CONCEPT 3,

SECTIONS 3.4 & 3.5

Naming What We Know

SECTION 3.4:
DISCIPLINARY AND
PROFESSIONAL
IDENTITIES ARE
CONSTRUCTED
THROUGH WRITING
Section 3.4

EXPLORATION
• Section 3.4 explains that many people learn to construct new identities
through research and writing as a student in college and continue develop
professional identities through disciplines.
• In many universities, students must take a class introducing them to new
knowledge and a different learning process. Because disciplinary writing is
different from the students' previous writing practices, they begin to
question themselves. This opens students up to develop new
identities, writing habits, and writing processes.
• Approaching writing as a reflection of identity not only expands writing
capabilities, but also teaches people how to properly be in a group with
others and meet expectations.
 IMPORTANT QUOTES
"WRITING—AS A MEANS “FOR MANY STUDENTS IN
OF THINKING, A FORM OF COLLEGE ENCOUNTERING
INQUIRY AND RESEARCH, AND A DISCIPLINARY WRITING FOR THE
MEANS FOR COMMUNICATION FIRST TIME, DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC
WITHIN A DISCIPLINE—PLAYS A WRITING THREATENS THEIR SENSE
CRITICAL ROLE IN THAT OF SELF BECAUSE THESE WAYS
IDENTITY TRANSFORMATION OF THINKING AND WRITING ARE SO
AND EXPANSION." DISTINCT FROM OTHER MORE
FAMILIAR READING AND WRITING
PRACTICES."
"FOR MANY PEOPLE, THE IDEA
THAT WRITING IS NOT MERELY A
MATTER OF
RECORDING ONE’S RESEARCH OR
THOUGHTS, BUT IS IN FACT A
PROCESS LINKED
TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW,
PROFESSIONAL IDENTITIES, IS
TROUBLESOME."
REFLECTION & INSIGHTS
 It is important for writers to be open to new knowledge and
to begin constructing their identities.
 Thinking can contribute to forming new identities.
 We should view our own writing as a representation of our
identities rather than a recording of our thoughts. Using this
approach can open the writer to new conventions and skills.
 MA4 is a great way to show our professional identities and how
they have developed through disciplinary methods.
SECTION 3.5:
WRITING PROVIDES
A REPRESENTATION
OF IDEOLOGIES AND
IDENTITIES
Section 3.5

EXPLORATION
• Every writer has multiple identities that are reflected in their writing, and it
is important to discover what assumptions are made based on the writer's
world views.
• No writer is a purist in their ideology because various power relations affect
our views.
• To discover the power dynamics, formed by identity and ideology, writers
must know how their writing is affected by these. They should be aware
of how their identities are represented in what they write.
• Writing can be seen in three ways: An impartial reflection of reality, the
author conveys their intention, and the reader recognizes their intention, or
an internal negotiation between the reader and authors' worldviews.
 IMPORTANT QUOTES

"WRITING PROVIDES A MEANS
WHEREBY IDENTITIES ARE
DISCOVERED AND CONSTITUTED. "
"THERE ARE LIMITS TO WHAT CAN
BE ANTICIPATED ABOUT WHAT
READERS KNOW,
ASSUME, OR BELIEVE. "
“THREE CONCEPTIONS OF HOW
WRITING CAN BE SEEN TO WORK:
AS REFLECTIVE,... AS
INTENTIONAL,... OR AS
CONSTRUCTED."
REFLECTION & INSIGHTS

 Multiple identities are represented in our writing, whether it is

intentional or not.
 A single identity can never be assumed in writing as the bias of our
other identities dominates our views.
 Through understanding how our identities are represented we can go
forward focusing on which identities we want to be shown in our
writing.
 MA3 is a good way to represent our identities in our writing and
diminish the bias we assume from our other identities.
DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS
 QUESTION 1

How has your identity changed

through disciplinary writing?
 QUESTION 2

Did these concepts change how

you will approach writing
assignments in the future?
 QUESTION 3

What instances have multiple of your

identities been represented in your
writing?
 QUESTION 4

Did these concepts change your

understanding of the identities you
assume?
 QUESTION 5

How did these concepts change

your ideas of the importance of
writing?
CLASS ACTIVITY
Take out a phone, laptop, or tablet for a game of Kahoot! We
hope you paid attention. There is a prize for the winner at the
end :)

Kahoot link
WORKS
CITED
Estrem, Heidi. "Disciplinary and Professional Identities are
constructed through writing." Naming What We Know:
Threshold Concepts of Writing Studies. Utah
State University Press, 2016.

Villanueva, Victor. "Writing provides a representation of

ideologies and identities." Naming What We
Know: Threshold Concepts of
Writing Studies. Utah State University Press, 2016.