Elizabeth Wardle’s article, Identity, Authority, and Learning to Write in New Workplaces, highlights the focus on the workplace for newcomers. Within today’s dynamic work environments, the intersection of identity and authority profoundly shapes how we approach writing. Elizabeth emphasizes that writing is not merely a mechanical skill but a reflection of our identities and the authority in which we as people navigate within professional spaces. She speaks about a writer named Alan, who struggles with the specific writing demands at his workplace. Alan points out the difficulties between academic writing and professional writing. Specifically, he must learn how not to write technical documents but how to mingle at work and build relationships with others at his workplace. When you are a new employee, some face challenges aligning their writing styles with organizational expectations. Alan fought hard as a new writer. He struggled with gaining respect from his following colleagues, mainly those who intended to question his writing abilities and expertise. His lack of authority impacted his ability to learn and grow as a writer at his job. Elizabeth specifies learning how to write in any professional field. It requires so much more than just having technical skills. It involves learning how to engage in it. He can build his writing professionally if he connects with his colleagues and receives feedback. This can help Alan and many others develop their authority and trust as new writers. After reading this article, I see there needs to be more academic and professional writing. These are two things that only a few individuals know how to separate.
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