James Paul Gee presents here his unique integrated approach to discourse analysis: the analysis of spoken and written language as it is used to enact social and cultural perspectives and identities.Assuming no prior knowledge of linguistics, Gee presents both a theory of language-in-use, as well as a method of research. This method is made up of a set of 'tools of enquiry' and strategies for using them.Perspectives from a variety of approaches and disciplines, including applied linguistics, education, pyschology, anthropology, and communication, are incorporated to help students and scholars from a range of backgrounds formulate their own views on discourse and engage in their own discourse analysis.