Discourse Community Draft 1:
Within the textbook, “Writing About Writing,” various authors successfully portrayed the main concept of discourse communities. The text introduced me to and gave me the keys to the discourse community of people who study writing. James Paul Gee, an researcher on writing, displayed his view point on discourse communities through his article, “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction.” He stated, “The various Discourses which constitute each of us as persons are changing and often are not fully consistent with each other; there is often conflict and tension between the values, beliefs, attitudes, and interactional styles, use of language, and ways of being in the world which two or more Discourses represent” (Gee, 485). Gee gives a description dominant, non-dominant, primary, and secondary discourses, as well as his own definition of literacy.
After reading the text, “The Concept of Discourse Community,” I am able to explain discourse community and how they're six defining characteristics to make discourse community a group. Author John Swales provides examples through his article in order to give a true understanding of discourse community. He explains how there's a difference between that between speech community and discourse community and uses numerous authors to support his point. “A speech community is defined, then, tautologically but radically, as a community sharing knowledge of rules for the conduct and interpretation of speech” (Swales, 219). He described speech community as people who share similar linguistic rules. He highlighted that discourse community has a broadly agreed set of common public goals, mechanisms of intercommunication among its members, uses its participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback, utilities and hence processes one or more genres in the communicative furtherance of its aims, acquires specific lexis, and has a threshold level of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discourse expertise (Swales, 221-222).
Not only did Gee and Swales introduce me to the discourse community of people who study writing, but gave me the keys to identifying the discourse communities that surround me. After analyzing multiple sources, I recognized that I'm a part of a discourse community. My sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, is represented as a discourse community through our values, creativity, beliefs. According to Greek Life Statistics, “There are over 9 million Greek members nationally”(“Greek Life Statistics”). Each sorority and fraternity in the world values their service, behavior, leadership, academics, and presentations differently. From the charter granted to Zeta Tau Alpha by the State of Virginia, March 15, 1902, ”The object of said association shall be to intensify friendship, promote happiness among its members, and in every way to create such sentiments; to perform such deeds, and to mould such opinions as will conduce to the building up of a nobler and purer womanhood in the world”(”Our Beliefs”).
Another example of why Zeta Tau Alpha is a discourse community is because of the way that I communicate with my sisters, consistent and respectful. We are required to be kind to and include one another. Gee told, “‘Language’ is a misleading term; it too often suggests ‘grammar.’ It is a truism that a person can know perfectly the grammar of a language and not know how to use that language. It is not just what you say, but how you say it”(Gee, 483). We have secret pass codes and words that we use for ritual, along with specific facts that only girls within our chapter know. A clear reason why Zeta Tau Alpha is a discourse community is due to the fact that we share our own language.
According to Swales, “A discourse community has a broadly agreed set of common public goals. These public goals may be formally inscribed in documents (as is often the case with associations and clubs), or they may be more tacit”(Swales, 220). This quote relates to every sorority and fraternity that is a proudly represented national philanthropy, a group or an organization for which their goal is to raise money for a public cause. Each philanthropy is represented by a different sorority or fraternity, such as Zeta Tau Alpha representing breast cancer education and awareness. Each year we host various events and take serious measures to raise money for this cause, compared to others who value different causes.
Victoria Marro, a Junior in the Class of 2014 at the University of Central Florida told, “Sororities have existed for over 100 years and have maintained their values even as time passes and chapters become farther apart. One way these organizations have been able to keep these traditions is through the use of various genres. According to the work of writing researchers such as Amy Devitt, genres are flexible responses to fit the needs of a discourse community or social setting”(Marro, 1). After viewing numerous sources, I am able to identify that discourse communities are groups with agreed goals, communication, membership, language, etc. Not only do I have a better understanding of discourse communities, but I am able to recognize the ones I am a part of, such as Zeta Tau Alpha.
Works Cited
Gee, James P. “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction.” Journal of Education 171.1 (1989): 5-17. Print.
