Wardle Response

Identity, Authority, and Learning to Write in a New Workplace by Elizabeth Wardle

Summary:  In the article Identity, Authority, and Learning to Write in New Workplaces, Elizabeth Wardle argues about three models of belonging. The three models she discusses are engagement, imagination, and alignment. Wardle says engagement is the aspect of earning membership or fitting in to a new environment. This is becoming a part of the group and choosing to engage with each other and make and notice changes in association. This is when the group works together to achieve common goals so that they can become more together or intertwined if you will. She explains that if the new member does a poor job of reaching for and achieving the goal it will affect in a poor relationship with the current participants of the group. Wardle also discusses in detail the idea of imagination. Imagination occurs once a new member is accepted and joins a new community. Wardle argues that after the new member is offered a position it becomes their responsibility to take on their role and develop new ideas and goals for the group. If the imagination concept works for the better for the new member and the group as a whole, it will drive the new member forward in the acceptance of other members or older ones. It will also result in more respect and responsibility which in turn means they will be placed or known as a current member of the group. Finally Wardle discusses the idea of alignment. This is the most personal and possibly most important part of the process. Once a new member has been accepted and has shown that they are applicable to the group and a strong contributor the more established members open up. The in turn results in developing relationships with the new members. These relationships are strongly reliant on boundaries and common goals. Wardle offers these ideas early in her piece but then goes into discussion of these through a story about a man named Allan. Allan goes through all of these processes and is a prime example for them all as she creates multiple scenarios with him.

Synthesis: This article is very similar to Cathy Glens article in that they both discuss the use of language and how different communities have different abilities, skills and uses of things such as language. In her article Glenn talks about the factory farms and how they create these false realities and virtual identities for the audience to make something appear as it is not. She talks about how they know what they do and what it is called that they exactly do but they use things like advertising and commercials to manipulate or alter the wording and idea of what they do in the audiences head. This is all about how we have different communities who have different understanding and ideas through which comes from engagement, imagination and alignment. This is similar or in tune with Wardle’s article because Wardle’s article is all about the differences in communities and groups although it is revolved around the workplace it is all about how we must learn to be aware and know the differences in groups. Also that these differences are there and we must conform to them and admire them in order to form with this new group.

Questions for Journaling and Discussion:

1.      Wardle discusses three topics for joining a new community which are engagement, imagination and alignment. An example of engagement would be you and someone else being paired up for a project and you have to work together for a common benefit and result and through doing this you develop together like a little and a big for fraternities. Then there is imagination which like a group picking a nerd to work with for a good grade but the nerd thinks that they picked him for who he is as a person. This can lead to the joining of him in the group but not in the best manner. Lastly she talks about alignment this is like if your community had to join another group in order to movie for the class. The group you choose is one that is all about music videos and your groups all about movies so you find common ground and negotiate and decide to make a musical. I think a newcomer might not attempt a new community for the reasons although they can be good and allow for joining they can often have very bad and discouraging results.

3.I think that the problem with Alan’s community was they gave him a job with too broad of a topic or concept of what he was. Alan felt he had more control and power then he actually did but he was ill informed about this and as a result made himself look foolish. People would laugh at his mistakes in his emails and they would ignore his information sent unless it specifically regarded them right away. I think this is the main problem I think it could have all been resolved and made better if someone clearly told Alan he was doing things wrong and that he was out of his position or place if you will.

5. I agree more with Wardle here just based on how it seemed to me after I read about Alan in this article. Alan was very talented and had good skills bt he didn’t pay attention to anyone but himself. Alan was a jerk to everyone and thought he was much better and at a higher place then them. Alan also was ignorant to his real job and what it all entails. Not only this but Alan fail to be aware of his true job or attempt to make it clear he just did what we wanted and felt was right and made no effort otherwise thus he is practically resisting the change to their discourse.

7. I remember being in the classroom once and my teacher was speaking and a student accidentally spoke out alost overtop of her and she got very upset. She yelled at him and then went into a huge lecture about respect and hwo you shouldn’t talk when someone else is and all that. However, a couple days later our class was giving presentations and my teacher kept interrupting till the breaking point came and we all yelled at her. We told her she was being a hypocrite and that she was also being very disrespectful to us. She lost her authority over us there in that scenario as we lost respect for her and her position and it made the discourse very faulted.

Opinion on Article: I think that this article was an easier read and was simple to be a part of because of the use of Alan throughout the article. I must admit I was very confused after reading the first couple of pages and trying to configure the meaning. Then when Wardle admitted Alan and used him to explain her meanings and the different scenarios they can be relevant in. The article was also insightful for my future in regards to jobs and understanding them and how they all have different means of language, production, communication and we must be aware of this. Also we must choose to apply ourselves in the joining of these groups and be sure to follow their means in order to be accepted and become a current member. This article was a good read and presented a lot of important and valid evidence and meanings for me as a reader.