Before class on Monday, February 7, students will…

  • If you haven’t already, respond to the Discussion Question â€œMother Tongue & Code Switching: Language and Community”: Think about language and the different ways you communicate or speak. Choose a word or phrase that you use with one group of people (family, friends, co-workers, etc.) that would not be understood by a different group of people in your life. What is the meaning of this word or phrase and how would you explain it to someone who is an outsider to the group who uses it?
    • Don’t create a post, simply make a comment on the question on our site! Don’t know how to add a comment? Click here.
  • Be sure to post your completed Full Name, Core Values under Introductory Work by class time on Monday.
    • Need a refresher on how to post on OpenLab? Check out this tutorial.
  • Read John Swales, “Reflections on the Concept of Discourse Community” before Monday’s class. It’s 10 pages long, so I strongly urge you to start reading ASAP!
  • While you’re reading Swales’ work, find two quotes you find compelling. Write down each quotation and then explain what you found interesting (or even confusing). You MUST do this before we meet on Monday in order to actively participate in class!
  • Review Butte College, “Double-Entry Reading Journals” before Monday’s class.

During and after class, students will (otherwise known as homework)…

  • Read other students’ Core Value paragraphs under Introductory Work (found under Student Work). This is a great way to get to know your classmates!
  • Discuss Swales’ work and define “discourse community.”
  • Write a Post/Submit an Assignment in which you do the following (approximately 200-250 words):
    • Create a “double-entry journal” exploring two observations that Swales makes about discourse communities. To do this, use the two quotes from Swales’ work you found compelling earlier. Write down each quotation and then explain what you found interesting or confusing.

Follow the template below for this assignment (look at the example below of how it should look on OpenLab):

Quote 1: “Quote” (Paragraph X, Lines X-X)

Explain why you feel connected to or confused by this quote:

Quote 2: “Quote” (Paragraph X, Lines X-X)

Explain why you feel connected to or confused by this quote:

An example of how your post should look on OpenLab.
  • This post must be complete and published under Unit 1 Work (which is under Student Work) by class time on Wednesday, February 9. Title it Full Name, Swales’ Quotes.
    • This is the first low-stakes writing assignment for this class! Remember: low-stakes assignments are worth 30% of your overall grade!
    • We’ve talked about how to post on OpenLab in class, but here’s a tutorial if you need it. (You have to join this class in order to create a post!)

Before class on Wednesday, February 9, students will…

READ

During and after class, students will (this is otherwise known as homework)…

  • Discuss the U1 Major Writing Assignment.
  • Identify at least three discourse communities (DCs) you are involved with. These can be small (a club on campus) or large (a spiritual/faith community). To help you brainstorm about the details of these DCs, look at the list of questions below.
  1. What is this group’s goal?
  2. What are the ways this group communicates with each other?
  3. How does this group communicate with the outside world?
  4. What is the “language” they use within their group?
  5. What does a person need to know before they can join this group?
  6. Are there terms or actions that don’t need to be explained to a group member?
  7. Are there “rhythms of activity,” a sense of history, and a value system that the group members recognize?
  • After you’ve brainstormed, create a post that shares three discourse communities you participate in. Describe each discourse community you listed, and discuss the basic “values, assumptions, and ways of communicating” found in each one.
    • Look at the questions I posted above to aid your thinking/writing and check out my example here (I only did one–you need to do three!)
  • Also, name two or three problems or issues that are central to each one. Post it under Unit 1 Work and title it Full Name, My Discourse Communities by class time on Monday, February 14.
    • This is another low-stakes writing assignment (worth 30% of your grade) that will help you with the U1 Major Writing project!
  • Read Mary Wollstonecraft’s “Dedicatory Letter” (pp. 1-3) in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by class time on Monday, February 14.
  • Be sure to look out for the full Agenda for next week’s class on Friday!