Gee

SUMMARY
In this article author James Paul Gee describes what he calls "Discourses" and how we contribute to them in everyday life. Discourses are all around us and used everyday. Gee then goes in to describe different types of Discourses such as, primary, secondary, dominate, and non-dominate. Each subtext describes different types of Discourses that are in society today. These Discourses can be researched and studied in different ways. However, you are either in a Discourse, or you are not. Just because one can study a Discourse does not mean they can become part of the Discourse.

CONNECTIONS
I connected this article with the article we were assigned for wednesday (Swales) because they both involve discourses. However, Gee's definition of Discourses is quite different. Swales describes a discourse community as a list of criteria and having one purpose. When Gee, describes Discourses as being a way of life as well as actions. I also connected this article to Geneva Smitherman's article we read a few weeks back. Like Gee, she describes that language and grammar are two different category's and should be treated as such. As well as the section of the article where two welfare employees were interviewed and one was considered right when the other was wrong.

QD #3
Gee describes the difference between discourses and Discourse as discourses being a part of Discourse. A Discourse involves not only language but action and many other factors when a discourse is primarily language itself. Discourse has a much more broad meaning with different factors than just discourses.

QD #13
I think belonging to a Discourse would be quite difficult. It isn't about learning knowledge or language it's about learning a way of life. You have to connect with what you're observing rather than just memorizing actions or language. If I were to be an apprentice it would feel as though I am pretending. It would feel I am more of a child pretending to be an adult. It takes desire to become a part of a Discourse.

OPINIONS
I really enjoyed reading this article. It allowed me to see another side to Discourses rather than just view them as this high society club as i have imagined them before. It makes me think about if i'm involved in some Discourses already and if so what are they?