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.