Identity, Authority, and Learning to Write in New Workplaces article

Elizabeth Warden does a great job explaining the true meaning of what identity and authority mean and represent while writing in a new workspace. Before this article I never knew that identity and authority can play a huge role in someone’s writing and workplace. Writers can shape and change a genre and the power of those genres can empower a writer’s identity. Sociologist Etienne Wenger believes that a writer should find their own unique identities and that there are three types of ways of going in that direction. Engagement, imagination and Alignment. Engagement can develop relationships that can help a writer in the long run especially in a new setting. Imagination creates expansion, more ideas and can extend an identity. Alignment is finding the middle ground, seeing what works for you and others as that can also help with finding an identity within a writer.

Before reading Elizabeth’s Warden’s Identity, Authority, and Learning to Write in
New Workplaces article i was not familiar with the term authority in writing but after reading it is clear having authority as a writer is extremely important especially when trying to convey the audience about what their writing or talking about. Authority can permit certain speakers not just the attention, but the confidence, respect and belief of the audience.

Alan is a 23 year old man who received his B.A. in art and design from a large Midwestern university. After working as a computer support specialist he realized he was unhappy with his position and how his supervisor did not give him enough responsibilities. With this job Alan had authority as moved to a new staff position he did not have to prove himself to others like many new workers do but it is clear his alignment does not match his supervisors which can make it hard to find a middle ground and for Alan to find his true identity. Another way Alan proved his authority was that he felt as if the other workers were beneath him, and other workers were happy when things ran smoothly and Alan was behind the scenes.

It is important to have some kind of authority but not to the point where it can prevent you from finding your identity, especially in a new workspace and new position. Proper engagement with people can improve relationships and with Alan the engagement is not all there. Also Alan did not write what his humanities department colleagues found appropriate and legitimate. His choices can be seen as rejecting identity and advocating for more authority over others.