Blog 13

In general terms, discourse analysis can be broken down and defined as two words, the first one being discourse which means written or spoken communication with a topic. Analysis means a detailed examination. When looked at from the point of view of Gee, he emphasis the connection and role it plays in the course of research. While analyzing, "Data Set 5: Chat rooms," many things can be coded according to language, values/beliefs and answers. In this matter, we have an interview of, Dr. Chandler (aka-Sally (S)) and Amanda (A) where the first Excerpt is somewhat of a more naive and younger girl whereas the second one we have a rather fearless girl with a side of maturity. 

While observing Amanda, Dr. Chandler exhibits a sense of curiosity by poking at her by asking for detail. In the first excerpt, the language usage varies a lot in comparison to the second excerpt. For example, in the first excerpt you read her youth. For example, she uses certain adjectives such as, "scary," emphasis her child-like intimidation while reiterating her experience. Despite the fact that she justifies it towards the end by mentioning her guidance over her brother and sister, it is possible to understand the experience she went through. 

The second excerpt focuses more on her experience as a rather more mature teenager who is more in charge of her life. The excerpt begins with Dr. Chandler asking what did you do in a typical session. Her response was similar to that of the movie, "Grease," in the scene where Danny (played by John Travolta) responds by saying, "you know rockin' and groovin..." Amanda's response was similar where it was shorter than the first one where rather than tell a short story she says, "check our emails, check our hompe pages, see if people left us messages, go in chat rooms and chat with our friends, echange pictures with people that lived in our area that was our age, which could be dangerous, cause they could be imposters, we really didn't care." Her fear and the word, "scary," immediately became nothing but a vague word used by a younger version than her. The usage of language emphasis what it is that makes her, "cool."

Dr. Chandler leads the interview with questions where she consistently lets Amanda know (subliminally of course) that detail and explanations are very necessary. In the first excerpt she even humors in the fact that the interview will be published and Amanda had a secret that perhaps she should tell her parents. This leads path to other stories that she unveils by Dr. Chandler's usage of questions.