At first sight, I struggled with the importance of the material explained in Elizabeth Wardle’s article, Identity, Authority, and Learning to Write in New Workplaces. I thought that when entering a new community, adapting to fit with what the rest deems appropriate was universally obvious. The point seems to be that obvious. After reading Wardle’s work, I learned that nothing is as simple as it appears. Depth and reasoning exist in everything.
She states that “…issues of identity and values are important factors in neophytes’ abilities and willingness to learn to write in and for new workplaces, as they must choose between ways of thinking and writing with which they are comfortable and new ways that seem foreign or at odds with their identities and values.”(Wardle, 285). In making this comment, Wardle highlights the difficulties newcomers may face when entering new communities. Almost immediately, I thought about my job and my experiences there. Newcomers must always adapt to the community’s methods, which is done through a small transformation of identity. For example, when I started working at IHOP. I never imagined how this may be for writers who have a hard time getting comfortable with what they don’t inherently know.
Alan, the study’s focus, gave me a deeper understanding. It became uncomfortable for himself and other when he was essentially, not being like everyone else. Usually, that phrase would seem negative. After reading this, I have come to the conclusion that it is important to determine the norms for a better experience in a workplace. Lastly, that in some circumstances it is necessary to tweak your identity and manage your authority.
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