Writing And Power 

Writing and Power

On this page, I demonstrate how I developed my understanding of the relationship between writing, identity, language, and power. Throughout the semester, I learned that writing is not neutral, and that language can influence how ideas are perceived, who is included or excluded, and how people express their identity.

As an international student, my experience with language has played an important role in shaping how I write. I often had to adapt my language to meet academic expectations in English, which reflects how power operates in writing. Academic writing requires specific conventions, and not all students have the same access to these expectations. In my Multimodal Literacy Narrative, I wrote, “Learning to write in a new academic environment forced me to adapt the way I express my ideas” (Younes Boudinar, Multimodal Literacy Narrative). This shows how my identity and background influenced my writing process and how I had to adjust to fit dominant academic standards.

In addition, I learned about concepts such as discourse and identity. Different communities use language in different ways, and being part of a specific discourse means understanding its rules and expectations. As I engaged with academic writing, I had to learn how to use more formal language, structured arguments, and specific vocabulary. This process shows how power can shape communication by defining what is considered “correct” or “acceptable” writing.

I also became more aware of how language can include or exclude people. For example, students who are not familiar with academic discourse may feel excluded or less confident in their writing. In my work, I reflected on this idea by explaining that adapting to a new language environment can be challenging but also helps develop new skills (Younes Boudinar, Quick Writes). This demonstrates my understanding of how literacy and power are connected.

Furthermore, I learned that writing can also be a way to express identity and challenge dominant norms. In my assignments, I used personal experiences to show how my background influenced my writing. This allowed me to bring my own voice into my work while still respecting academic expectations. This balance between adapting and expressing identity is an important part of writing and power.

Overall, this outcome helped me understand that writing is deeply connected to identity, culture, and power. I learned that language is not only a tool for communication, but also something that can shape opportunities and access. In the future, I will continue to be aware of these dynamics and use writing as a way to express my identity while adapting to different contexts.

Boudinar, Younes. Multimodal Literacy Narrative. ENC 1101, 2026.

Boudinar, Younes. Quick Writes. ENC 1101, 2026.