Language + Identity

This lesson comes toward the beginning of the semester in my College Writing course and is designed to give students a deeper understanding of the ways language use shapes our perception of other people.

Part 1: Revisiting the Rhetorical Situation

Draw the rhetorical triangle (writer, reader, message/topic, text).
Instructional point: Writers compose for reasons; that's called the exigence. It comes from the belief that writing can do something to address a problem.
Instructional point: Writers are shaped by contexts. We bring our experiences, knowledge, beliefs, and identities to our writing.

This lesson dives into the ways we change our speech in different contexts and the social contexts of it.

Part 2: 3 Ways to Speak English

4. Use writing journal or scratch paper to complete the "Circles of Me" QuickWrite: Think about 3 or 4 different social situations (friends, classes, party, families). How do you say "hello" in each of those situations? Write for about 5 minutes and share responses.

5. Watch "3 Ways to Speak English" by Dr. Jamila Lysicott. The video is approximately 5 minutes.

6. Group discussion: What is the purpose of Dr. J's poem? What is she telling us?

7. Team discussion: Divide into teams of 3 or 4 students. Give each team a different question to discuss.

How does Dr. J change the way she speaks in different situations?
What are the social factors that contribute to the languages Dr. J talks about?
How does our language use shape our identity?
How does our language use change the ways other people perceive us?

8. Group discussion: Allow each team to share their responses to the questions. Skip around to facilitate the discussion so that teams play from each other's responses.

Part 3: Independent Writing

Spend the remaining class time (and possibly assign for homework) the following generative writing prompt:

Create a map (or a list) of 4 or 5 social groups or communities you are part of. Choose one and write a paragraph that answers the following questions: What are the shared values of the poeple in the grous? Shared interests? Beliefs about poeple, things, reality? Are there any special terms or phrases you use to show that you're part of the group? What is the meaning or significance of language use in the group? How do you show you belong?

My example: I'm part of the college of education. In this community, we have a shared value of literacy and learning. We share interests in teaching, writing, and mentoring studnts. We believe that learning takes place in different situations and different ways. We believe in the transformative power of education, literacy, and language. W use words like "linguistic justice," "social scripts," and "pedagogy" that are specialized to our discipline.

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