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2.5.06
Academic
Discourse
Purpose
At universities
and colleges, professors and researchers across the curriculum use a discourse
that in some aspects is unique to this context. But because of the diversity
of the academy, it is difficult to pinpoint what academic discourse is
or what academic discourse should be. Today we will discuss these issues,
as well as explore the value of academic discourse.
Lecture–White Paper
The instructor will explain the generic parameters of a white paper that you will use for your Context Analysis.
Article Reviews
We will listen to article reviews by Thomas and Jennifer.
Discussion–Bartholomae
& Elbow
We will address
the following questions...
- What questions do you have about these two articles?
- What is academic discourse? what are its characteristics? (draw your answers from this week's readings, previous readings, and your own experiences)
- What are Bartholomae's and Elbow's respective arguments about academic discourse?
- Both Bartholomae and Elbow believe that academic discourse–for better or for worse–perpetuates power structures both inside and outside the academy. What are their respective perspectives on this?
- Elbow (p. 143) critiques the discourse that James Berlin uses in his scholarship. Is this a valid critique? why or why not? Is this the type of discourse that first-year composition instructors are trying to teach their students? should it be? Are most freshman trying to imitate this discourse?
- Based upon Swales six criteria for discourse communities, is there an academic discourse community (feel free to challenge the limitations of Swales's criteria)?
- Should academic discourse be taught? why or why not? At what level? By whom?
- What is the value of academic discourse? What transfers from academic discourse to other contexts? (think about how the writing that you do in the academy has effected the way that you write outside of the academy)