My Final Paper Topic

What I wish to examine and analyze for my final project, is how language and discourse is used within the subjective-authoritative style. In that, how is language used as an authoritative style in the context of government-mandated Common Core standards? How is this language used by administrators and why has this mode of communication permeated the educational field (among others)? Also, i would like to adress the question of how has language developed to be used strictly authoritative. How and why are these hierarchical boundaries constructed or broken down through language? Specifically, within the Common Core, how has does the language it uses convey authority? Or does it? All these questions I wish to address in my final project.

Transcript Analysis

I was very intrigued hearing everyone's different transcripts throughout the week. What I noticed most was the variety of different discourses that took place. Everything from college-level, discussion-based lectures, to Highschool junior level history/english classes, it seemed every possible example lay in front of us. Some aspects and techniques of the educators, of the many varied transcripts were easily noticeable, such as the IRE aspect. However, what I noticed most was the difference between how educators managed Highschool students, and how they managed college students. It seemed as if the educator played the role of peer more often than the authoritative "teacher"when it came to college level classes. Again, and this is probably because of the context of the class, but nonetheless, a college classroom environment seemed to be much more open to student-based discussion. I feel as if this mode of educating should be more encouraged in secondary settings. I do realize it is my role as an educator to have my students meet common core standards, and to propel discussion in light of those standards, but then again, maybe common core standards should be more expansive and encompassing then the currently existing ones....