Successfully Aquisition of another Discourse

Lisa Delpit questions Gee's argument on those who are not born into the dominant discourse will find it very difficult, if not impossible to acquire a new dominant discourse. I agree that it is difficult to obtain new discourses. Especially those who are at conflict, that is to say dramatically different, from previously obtain discourses.

However, I agree with Delpit, that it is in fact not impossible to obtain other dominant discourses. Through proper and effective teaching, new discourses may be obtained. She points out many success stories of African Americans who against great odds were very successful in our society. These successes were do to their teachers persistence in making sure they acquired all the necessary tools for the new discourse. While it may be difficult, it is by no means impossible to acquire a new dominant discourse.

Reading and Writings, one or seperate

"Educators often assume that reading and writing form a single standard set of skills to be acquired and used as a whole by individuals who acquire them in a progression of steps which cannot be varied or avoided in learning"

I liked how Szwed points out the differences in standards of writing and reading. This assumption leaves out room for different writing styles, and interest of reading. It also assumes that if one has a good comprehension of language, that this also means that they two can produce language equal to that that they can comprehend. Both of these assumptions aren't very plausible. A person could love to read, but never write. And as pointed out in the reading, words in advertisements, a different standard of writing, are purposely misspelled to convey a different meaning.

The text points out that "not only should the assumption of a single standard that we must question but also the assumption of a single, proper learning progression" The text points out how those learning too write should not violate rules, while they are reading texts that do. While the rules are important, maybe a little leeway should be given for more creativity when learning to write.