Yates, S., Taylor, S., & Wetherell, M. (2001). Discourse as data: a guide for analysis. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage.

A student wrote this insightful review of this text:

When attempting to choose a book that would lend itself to giving a novice such as myself an overall understanding of goals, uses and procedures of discourse analysis I was unsure where to turn.  In looking through the numerous texts on our interactive book list I must admit I was looking for a volume that provided both concise and straight forward discussion of how to use discourse analysis to better understand use of language in context.  Simultaneously, I sought a reference book that would not only introduce me to discourse analysis, but also challenge me to use it in new innovative ways that are being presented by the technological changes of our world.  While this book is designed in a textbook format to complement a course at The Open University Masters Programme in Social Sciences it is very straightforward and in my opinion serves as an illustrative course in itself.  While offering theoretical designs it also provides practical considerations that guide discourse analysis.  Hence, my desire to locate a reference that was concise, straightforward and introductory while challenging me to try new innovative ways of using the basic structure of discourse analysis was realized in Discourse as Data.  The format of Discourse as Data is designed to introduce discourse analysis through six case studies that are as varied as the disciplines from which they come.  These case studies represent Foucauldian analysis, conversation analysis, discursive psychology, critical discourses, and sociolinguistics.