Wrt 105: practices of academic writing Dr. Rusty Bartels Friday, October 12th, 2018 Week 7, Day 3

Overview Freewrite Gee Small Groups Discourse Models – Types Discourse Models – Tools of Inquiry Wrap-up

Freewrite What did you think of the Gee chapter? How would you define a “discourse model”?

Gee – Small Groups 5 Groups (6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5) Identify: Main ideas Example from the text analysis of how he uses examples to support idea Your own example to demonstrate your understanding of his discussion Each group will present a summary of their section to the class

Gee – Discourse Models, Types Discourse models inform, and are informed by, the worldview and actions of ourselves and our communities. A discourse model is not inherently “good” or “evil” BUT, discourse models are a part of power structures

Gee – Discourse Models, Types Espoused Models: models which we consciously espouse Evaluative models: models which we use, consciously or unconsciously, to judge ourselves or others Models-in-(inter)action: models that consciously or unconsciously guide our actual actions and interactions in the world.

Gee – Discourse Models, Types “Since Discourse models embed assumptions about what is “appropriate,” “typical,” and/or “normal,” they are, through and through, political.” (Gee 84) [emphasis added] These “assumptions” can be consciously, or unconsciously held The more “dominant” or “normal” a discourse model, the more likely it is to be held unconsciously

Gee – Discourse Models, Types “Since Discourse models embed assumptions about what is “appropriate,” “typical,” and/or “normal,” they are, through and through, political.” (Gee 84) [emphasis added] Gee normalizes the “political” nature of a discourse model Whereas things are often called “political” when it goes against dominant, unconscious frameworks

Gee – Discourse Models as Tools of Inquiry FREEWRITE Review the questions in this section at the end of the reading. What kinds of Discourses are present in the community you’ve chosen to write your paper on? How could one of the sets of questions on p93 inform your analysis of your discourse community? When you are ready, turn to a neighbor and reflect on both the free write question, and explore how the questions offered at the end of the reading can connect to your chosen community.

Wrap-up Today we: Used Gee to talk about discourse models Thinking about how discourse models can help us identify assumptions, values, purposes behind our communities Next time: Reading: none Peer review —> bring either: 2 hard copies (double spaced) OR A laptop (if you wish to receive comments digitally)