Billie Adams

Professor Dr. Ruth G. Garcia

ENG 1121

9th February 2021.

Introduction to Discourse Communities

Quote 1: John Swales “Discourse communities as a group that have goals and purposes and use communication to achieve their goals”

Three discourse communities that I have been involved in are:

  1. Medical Assistant Program
  2. Citizen of the USA.
  3. A Driver.

I am going to further explain how Mr. Swales definition for discourse communities stood out to me in these three groups that I have been a part of.

Medical Assistant Program:

            A Medical Assistant is a person or a healthcare assistant in the USA who supports the work as a physician, physician assistants and other health professionals usually in a clinic setting. As a medical assistant, I should have knowledge of the field that I am working in. In order to achieve the knowledge necessary, I had to be part of a Medical Assistant nine months Program which made me qualified and equipped for my field of work. Also, in order for me to be certified I had to take the State Board Examination. Being part of the program, I became qualified, a status was given to me because I am now a medical assistant and all misconception, I had about the field were cleared up, so I now can communicate with doctors on a medical basis.

Citizen of the USA.

            This group is there for all those who wants to become a part of the discourse community of Citizens. Being a Citizens of the USA makes you more recognized in society. All non-citizens take this opportunity to become a citizen. This citizenship process that involves a fee, an application, knowing English, and memorizing 100 questions for a subsequent interview of which you will be asked 10 of these questions scoring no less than 6 correct answers. I went through the process I am now a citizen which make be eligible for Federal Jobs.

A Driver.

In order to Drive in the United States of America you must have a License. Even though I have knowledge of driving, and have a license from another country, having a US license is a requirement in order to drive in the US. To achieve my license, I had to and to be part of this discourse community of drivers. I had to first pay a fee, take the test set by the Department of motor vehicle then take a practical driving exam. Taking the test and practical exam made me familiar with road signs that I had no knowledge of before and I can now communicate with other drivers on the street.