Theorem 1: “Discourses are not like languages”

I would say that Discourse are not like languages at all for one important reason. One can sign up and take a class to learn French or Spanish or Mandarin. One cannot sign up for a class one what it is to be a doctor. You can’t teach a Discourse you can only practice it. One must behave like those in the Discourse to become part of the Discourse. I feel that language is too simple to be the same as a Discourse.

 

Theorem 2: “Primary Discourses can never really be liberating literacies”

For this theory, Gee is saying that a Primary Discourse cannot critique a secondary Discourse based on the nature of Primary Discourses. This nature is that Primary Discourse cannot criticize other Discourse because their actions cannot be expressed like Secondary Discourse are expressed.

 

 

Mushfake Discourse means “partial acquisition coupled with meta-knowledge and strategies to “make do”. ” Gee is propping that we practice “mushfaking”. This combines resistance with meta-knowledge along with other strategies. Gee wants us to implement these strategies into teaching so that students can be fully engage with the material given. He says that implementing these strategies will be apparent if done correctly.

On page 11 a the top of Gee’s article, mentions how Discourse is not “reading  and writing” based but more how we act. This connects to how Cuddy says in the beginning of her talk that, “we’re really fascinated with body language, and we’re particularly interested in other people’s body language”. This is a connection that Discourse is a particular mindset, it makes up our lives and who we are as individuals. And Cuddy is saying that we all are interested on how we act socially. So together they are saying that not only does our Discourse and the way we act matter to us, but it matters to others and helps us shape our opinions on others.

 

In the above annotation on page 10, Gee’s point that one must be a pretender before being part of the Discourse, ties into Cuddy’s point that one must “fake it until they make it’.

 

In the above annotation on page 1brings with 1, Gee is connecting his points of Discourse to the school system. He claims that middle-class Discourse in the school system can, “carry with them power and prestige”. He says that this pre-status can be superficial. This connects to Cuddy’s point that many classrooms are made up of alpha and beta students, most alphas being men and most betas being females. She did give an example of how a female in her class, a beta, faked being an alpha until she became one. She overcame the prestige.

In the above quote on page 12, Gee is saying again in the quote, “Discourse cannot be overtly taught, and cannot readily be mastered late in the game”. Gee is proposing that if one wants to be part of the discourse, start as soon as possible before it’s too late for you to join.