ASSIGNMENT - IDENTITY & AUTHORITY

There are three major takeaways from Wardles Identity, Authority &
Learning to Write in New Workplaces:

Issues of identity and authority play central roles in individuals

abilities to join a new workplace;
New employees must be willing to learn the appropriate ways to write
in and for new workplaces;
For new employees to be successful, they must be willing to negotiate
communication strategies.

With these in mind, conduct an interview with a classmate, friend or relative

(or a random person you run into in the street), wherein you discuss that
persons entry into a new work or academic environment that involved at
least some writing. Address the following questions in your interview:
1. In what ways did they try to fit in or adapt to the new writing
environment?
2. What preconceived notions did they have to reconsider once they got
immersed in the environment?
3. What conflicts, if any, did they have with their already established
peers? Did these conflicts yield any positive results?
4. Did they influence or change any long held conventions in that
environment? If yes, how? If no, why not?
5. What do they think of Wardles concept that they were/are likely tools
in the system, and not members of their work/writing communities?
6. Did anyone with institutionally ascribed authority lose that authority in
their eyes for any reason? Explain.
Explain the ways in which this persons experiences are different from or
similar to that of Alan.
You can go through these questions in any order that works for you. As
always, there is no one way to structure or approach this report. You can
write it in essay form, Q&A, etc. Its important, however, that you consider
how best to communicate you and your interviewees ideas to your audience
(i.e. your classmates and I) before you start writing.
This assignment is due on Thursday, November 17 by 11:59PM.

Q: Youre in the college of business, how has the business oriented writing
been different from the writing you did in high school and how does it differ
from your other courses?
A: I have had to write more concise and more educated papers that use a
higher level of thinking. Usually I could have thrown a paper together in
three days but now I have to spend more time on it.
Q: How have you adapted to this new writing style?
A: I spend more time working on papers. I spend time checking the grammar
and going to the professor for help. Basically, I just spend more time on
them.
Q: In the college of business have you had any issues with your peers in any
way? If so, have any of these conflicts resulted in positive change?
A: I really havent had any conflicts, to be honest.
Q: Have you had any writing related issues with them? i.e Peer reviewing
bad papers
A: No, I havent had any problems with them.
Q: Do you think that your writing has, in any way, affected the college of
business and the conventions of business writing?
A: No. (Laughs) I dont think anything I write could change that.
Q: Why or why not
A: Because I am but a humble peasant.
Q: Theres a concept we are learning about that says we are just tools in the
system, do you feel that youre a tool in the system? Or do you feel more like
a member of the business writing community?
A: I am definitely a tool. I am, in no way, shape, or form, adding any value to
the business community.
Q: Have any of your professors or teachers with authority lost authority, in
your eyes, for any reason? Explain.
A: Not really, no. All of my professors have been good so far, and have been
helpful.
This was an interview of my friend, Daniel Harter. His experiences were far
different than those of Alan. Mostly I would say that this comes down to the
fact that he is not in a position of authority and cannot try to impose himself
on others. His experiences in the business community have been limited so
far but he has had to adapt his writing style to fit in their guidelines. Unlike
Alan, he has chosen to follow the rules of the community and has been fairly
successful so far.