“Greek Life Statistics.” The Fraternity Advisor. The Fraternity Advisor, 2013. Web. 22 July 2013.
“Our Beliefs.” Zeta Tau Alpha. Copyright Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, 2014. Web. Retrieved From
http://www.zetataualpha.org/cms400min/Template4SF.aspx?id=552&tlmid=17
Swales, John. “The Concept of Discourse Community.” Genre Analysis: English in Academic and
Research Settings. Boston: Cambridge UP, 1990. 21-32. Print.
Marro, Victoria. The Genres of Chi Omega: An Activity Analysis. Produced in Elizabeth Wardle's Fall
2011 ENC1102. Retrieved From
http://writingandrhetoric.cah.ucf.edu/stylus/files/3_1/stylus_3_1_Marro.pdf
Within the textbook, “Writing About Writing,” various authors successfully portrayed the main concept of discourse communities. The text introduced me to and gave me the keys to the discourse community of people who study writing. James Paul Gee, an researcher on writing, displayed his view point on discourse communities through his article, “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction.” He stated, “The various Discourses which constitute each of us as persons are changing and often are not fully consistent with each other; there is often conflict and tension between the values, beliefs, attitudes, and interactional styles, use of language, and ways of being in the world which two or more Discourses represent” (Gee, 485). Gee gives a description dominant, non-dominant, primary, and secondary discourses, as well as his own definition of literacy.
After reading the text, “The Concept of Discourse Community,” I am able to explain discourse community and how they're six defining characteristics to make discourse community a group. Author John Swales provides examples through his article in order to give a true understanding of discourse community. He explains how there's a difference between that between speech community and discourse community and uses numerous authors to support his point. “A speech community is defined, then, tautologically but radically, as a community sharing knowledge of rules for the conduct and interpretation of speech” (Swales, 219). He described speech community as people who share similar linguistic rules. He highlighted that discourse community has a broadly agreed set of common public goals, mechanisms of intercommunication among its members, uses its participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback, utilities and hence processes one or more genres in the communicative furtherance of its aims, acquires specific lexis, and has a threshold level of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discourse expertise (Swales, 221-222).
Not only did Gee and Swales introduce me to the discourse community of people who study writing, but gave me the keys to identifying the discourse communities that surround me. After analyzing multiple sources, I recognized that I'm a part of a discourse community. My sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, is represented as a discourse community through our values, creativity, beliefs. According to Greek Life Statistics, “There are over 9 million Greek members nationally”(“Greek Life Statistics”). Each sorority and fraternity in the world values their service, behavior, leadership, academics, and presentations differently. From the charter granted to Zeta Tau Alpha by the State of Virginia, March 15, 1902, ”The object of said association shall be to intensify friendship, promote happiness among its members, and in every way to create such sentiments; to perform such deeds, and to mould such opinions as will conduce to the building up of a nobler and purer womanhood in the world”(”Our Beliefs”).
Another example of why Zeta Tau Alpha is a discourse community is because of the way that I communicate with my sisters, consistent and respectful. We are required to be kind to and include one another. Gee told, “‘Language’ is a misleading term; it too often suggests ‘grammar.’ It is a truism that a person can know perfectly the grammar of a language and not know how to use that language. It is not just what you say, but how you say it”(Gee, 483). We have secret pass codes and words that we use for ritual, along with specific facts that only girls within our chapter know. A clear reason why Zeta Tau Alpha is a discourse community is due to the fact that we share our own language.
According to Swales, “A discourse community has a broadly agreed set of common public goals. These public goals may be formally inscribed in documents (as is often the case with associations and clubs), or they may be more tacit”(Swales, 220). This quote relates to every sorority and fraternity that is a proudly represented national philanthropy, a group or an organization for which their goal is to raise money for a public cause. Each philanthropy is represented by a different sorority or fraternity, such as Zeta Tau Alpha representing breast cancer education and awareness. Each year we host various events and take serious measures to raise money for this cause, compared to others who value different causes.
