Pondering Discourses

For my second essay, I am going to tackle prompt #4:


4.)  Write an essay in which you use two or more course texts (and perhaps an outside text of your choice if you want) to explore the complicated process of moving from one’s “primary discourse” to a “secondary discourse,” particularly a secondary discourse that is “dominant” in Gee’s terms. Additional questions to consider:  whose (or what kinds of) “primary discourses” do we tend to recognize, affirm, and “teach” in classrooms? Why does this matter? What are the losses that come with the acquisition of a secondary discourse (especially a secondary discourse that is dominant) for some students? What are the costs of that transition? Conversely, what are the benefits of such a transition? Why do educators need to be aware of both the costs and benefits? Try to be as concrete and specific as possible.


I will likely use Rodriguez and Mori (not sure about Abinader) as examples of Gee's theories (which will be the main backbone of my piece in terms of exploring the journey from primary to secondary Discourse), perhaps including Delpit's examples as well (although I am not convinced of the validity of all of her claims).  I will explore what entails a stereotypically "dominant" Discourse, and which Discourses tend to be favored in the classroom.  I am particularly intrigued by the 'losses' mentioned in the prompt in terms of the journeys by both Rodriguez and Mori, as well as the benefits.  I will attempt to answer all of the questions laid out in the prompt (because I find them to be most interesting) but perhaps in the interest of focusing my essay, I will not be able to cover all the areas suggested... I'm excited to write this paper, and hope that I will be able to turn out a more polished first draft than my previous essay.