The Academic Senate of the University of California requires that all university students must learn "academic discourse- in the areas of reading and writing. Academic discourse involves the development of an academic identity and to think as a member of the academic community. Gloria Anzaldua, author of "How to Tame a Wild Tongue,"" would argue that imposing mandatory requirements to learn this new way of thinking called "academic discourse- are both oppressive and objectionable. She would take this stance because of the beliefs she expresses in her passage relating to the oppressive nature of imposing the English language on Chicano's. Richard Rodriguez, author of "Aria,"" however would argue that the requirement to learn "academic discourse- is valuable and empowering. He would take this position on the requirement because of the positive feelings expressed in his article regarding his experience of having the English language being forced upon him during his early childhood. The university's condition that requires students to learn "academic discourse- is valuable and important, because the ability to make a strong and concise argument in an essay, along with being able to view the world through others perspectives are significant skills to have and employ. .
Learning "academic discourse- is more than merely being taught a new writing style, but also includes altering student's perspectives on the world. According to the Academic Senate's Statement, "Students [must] learn to think carefully on the questions raised in reading, and write academic arguments, clearly organizing and presenting evidences in support of their idea- (1). This component of the requirement presents the need for students to learn to write essays in a formal method with evidence supporting arguments. The Academic Senate Statement also states that students should, "cultivate a historical consciousness of society and culture; to acquaint students with fundamental ways of thinking different from their own or that of their gender, class, and culture and awaken an awareness of the conditioned nature of their own assumptions about the world- (1).