Victoria Marro, a Junior in the Class of 2014 at the University of Central Florida told, “Sororities have existed for over 100 years and have maintained their values even as time passes and chapters become farther apart. One way these organizations have been able to keep these traditions is through the use of various genres. According to the work of writing researchers such as Amy Devitt, genres are flexible responses to fit the needs of a discourse community or social setting”(Marro, 1). After viewing numerous sources, I am able to identify that discourse communities are groups with agreed goals, communication, membership, language, etc. Not only do I have a better understanding of discourse communities, but I am able to recognize the ones I am a part of, such as Zeta Tau Alpha.
Works Cited
Gee, James P. “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction.” Journal of Education 171.1 (1989): 5-17. Print.
“Greek Life Statistics.” The Fraternity Advisor. The Fraternity Advisor, 2013. Web. 22 July 2013.
“Our Beliefs.” Zeta Tau Alpha. Copyright Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, 2014. Web. Retrieved From
http://www.zetataualpha.org/cms400min/Template4SF.aspx?id=552&tlmid=17
Swales, John. “The Concept of Discourse Community.” Genre Analysis: English in Academic and
Research Settings. Boston: Cambridge UP, 1990. 21-32. Print.
Marro, Victoria. The Genres of Chi Omega: An Activity Analysis. Produced in Elizabeth Wardle's Fall
2011 ENC1102. Retrieved From
http://writingandrhetoric.cah.ucf.edu/stylus/files/3_1/stylus_3_1_Marro.pdf
![Picture](/uploads/4/2/6/9/42692587/306101.png?465)
Discourse Community Peer Review
This includes the tips given to everyone in my peer review group because each opinion helped me reflect on my own paper and amke changes. One of the biggest changes I made was adding how the authors are discourse communities. I left that out in my draft as well as a claim about the argument which states that the writer's are discourse communities. I also added how discourse communities are going to help me in the future and/or with my career. My paper definitely wouldn't be as successful without the opinions of my peers.
Discourse Community Final Draft:
Berkley McGaughey
ENC 1101, Professor Wolcott
November 21, 2014
Discourse Community Essay Final Draft
Within the textbook, Writing About Writing: A College Reader, written by Elizabeth Wardle and Doug Downs, various authors successfully portrayed the main concept of discourse communities. The text introduced me to and gave me the keys to the discourse community of people who study writing. Not only did I learn how the writers and professors in the book are a discourse community, but how I can apply the information interpreted to my future circumstances.
James Paul Gee, an researcher on writing, displayed his view point on discourse communities through his article, “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction.” He stated, “The various Discourses which constitute each of us as persons are changing and often are not fully consistent with each other; there is often conflict and tension between the values, beliefs, attitudes, and interactional styles, use of language, and ways of being in the world which two or more Discourses represent” (Gee, 485). Gee gives a description dominant, non-dominant, primary, and secondary discourses, as well as his own definition of literacy. Due to analyzing his essay, I can recognize how discourse communities come in numerous shapes, forms, and sizes.
John Swales, author of the text, “The Concept of Discourse Community,” uses six defining characteristics to tell whether a group of individuals are believed to be a discourse community. Swales provides examples through his article in order to give a true understanding of discourse communities. He explains how there's a difference between that between speech community and discourse community and uses numerous authors to support his point. “A speech community is defined, then, tautologically but radically, as a community sharing knowledge of rules for the conduct and interpretation of speech” (Swales, 219). He described speech community as people who share similar linguistic rules. He highlighted that discourse community has a broadly agreed set of common public goals, mechanisms of intercommunication among its members, uses its participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback, utilities and hence processes one or more genres in the communicative furtherance of its aims, acquires specific lexis, and has a threshold level of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discourse expertise (Swales, 221-222).
With the help of Gee and Swales, I can identify that the authors included in the text, Writing About Writing: A College Reader, are a discourse community. The writers and professors whose texts are in this book have an agreed set on common goals: they strive to improve the reading and writing of others. Swales includes that a discourse community uses its “participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback” (Swales 472). This quote refers articles in the book, which includes and teaches different techniques to readers in order to improve their writing styles.
