Discourse Analysis

This module’s focus on discourse analysis caused me to once again be amazed by the range of individual reactions and responses to the readings and discussion prompt. We all read the same material but each of us understood it differently, applied what we understood differently, read between the lines differently and evaluated the information differently. I believe the variety of responses to be both a strength and a possible area of weakness.

I consider the range of responses to be a strength because of the number of experiences and diversity represented. As someone once said, the whole is greater than the sum of all the parts. I can see the variety of the responses to be a possible weakness, also because of the differences in what individuals bring to their reading and interpretation. I think, a caveat is in order for the person who chooses the reading. That warning is this: if a uniform message is to be delivered, choose the delivery vehicle carefully.