Blog #11 Delpit

IWA #11:

Summary:

Delpit really brings an argument to the discourse, “talk” we have had going on in class. For the first time in our readings we actually have an actually article that is about contradicting another author. Gee in his article about discourse communities struck something in Delpit that she did not agree with. Gee in his article says that we cannot understand the lingo or rules of a community if you are not in them. Delpit goes against that by giving great examples of how you can. Also Gee thinks that you cannot be taught a primary discourse which is also something that Delpit proves wrong in her article. She gives a prime example proving that you can be taught literature with the story about, “Margie” a student who was taught more and made a statement about it at an institution. Delpit took the idea of learning literacy to a new question asking if some should actually attempt to learn? She explains more that some people do not want to learn so trying to would take away from you. Delpit goes deeper into her mind on how she feels about the idea of teaching literacy in discourse community terms.

Connections:

After reading this article the first thing I thought of was Deborah Brandt. Brandt has that article about literacy sponsors that is who you can give credit to teaching you or others literacy in your life, or anything you have gained knowledge on. Brandt idea goes hand in hand with Delpit because she agrees that you can teach literacy to anyone and they would obviously be the sponsors if they were teaching the literacy. Going by the example that Delpit gives about Margie the student, her sponsor was Susan who helped her get to her achievement.

Questions:

Delpit going against the ideas of Gee were very persuading and they worked for me. Although I did have the same opinions before reading her article, after I was done I was very much persuaded by her ways. She gives great example that back up her ideas and back them so much more urging. I think we use her, “techniques” on persuading on a persuasive essay because of the backup information that we put into our work to really justify why we feel the way we do.

Opinions:

Delpit’s article was a perfect way to describe how I actually felt about Gee’s article. Although I though he made some very valid facts about discourse communities, I had the same opinions that Delpit had in the article and I think she did a great job backing up her opinions that made them very believable to almost be facts. Great read for a good debate!!