Outline For Discourse Analysis Paper

PART I: Rhetorical Situation

1. CONTEXT (will require brief research)

a. Who is the author/what is the author’s profession/background?

James Paul Gee is a researcher who has worked in discourse analysis, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, bilingual education, and literacy.

b. In which source text was the reading originally published/printed/produced?

The source text was originally published in print, in Gee’s book, An Introduction to Discourse Analysis: Theory and Method.

c. What is the original date of publication?

The text was published in 1999.

d. Identify one or two significant historical circumstances of the text’s production.

2. STRUCTURE

a. Identify how and where the author(s) employs obvious (e.g., headings, subheadings, lists,

labels, bullets, etc.) or subtle structural cues (e.g., subject transitions)
Gee begins with the introduction which leads to a paragraph on the meaning of discourse. The subject changes to syntax and it’s relation to discourse. Another major headings interjects with another meaning for discourse followed by what speakers/writers and listeners/readers do. Identities are the next major heading which is divided into several parts. The subject changes and becomes the explanation that discourses can be big or little. The next major heading concerns webs of associating, then the approach to discourse analysis.
b. Identify any narratives (stories, anecdotes) and state their purpose.
The author narrates his lunch at a Mexican Restaurant in a college town he teaches in. The bartender asks what he would like and the author notes several pieces key to their individual identities such as “informal tone” and “he expects a drink order first since I chose to sit at the bar”. He continues to note that there are no Mexican’s in sight working there, and that, perhaps, what he was having would not be authentic Mexican cuisine. The example is meant to show how much has to happen to make a Discourse even for the minimum encounters.
c. Identify any figurative language (e.g., metaphors, allusions, personification) and state its purpose.
The conceptual metaphor, “This book will argue that we interpret saying and doing in terms of identities in this sense- as different kinds of people or roles in society,” states that one’s identity is built on different roles in society. This serves to inform the point that depending on one’s identity and another’s identity in your eyes, language can intend to cater towards identity.

3. PURPOSE
a. What is the purpose of the work (e.g., argument, narrative, commentary, etc.) and how does the author identify that purpose?
The purpose of the work is to define discourse analysis as finely as possible. It is broken down into several parts designed to help students understand the various components of discourse analysis.
b. Identify and explain the original intended audience as stated (or implied) by the author:
The original intended audience is writers, speakers, listeners, and readers.
i. Identify the pronouns that the author uses and identify to whom the pronouns refer (i.e., who is who and to whom?).
The author uses “we” to incorporate as all as speakers or writers.
ii. Identify four words or phrases that you used to identify the audience.
“I pointed out that, when we speak or write, we simultaneously say something, do something, and are something.” “Why do we combine sentences one after another?” “We use language to produce more than one sentence”. “We combine sentences to create bigger things than a single sentence”.
c. Identify three words or phrases (not “the,” “a/an,” prepositions) that are repeated throughout the text and explain how they relate to the text’s main idea.
“D/discourse” is the theory about seeing interactive communication through the eyes of socially meaningful identities.
“Identity” is who you make out to be classified. Identity is related to the text largely for the role it plays in how we present discourse and naturally analyze it. Interactions vary as does one’s identity.

4. MAIN IDEA
a. State the topic (noun):
The main idea of the piece is to define discourse analysis and its role in writing and speaking as well as listening and reading.
b. State the main idea in one sentence (must include an active verb):
The text defines discourse analysis through a breakdown of identity, association, and approach.

PART II (You must write 300 or more words here, excluding quotes.)

1. CENTER OF TEXT Quote one or two lines that are central to your understanding of the text (punctuate and cite as direct quotation in MLA Style, with a signal phrase) and explain why those lines are central.

The main discussion in the text is centered on discourse analysis. Gee writes that “Discourses involve people communicating via language and other stuff” (106). “Other stuff” would be our identities within the conversation. Identity is central to the text because it insinuates how one puts them fourth to be interpreted more or less openly. By establishing an identity, interactions and positions socially can be assumed. Discourses are inhibited through speech, which does not give us the full picture and leaves the rest to be interpreted. Discourse is “the sequence of sentences” and how they relate to one another across speech or writing. We choose words which give the best meaning to reflect what we wish to convey. Sentences work slightly differently when speaking than when writing, however, ones choice of vocabulary can reveal a different

interpretation.

2. YOUR REACTION TO THE TEXT With what do you associate the text? What is your emotional reaction to the text? Why do you think you react as you do?

I associate the text to psychology and sociology because it goes into further detail on interpersonal relations and self reflection.

The text is tied to speech, which involves a great deal of performance. How one puts out affects how one will be interpreted and therefore we assume personal roles depending on the conflict which arises. What is Discourse Analysis evokes thoughtfulness and self-reflection regarding personal identity. When I speak to several of my close friends, I know I adopt different personas based on common interests. For instance, when I was in my horticulture class in high school, the jokes and personas were all centered on environment, tools, plants, and biology. Whereas with my close friends, general discourse was never about plants or the like, but rather music and events since that was what we were into. This relation between my immediate life and discourse analysis allows me to reflect more deeply on my ties with people as well as any other party I may run

into.

2. #HASHTAG Create a social media hashtag for this text that directly relates to the text’s main idea.
#itsnotwhatyousayitshowyousayit