This practical guide is ideal for all those who wish to carry out close study of the way the English language is used in real situations. Hilary Hillier adopts a 'learning-by-doing' approach, presenting a series of small research studies that demonstrate a range of analytical perspectives and linguistic frameworks. Analysing Real Texts - examines a wide variety of texts, including informal talk, fictional narrative, newspaper reports, political speeches and TV advertisements - places each text in an overall framework showing the variation to be found within spoken and written language - explores some of the newer forms of written language which have come into existence through technological developments, such as email and text messaging - draws upon, and inter-relates, analytical approaches from traditional and systemic functional grammar, sociolinguistics, ethnomethodology, and conversation and discourse analysis This essential text provides an in-depth analytical model which can be easily tailored to meet the needs of both students and teachers. Approachable and easy-to-follow, Analysing Real Texts will inspire and help readers to devise comparable studies of their own based on their individual interests, background and experience.