Use of Critical Discourse Analysis to Explore the Representation of Parents as Disciplinarians in Jeff Kinney’s The Last Straw: An Interdisciplinary Teaching-Oriented Approach

Abstract

This article is principally teaching-oriented, aimed at demonstrating the use of Norman Fairclough’s (1999) model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) in the classroom. It is intended for an introductory course in American Studies with a focus on the teaching of literature. To support the interdisciplinary nature of the method, a sociological framework has been selected. The paper highlights the relevance and applicability of CDA in teaching literature by using Jeff Kinney’s The Last Straw as a sample text. The rationale behind the choice of this text is the popularity and the availability of the book. The article demonstrates the step-by-step approach of CDA, i.e., thematic selection, coding, and interpretation based on close reading to argue that such an analysis enables students to unveil textual themes which are not explicitly discussed by the author. Using teacher-oriented approach as the main lens, the article provides sample assignments as well as methodological recommendations for the application of CDA in teaching textual analysis in literary studies.