Writing with Identity and Authority in Work places and beyond with Elizabeth Wardle and Penrose & Geisler. Learning to write in and for new situations and work places is complex in ways that go far beyond text and cognitive abilities. Elizabeth Wardle and Penrose & Geisler express the concepts of writing with identity and authority, in order to thrive in the work place successfully.
This week (Week 6) was dedicated to reading and learning about identity, authority and navigating our writing processes within the workplace.
- Wardle’s research- Writing with Identity, Authority and Learning to write in new work spaces delves into how individuals learn to write effectively in the workplace. She argues that workplace writing is a dynamic and evolving process, and individuals must adapt their writing practices as they move between different professional contexts and roles. Learning to write in workplaces involves not only mastering genre conventions, but also understanding the social dynamics and expectations related to writing in specific industries or organizations. Wardle tells us a story about Alan. A newcomer in the workplace who appears to already possess a personality disorder is overly confident beyond certain of his tasks to just ‘do’, which brings him to an early demise in his field, due to his identity. Alan is unable or unwilling to say the least to simply adapt to this discourse and its new ‘activity system’.
- Penrose & Geisler’s Reading and Writing without Authority shows us how some may not feel as though they have ‘authority’ within their writing, and provide solutions to help distribute authority evenly when doing so. A case study was conducted with Janet and Roger to show the concept of academic authority and how it manifests itself in written arguments. Janet is a College Freshman who has trouble including her own thoughts into arguments and utilizes author’s points as facts. Doing so fails to show understanding and a doesn’t take much of an authoritative approach when writing. On the contrary, Roger is a doctoral student and is able to make distinctions on embracing and rejecting claims while changing his mind.
- These two readings expressed how many may write without authority or own identity because they fail to fully grasp the concept of the genres required. Challenges are faced when one does not have a voice or insight when writing.
- Penrose & Geisler tells us how we should be participants and not just observers in the construction of knowledge. Both Penrose & Geisler along with Wardle informs that information and knowledge are key to writing with authority.
- To be successfully enculturated as Wardle tells us-‘neophytes must learn and conform to conventions, codes, and genres. Learning to write in and for new situations and workplaces is complex in ways that go far beyond text and cognitive abilities. Understand what’s presented to you, in order to fully grasp how it will influence your writing and work environment.
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