Flynn

Summary:

It is very apparent that men and women are still not considered equal today and that it has been a long battle to get to where we are today. In Flynn’s article she discusses the inequality women face in today’s society and how they aren’t getting enough credit for their accomplishments. Men have always shadowed women since the beginning and how this should be changed. Flynn also discusses how there are many bias studies being done today. In Flynn’s other writing she discusses how she supports postmodern feminism, which means knowing the equality that men and women have verses anitmordern feminism which is pointing out the differences between the genders.

Synthesis:

Flynn’s article can relate to Alexander and Wallace’s article about the LGBT community. Both women and the LGBT community are looked at as somewhat of a minority. Women are viewed less than equal to men while the queer community is oftend viewed as different and mysterious. These two articles could also relate to Heilker’s article on people with autism. All three groups are categorized by there differences rather than what they have in common with the majority of society. All three articles discuss the importance to break the barriers and to stop the silencing of the queer community, the autistics and the women. Their voices aren’t being heard and are forced to have others who don’t understand their differences speak for them.

  Reflection: My reaction to the article was very much positive. I could agree and relate to what Flynn had to say not only because I am a woman but also because it is important for everyone’s voice to be heard. Women and men should be treated equal with no hidden exceptions. It is obvious men and women are very different but no two people are the same but they should all be treated equally and with the same amount of respect. 

Queer Turn..

In the article, “The Queer Turn in Composition Studies”, the authors, Alexander and Wallace, discuss the relation between LGBT people and how it relates to composition. The authors believe that it is important to give attention to the “queerness”. They also imply that awareness of LGBT people and their orientation can broaden students views on writing. Three moves that were discussed in the article were to confront homophobia, being proactive, and issues need to be confronted. Confronting homophobia is important because a persons authority can be lowered due to what they believe to be true. Being proactive is important because it allows to people to be more of themselves and it plays a role on how people view you. Confronting homophobia is necessary because once the issue is confronted it is believed that it will changes ones view. I thought the article was very interesting and had many valid points that I believe to be true. This is a very controversial issue but in this day in age it is important that opinions are being shared.

The diagram on page six represents society. There are three types of communities’ heterosexual, cisgender and queer community. The communities are not divided equally and heterosexual and cisgender represent the majority. The queer community represents everyone else, the minority who does not fit in with cisgender or heterosexual. The umbrella represents protection I believe because “queer community” represented as a whole is more acceptable to hear from society then lesbian, gay, transsexual etc. The umbrella protects the queer community from harsh judgments placed on them by the majority of society. 

heilker

In the article, “Autism and Rhetoric”, Paul Heilker and Melanie Yergeau, they state how autism remains of one the greatest mysteries in medicine and how there is still much to learn about the neurological disorder.  The authors discuss how autism is rhetoric. They describe how it is a way of being and a rhetoric that isn’t recognized frequently.  Both authors have their own unique experience with autism, Paul’s son is autistic and Melanie has autism. They reference how some scholars suggest that autistics cannot read or write in a rhetorically effective manner. This offends Melanie because it represents autistics as a whole and degrades them. Autism can be viewed as a discourse, the way they communicate and how they see the world is unique to a person who has autism. Heilker and Yergeau argue that it is important for society to look through an autistic persons lens so we can ultimately get a better understanding of what they view of the world around them. We need to discourage those who see autism as a disability and view it as a specialized rhetoric.

Wardle

The article “ Identity, Authority, and learning to Write in New Workplaces,”  was written by Elizabeth Wardle she writes about there being three ways that new members try to be apart of a new community. In order to be apart of the new community newcomers will use engagement, imagination and alignment. Engagement involves a newcomer to interact with a member of the community and show off his or her skills in order to be accepted. They show what they can add to the community. Imagination is the next step where the new member tries to imagine where they possibly fit in within the community. Alignment is when you have discussions with the other members about their perspectives. The new member starts to feel comfortable within the new community and gives them a sense of identity.

Swales article, “The Concept of Discourse Community”, defined the six rules in order to be truly be apart of a discourse community. These rules give guidelines and reassurance to make sure you are apart of the discourse community. Wardle’s article explains the steps in becoming apart of a discourse community. Both articles work hand in hand. Wardle’s article is there to provide direction on how new members try to fit in within the community and also talks about finally being apart of the community. Swales article is there to make sure you truly feel apart of the discourse community. 

Gee

James Gee wrote the article, “Literacy, Discourse and Linguistics.” In this article he forms a niche regarding Discourses. In order to be in a part of a Discourse you must not only share common goals with others in the Discourse but also how you relate that Discourse into your everyday life.  In Swales article he discussed the importance of discourse communities and speech communities. He emphasized the specific rules needed to be obtained to be classified a discourse community. Gee discussed how it important not to just follow these rules but to also implement them into your life. They need to know all of the language communicated in the Discourse.  

 

2. “saying-doing combination” simply means that you can’t say one thing but do something that contradicts what you say.  He uses the bar example of how he use “bar lingo” to ask for a drink, but he dressed to well to be at a dirty bar so he sits on a napkin to avoid getting dirty. How he speaks contradicts how he presents himself.

4. Primary Discourse: Discourse that is very limited that don’t contain critical language or attitudes. They are often hard to become members of.

    Secondary Discourse: This is a bigger discourse that forms amongst community members he uses the example of school.

   Dominant Discourse: this is a secondary discourse that provides with you various benefits.

   Nondominant Discourse:  is also a secondary discourse but its brings you closer to other networks of people.

9. Literacy is “ the mastery control over a secondary discourse. Therefore, literacy is always plural: literacies.” Gees opinion towards print based literacy is that there are various topics that it can cover.

Swales

“The Concept of Discourse Community” was written by John Swales to deliver a precise definition of what a discourse community actually is. A discourse community is a group of people who share common goals.  Swales emphasized that there are six defining characteristics in order for a group to become a discourse community. In this article, Swales also establishes that there is a difference between a speech community and a discourse community. A speech community is a group who share similar use of language such as a medical team or football team. Speech communities inherit members while discourse communities recruit them.  

Smitherman

“God Don’t Never Change: Black English from a Black Perspective” was written by Geneava Smitherman to informs the reader on black English and how it is used in society as well as it being taught in the classroom. There are negative connotations with black English because it can be seen as grammatically incorrect and may cause exclusion amongst people who use  the black language.  She uses various examples to explain what black English  while also giving a few of white English. She states that not all agree with black English and states that most view it as unscholarly. She holds a strong opinion of her own to black English and asks the audience “ Can the concept of God exist in a perfectly logical language?” And replies with the answer of “God don’t never change.” She also states that just because black English has grammar errors doesn’t mean it is not language. She argues that conformity isn’t the answer and people should be more understanding of others differences.

After reading the article, I felt compelled to agree with Geneava. Language is being able to communicate a message between others. Whether it is black English or white, both get the point across just as well the other. I can see why others look down upon black English because of the grammatical errors, but those were just rules set by old stingy people way before our time. The rules realistically don’t mean anything. Yes they can affect your grade on a paper, but as long as you feel you got your point across that’s all that matters. I believe that people should be able to express their language in any way they want. People will always be there to judge its just our job to learn on to not let it affect us.