Step 1: Reevaluate Original Sources

  1. An Introduction to Discourse Analysis Theory and Method, James Paul Gee
    • How was this used originally?
      • “James Paul Gee would categorize the science community as a Discourse, which can be defined as the way one would speak, or act within a certain setting (7)”
        • Not actually sure where this quote was taken from, as I used two different Gee Sources..
        • Likewise, I find this to be an incredibly vague definition of a discourse. Might expand on this a bit
      • “In Chapter 2 of Gee’s “Introduction to Discourse Analysis: Theory and Method”, he introduces the idea of seven building tasks of language; significance, practices, identities, relationships, politics, connections, and sign systems and knowledge. These building blocks make up different categories that language can fall under”
        • Might still choose to talk about these building blocks.. stay tuned
      • “One of the seven building tasks Gee presents is identity, which he defines as ‘speaking or writing in such a way to attribute a certain identity to others’ (33). There are several different embedded identities within a Discourse. For example, the common identities within the college Discourse are the student and teacher identities. Both reside within the same Discourse, but they offer different contributing roles. These identities are often adapting to fit a certain Discourse one hopes to be a part of”
        • This could be interesting to talk about in terms of the different identities involved within the Humanities; Philosophy, History, English
        • They’re all involved in the Humanities discourse but there are different identities within the discourse
      • “Another of Gee’s building blocks, practice, goes hand in hand with identity. He defines a practice as ‘a socially recognized and institutionally or culturally supported endeavor that usually involves sequencing or combining actions in certain specified ways’ (Gee 32). This is an over-complicated way of stating that a practice is a certain action or activity that people do”
    • What new ideas arise from this as you read through it again?
      • “If I had to single out a primary function of human language, it would be not one, but the following two: to scaffold the performance of social activities (whether play or work or both) and to scaffold human affiliation within cultures and social groups and institutions” (1)
        • This could be cool to talk about in terms of discourse, especially in the humanities. I also really enjoyed this quote.
        • Language changes depending on the discourse
      • JUST HAD A GOOD IDEA AND I’M PUTTING IT HERE BEFORE I FORGET: WE USE DIFFERENT LANGUAGE IN WRITING BETWEEN THE SCIENCES AND THE HUMANITIES.
        • The dog was walked by me versus I walked the dog — passive vs. active voice
      • “When “little d” discourse (language-in-use) is melded integrally with nonlanguage “stuff” to enact specific identities and activities, then, I say that “big D” Discourses are involved” (7)