weekly small group meetings, students will discuss the various topics that arise in the large symposia, while completing weekly activities corresponding to each week’s topic.
The weekly large symposium will be led by the course instructors and comprise lectures and presentations associated with the key theories, concepts and topics associated with course. When possible, guest speakers (academics, activists and professionals) will share presentations associated with their decolonization work. The course may also include some field trips, including a visit to the Black Archives in Amsterdam. Using Netherlands’ own history and current challenges as a case study, the New Urban Collective/Black Archives group will assist us in critically reflecting on history and social change. Given the nature of this course, students should be aware that many of the large symposia, field trips and guest lectures will be held on Tuesday afternoons (13:00-14:45).