short assignment #1 (sa 1) Discursive Positioning DESCRIPTION 1.5 to 3 double-spaced pages, Times New Roman 12 point font, 1-inch margins TOTAL POINTS 30 DUE DATE Fri, 8/30 (1 paper copy due in class and 1 electronic version uploaded as an attachment to Oncourse “Assignments” tab) Consider how many groups of people you communicate with on a daily basis, including your current and previous friends, your parents, your grandparents or elderly relatives, your professors, your RA or roommates, and other people you meet in the city of Bloomington. It is likely that you adjust your ways of speaking, listening, and responding to accommodate each audience. You probably make different arguments, choose different reasons, assume different attitudes, change your tone, use words less clearly or more clearly, use slang selectively, etc. In other words, you position yourself as a particular kind of writer or speaker. The goal of Short Assignment #1 is for you to begin building a critical awareness of how “positioning” can be used as a discourse tool. This assignment has three parts: Part One: Choose an idiomatic expression, proverb, or saying that is familiar in your own language or culture. In 1-2 well developed paragraphs, explain and illustrate the expression for a reader who is completely unfamiliar with the culture, language, or context where the expression originates. You are not simply “translating” the expression. You are discussing its origins, history, meaning, or usage for someone who does not share your knowledge of this expression. Part Two: In 1-2 well developed paragraphs, write an explanation for a reader who is very familiar with the culture, language, or context where the expression originates, but who has a different understanding of it or who needs to be persuaded to agree with you about how it is used. Part Three: In 1-2 well developed paragraphs, justify (to me) some of the differences between parts one and two. What did you explain differently and why? This assignment is worth 30 points and will be evaluated for the following: · content and originality · development · organization · linguistic clarity · completeness .

1. short assignment #1 (sa 1) Discursive Positioning
DESCRIPTION 1.5 to 3 double-spaced pages, Times New
Roman 12 point font, 1-inch margins
TOTAL POINTS 30
DUE DATE Fri, 8/30 (1 paper copy due in class and 1
electronic version uploaded as an attachment to Oncourse
“Assignments” tab)
Consider how many groups of people you communicate with on
a daily basis, including your current and previous friends, your
parents, your grandparents or elderly relatives, your professors,
your RA or roommates, and other people you meet in the city of
Bloomington. It is likely that you adjust your ways of speaking,
listening, and responding to accommodate each audience. You
probably make different arguments, choose different reasons,
assume different attitudes, change your tone, use words less
clearly or more clearly, use slang selectively, etc. In other
words, you position yourself as a particular kind of writer or
speaker.
The goal of Short Assignment #1 is for you to begin building a
critical awareness of how “positioning” can be used as a
discourse tool. This assignment has three parts:
Part One: Choose an idiomatic expression, proverb, or saying
that is familiar in your own language or culture. In 1-2 well
developed paragraphs, explain and illustrate the expression for a
reader who is completely unfamiliar with the culture, language,
or context where the expression originates. You are not simply
“translating” the expression. You are discussing its origins,
history, meaning, or usage for someone who does not share your
knowledge of this expression.

2. Part Two: In 1-2 well developed paragraphs, write an
explanation for a reader who is very familiar with the culture,
language, or context where the expression originates, but who
has a different understanding of it or who needs to be persuaded
to agree with you about how it is used.
Part Three: In 1-2 well developed paragraphs, justify (to me)
some of the differences between parts one and two. What did
you explain differently and why?
This assignment is worth 30 points and will be evaluated for the
following:
· content and originality
· development
· organization
· linguistic clarity
· completeness