Discourse Theory and Practice by Margaret Wetherell, Simeon J. Yates, Stephanie Taylor 

`A
highly effective introduction to the range of approaches found in discourse
analysis… a lively and intellectually stimulating Reader’ – David
Silverman, Goldsmith College, University of London
Discourse Theory and Practice is much more than a collection of key classic
articles and papers in the field of discourse analysis. The aim of the book
is to introduce students to the major figures in the field, and to some of
their writings which, combined with the interspersed editorial commentaries,
should allow students to understand the key epistemological and
methodological issues of discourse theory and practice.

The Reader is organized into four coherent parts, namely: Foundations and
Building Blocks; Social Interaction; Minds, Selves and Sense-Making; and
Culture and Social Relations. Key readings include works by Stuart Hall,
Jonathan Potter, David Silverman, Erving Goffman, Teun van Dijk, Derek
Edwards and Michael Billig. Chapters introduce the student to each individual
and their reading, contextualizing each in terms of their contribution to the
field, theoretical standpoint and individual method of doing discourse
analysis. The many didactic elements of the book make it ideal as an
introduction to the study of discourse for all students of psychology,
sociology, linguistics or cultural studies.

This book is a course reader for The Open University course Discourse
Analysis (D843).