50 Application: Positionality Analysis
Read and Reflect
Select a source you’re planning to use in a piece you’re composing, and then do some background research on the author of that source to determine their positionality. For instance, you might search to find:
- The author’s current or past occupation
- An online CV or resume for the author
- Other publications by the author
- Public social media commentary
Reflect on what you’ve found by asking yourself: what do my findings tell me about the stance of the author on the topic I am researching. Is their stance obvious or do they take a more objective approach? Why might that be?
Read the source again to look for evidence of the author’s stance. Respond to the following questions in your research journal:
- What is this author’s stake in the topic?
- How does this author establish credibility (ethos) on this topic?
- How does the author’s style of writing add to or align with their credibility?