Not only did Gee and Swales introduce me to the discourse community of people who study writing, but gave me the keys to identifying the discourse communities that surround me. After analyzing multiple sources, I recognized that I'm a part of a discourse community. My sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, is represented as a discourse community through our values, creativity, beliefs. According to Greek Life Statistics, “There are over 9 million Greek members nationally”(“Greek Life Statistics”). Each sorority and fraternity in the world values their service, behavior, leadership, academics, and presentations differently. From the charter granted to Zeta Tau Alpha by the State of Virginia, March 15, 1902, ”The object of said association shall be to intensify friendship, promote happiness among its members, and in every way to create such sentiments; to perform such deeds, and to mould such opinions as will conduce to the building up of a nobler and purer womanhood in the world”(”Our Beliefs”).
Another example of why Zeta Tau Alpha is a discourse community is because of the way that I communicate with my sisters, consistent and respectful. We are required to be kind to and include one another. Gee told, “‘Language’ is a misleading term; it too often suggests ‘grammar.’ It is a truism that a person can know perfectly the grammar of a language and not know how to use that language. It is not just what you say, but how you say it”(Gee, 483). We have secret pass codes and words that we use for ritual, along with specific facts that only girls within our chapter know. A clear reason why Zeta Tau Alpha is a discourse community is due to the fact that we share our own language. Gee's article inspired me and gave techniques that I can use to improve future communication with my sisters. For example, while using the secret words in our chapter, don't just say them without knowing the meaning of them.
According to Swales, “A discourse community has a broadly agreed set of common public goals. These public goals may be formally inscribed in documents (as is often the case with associations and clubs), or they may be more tacit”(Swales, 220). This quote relates to every sorority and fraternity that is a proudly represented national philanthropy, a group or an organization for which their goal is to raise money for a public cause. Each philanthropy is represented by a different sorority or fraternity, such as Zeta Tau Alpha representing breast cancer education and awareness. Each year we host various events and take serious measures to raise money for this cause, compared to others who value different causes. Swales six criteria will apply to my future plan to improve Zeta Tau Alpha's philanthropy and raise more money. Within the next few years, I have the “common goal,” (just like other members in my sorority do), to help individuals with breast cancer by taking serious measures in order to lower their finances.
Victoria Marro, a Junior in the Class of 2014 at the University of Central Florida told, “Sororities have existed for over 100 years and have maintained their values even as time passes and chapters become farther apart. One way these organizations have been able to keep these traditions is through the use of various genres. According to the work of writing researchers such as Amy Devitt, genres are flexible responses to fit the needs of a discourse community or social setting”(Marro, 1). By studying the people who study writing as a discourse community, I can think in terms of my own future. The writers and professors in the text, “Writing About Writing: A College Reader,” are a discourse community as well as Zeta Tau Alpha because they're groups with agreed goals, communication, membership, language, etc. Not only do I have a better understanding of discourse communities, but I am able to recognize the one I am a part of.
Works Cited
Gee, James P. “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction.” Journal of Education 171.1 (1989): 5-17. Print.
“Greek Life Statistics.” The Fraternity Advisor. The Fraternity Advisor, 2013. Web. 22 July 2013.
“Our Beliefs.” Zeta Tau Alpha. Copyright Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, 2014. Web. Retrieved From
http://www.zetataualpha.org/cms400min/Template4SF.aspx?id=552&tlmid=17
Swales, John. “The Concept of Discourse Community.” Genre Analysis: English in Academic and
Research Settings. Boston: Cambridge UP, 1990. 21-32. Print.
