Transcriptions, Barns and Glossing

What b-a-r-n do you see? Excellent work on everyone's part today. It isn't always easy sharing a personal conversation with people you are just getting to know. I am looking forward to reading through your transcripts. And some great thoughts on the exercise and the poem we read in class. This was our first conversation, but we will be recording a longer one in the weeks to come. Mustapha's comment that some conversations don't have a purpose brought up an important point: are there times when talking (writing, reading) doesn't have a purpose? If so, when might that time be? We are talking about all forms of conversation now. What happens to communciation when their isn't shared purpose? While terms like shared knowledge, shared purpose, shared ways seem pompous at times, we can use them as a framework for understanding. As you get more familiar with the concepts, you'll be amazed at the ways in which they take us below the surface of discourse. Sean pointed out that most of the conversations were between friends. Why is that? And the conversations seem to flow--how can we bring this kind of interaction into our writing? By the way, did anyone wonder why I asked them to transribe a conversation?

I hope you enjoyed the poem and please share any thoughts in the "dark cathedral of your skull" on the blog. The exercise had two goals: first, to create more awareness of that voice you hear in your head when you are thinking--yes, thinking about thinking; secondly, introducing you to glossing--a skill that many of you already use and one that will improve over time. Post-its are only one way to engage with a text. Eventually you'll develop a your own process of reading and studying. I'll end my harangue with thes questions from the book: How does your experience in past communities shape your view of yourself in a new academic settings? How might taking on the identity of a college learner draw from and challenge the identities you've shaped in other discourse communites? This is something we can chew on for awhile. Have a great weekend and give me a call or email with questions.