Gee Reading Response

Before you Read

1. Mushfake - "prison slang for items owned by an inmate that may be legal to buy, but were constructed or obtained through illegal means, hence they are contraband" -Urban Dictionary 
  
A term sparsely defined on the Internet, mushfake is a synonym for “faking it” used in a few different scenarios. -literacy-society2.wikispaces.com/Mushfake

Summary

In his article, "Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics," Gee explains what his characteristics of a Discourse are. He tells the reader about primary discourses and secondary discourses. You can only have one primary discourse at a time, but a secondary discourse can turn into your primary discourse. He explains how behavior plays a role in your discourse. He is writing to those learning about discourses.  

Synthesis

Gee's article relates to Porter, McCloud, and Swales. It relates to Porter because both authors mainly focus on discourse communities and the importance of knowing what they are. Gee relates to McCloud because McCloud talks of a mask, hiding your emotions, and Gee explains that you sometimes have to do this in a discourse community to be accepted, especially ass a journalist in temporary discourses. Gee obviously relates to Swales because they both tell their definition of a (D)discourse and the characteristics of one.

Dialectical Notebook

Response	Quotation
I agree, language’s definition in the public should be modified.	“’Language’ is a misleading term; it too often suggests ‘grammar’” (483).
I like this example, it helps me understand!	“ A Discourse is a sort of ‘identity kit’ which comes complete with the appropriate costume and instructions on how to act, talk, and often write, so as to take a particular role that other will recognize” (484).
This is very true. Also, all of these things connect and rely on each other.	“Primary Discourses differ significantly across various social (cultural, ethnic, regional, and economic) groups in the United States” (485).
I like this, but agree more needs to be done to make it happen.	“Now, one can certainly encourage students to simply ‘resist’ such ‘superficial features of language’” (488).
Everything has a message, or meaning behind it. But language especially does.	“Notice, then, how the vary form of structure and language, and the linguistics devices used, carry an ideological message” (493).

MM

Gee's knowledge helps explain why outsiders do not understand certain discourses. The idea of the mask McCloud talks about goes greatly with this because one person may know someone in high school one way and then see them with his/her family being a completely different person.

Thoughts

I liked this article more than Swales. Gee's 'rules' for a discourse are more relevant in my eyes. I agree with him that you have to act, dress, and talk a certain way to be in some discourses. I would mix his and Swales' ideas for defining a discourse.