To no one’s surprise, we are back on the topic of discourse communities! Wardle’s text discusses complex relationships between writing and authority in a professional environment. Wardle emphasizes that new employees may face many struggles when they enter a new workplace, especially adapting to the writing expectations put in place by their higher-ups or others within the company. She also highlights the importance of understanding how authority is used during writing, and the effectiveness of authority. This sense of cluelessness when it comes to writing in a new professional environment influences someone’s identity as a worker and how they fit in, in their workplace. Wardle also urges educators to recognize these cultural and social differences in their fields. Social contexts are very important in writing, this text understands the significance of social contexts shaping different writings. Such as in a workplace, social contexts can affect how individuals learn to assert their identities in writing.
I would not consider myself as an “Alan” in a professional setting, while everyone has their individual struggles once they start a new job, I would not consider myself as unprofessional as Alan. Alan was not used to writing in an environment where he had to use precise language and professional statements. As he describes his coworkers as “nobodies” or “just users”, he does not value his colleagues therefore does not value others in the same position as he is. Alan does not fit in with his colleagues, unlike me at my job, where everyone gets along very well.
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