Marro, Victoria. The Genres of Chi Omega: An Activity Analysis. Produced in Elizabeth Wardle's Fall
2011 ENC1102. Retrieved From
http://writingandrhetoric.cah.ucf.edu/stylus/files/3_1/stylus_3_1_Marro.pdf
Discourse Community Discussion Posts By Peers:
Berkley McGaughey
ENC 1101, Professor Wolcott
November 21, 2014
Discourse Community Essay Final Draft
Within the textbook, Writing About Writing: A College Reader, written by Elizabeth Wardle and Doug Downs, various authors successfully portrayed the main concept of discourse communities. The text introduced me to and gave me the keys to the discourse community of people who study writing. Not only did I learn how the writers and professors in the book are a discourse community, but how I can apply the information interpreted to my future circumstances.
James Paul Gee, an researcher on writing, displayed his view point on discourse communities through his article, “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction.” He stated, “The various Discourses which constitute each of us as persons are changing and often are not fully consistent with each other; there is often conflict and tension between the values, beliefs, attitudes, and interactional styles, use of language, and ways of being in the world which two or more Discourses represent” (Gee, 485). Gee gives a description dominant, non-dominant, primary, and secondary discourses, as well as his own definition of literacy. Due to analyzing his essay, I can recognize how discourse communities come in numerous shapes, forms, and sizes.
John Swales, author of the text, “The Concept of Discourse Community,” uses six defining characteristics to tell whether a group of individuals are believed to be a discourse community. Swales provides examples through his article in order to give a true understanding of discourse communities. He explains how there's a difference between that between speech community and discourse community and uses numerous authors to support his point. “A speech community is defined, then, tautologically but radically, as a community sharing knowledge of rules for the conduct and interpretation of speech” (Swales, 219). He described speech community as people who share similar linguistic rules. He highlighted that discourse community has a broadly agreed set of common public goals, mechanisms of intercommunication among its members, uses its participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback, utilities and hence processes one or more genres in the communicative furtherance of its aims, acquires specific lexis, and has a threshold level of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discourse expertise (Swales, 221-222).
With the help of Gee and Swales, I can identify that the authors included in the text, Writing About Writing: A College Reader, are a discourse community. The writers and professors whose texts are in this book have an agreed set on common goals: they strive to improve the reading and writing of others. Swales includes that a discourse community uses its “participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback” (Swales 472). This quote refers articles in the book, which includes and teaches different techniques to readers in order to improve their writing styles.
Not only did Gee and Swales introduce me to the discourse community of people who study writing, but gave me the keys to identifying the discourse communities that surround me. After analyzing multiple sources, I recognized that I'm a part of a discourse community. My sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, is represented as a discourse community through our values, creativity, beliefs. According to Greek Life Statistics, “There are over 9 million Greek members nationally”(“Greek Life Statistics”). Each sorority and fraternity in the world values their service, behavior, leadership, academics, and presentations differently. From the charter granted to Zeta Tau Alpha by the State of Virginia, March 15, 1902, ”The object of said association shall be to intensify friendship, promote happiness among its members, and in every way to create such sentiments; to perform such deeds, and to mould such opinions as will conduce to the building up of a nobler and purer womanhood in the world”(”Our Beliefs”).
Another example of why Zeta Tau Alpha is a discourse community is because of the way that I communicate with my sisters, consistent and respectful. We are required to be kind to and include one another. Gee told, “‘Language’ is a misleading term; it too often suggests ‘grammar.’ It is a truism that a person can know perfectly the grammar of a language and not know how to use that language. It is not just what you say, but how you say it”(Gee, 483). We have secret pass codes and words that we use for ritual, along with specific facts that only girls within our chapter know. A clear reason why Zeta Tau Alpha is a discourse community is due to the fact that we share our own language. Gee's article inspired me and gave techniques that I can use to improve future communication with my sisters. For example, while using the secret words in our chapter, don't just say them without knowing the meaning of them.
According to Swales, “A discourse community has a broadly agreed set of common public goals. These public goals may be formally inscribed in documents (as is often the case with associations and clubs), or they may be more tacit”(Swales, 220). This quote relates to every sorority and fraternity that is a proudly represented national philanthropy, a group or an organization for which their goal is to raise money for a public cause. Each philanthropy is represented by a different sorority or fraternity, such as Zeta Tau Alpha representing breast cancer education and awareness. Each year we host various events and take serious measures to raise money for this cause, compared to others who value different causes. Swales six criteria will apply to my future plan to improve Zeta Tau Alpha's philanthropy and raise more money. Within the next few years, I have the “common goal,” (just like other members in my sorority do), to help individuals with breast cancer by taking serious measures in order to lower their finances.
Victoria Marro, a Junior in the Class of 2014 at the University of Central Florida told, “Sororities have existed for over 100 years and have maintained their values even as time passes and chapters become farther apart. One way these organizations have been able to keep these traditions is through the use of various genres. According to the work of writing researchers such as Amy Devitt, genres are flexible responses to fit the needs of a discourse community or social setting”(Marro, 1). By studying the people who study writing as a discourse community, I can think in terms of my own future. The writers and professors in the text, “Writing About Writing: A College Reader,” are a discourse community as well as Zeta Tau Alpha because they're groups with agreed goals, communication, membership, language, etc. Not only do I have a better understanding of discourse communities, but I am able to recognize the one I am a part of.
Works Cited
Gee, James P. “Literacy, Discourse, and Linguistics: Introduction.” Journal of Education 171.1 (1989): 5-17. Print.
“Greek Life Statistics.” The Fraternity Advisor. The Fraternity Advisor, 2013. Web. 22 July 2013.
“Our Beliefs.” Zeta Tau Alpha. Copyright Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, 2014. Web. Retrieved From
http://www.zetataualpha.org/cms400min/Template4SF.aspx?id=552&tlmid=17
Swales, John. “The Concept of Discourse Community.” Genre Analysis: English in Academic and
Research Settings. Boston: Cambridge UP, 1990. 21-32. Print.
Marro, Victoria. The Genres of Chi Omega: An Activity Analysis. Produced in Elizabeth Wardle's Fall
2011 ENC1102. Retrieved From
http://writingandrhetoric.cah.ucf.edu/stylus/files/3_1/stylus_3_1_Marro.pdf
Discourse Community Discussion Posts By Peers:
![Picture](/uploads/4/2/6/9/42692587/6982538.png?1417536239)
I can relate to Beth because I spent all of my high school years working as a manager in a frozen yogurt shop, Red Mango. I also had to learn to communicate, attempt to actively speak, and understand different languages due to the variety of people that came in. Due to the difficulties I faced in a frozen yogurt shop, I couldn't imagine what it's like to adapt to a restaurant that has a full kitchen. Beth gave me a better understanding to this topic and opened my eyes to new ideas.
![Picture](/uploads/4/2/6/9/42692587/2003954.png?600)
Like Beth, Chaiwat gave me a better understanding to this topic. I can also relate to this article because I understand the explanation of multi literacy at work. There is definitely more more than just reading printed text on a menu, there is verbal and nonverbal communication being used.
Discourse Community Reflection:
The goal of this unit was to inform us about discourse communities and how we can identify ourselves within in one in relation to the outside world. Authors within the book, "Writing about Writing: A College Reader," went into detail about the writers' own discourse community, making it easier to grasp their point of view. By providing numerous examples, authors made me reflect on my own experiences and understand the concept of discourse communities. At first, I had trouble understanding this topic and got a little confused but eventually I caught on due to the help of additional authors.. I was not confident turning in draft one, but with the help of my peer reviews I was able to make great changes to my paper and felt confident turning in my final draft.
The goal of this unit was to inform us about discourse communities and how we can identify ourselves within in one in relation to the outside world. Authors within the book, "Writing about Writing: A College Reader," went into detail about the writers' own discourse community, making it easier to grasp their point of view. By providing numerous examples, authors made me reflect on my own experiences and understand the concept of discourse communities. At first, I had trouble understanding this topic and got a little confused but eventually I caught on due to the help of additional authors.. I was not confident turning in draft one, but with the help of my peer reviews I was able to make great changes to my paper and felt confident turning in my final draft.