Writing about Discourse Communities
So far this semester, we have read texts that challenge us to consider what discourse communities are and how these authors and their audiences belong to and move between different discourse communities.
For Project 1, you will write a narrative in which you consider discourse communities in your life and how they create a sense of belonging. To do so, you will use your personal experience. You will also draw from what you learned in our course readings.
Your narrative will be approximately 1000 words by including the following points to support a thesis statement about what discourse communities offer you in your life and about how discourse communities create a sense of belonging:
- Think about a discourse community you identify with. Tell a story about a time when this discourse community offered you a feeling of belonging. Write about a word or phrase that shows your inclusion in that community.
- Now think about yourself at City Tech or in your major and how that position either offers you belonging or makes you feel like an outsider. Write about a time when you had a feeling of belonging or of being excluded from a discourse community related to college or your major. Additionally, discuss why it is important to you to belong to this discourse community and steps you can take to help you develop or further develop that sense of belonging.
- Then reflect on these two experiences to draw conclusions about what it means to be part of a discourse community.
- Throughout, use specific examples, and include words, behaviors, or other signs of the discourse communities that help you tell your story.
- Additionally, as you write about your experiences and draw conclusions, include one or two quotations from our readings and respond to those ideas either in support of what you’re saying or as a counterpoint.
As you write, think about who you want the audience to be for this project. Your imagined audience might be someone in the first discourse community you wrote about. Or members of your family. Or your classmates. Or some other audience you can identify. You would write about your experiences differently for each of these imagined audiences, so be sure you are using language, ideas, and organization that would be appropriate for that audience.
Timeline
- Presentations of Project 1 Proposals: Tuesday, 2/18 [Monday schedule]
- Drafting in Class: Wednesday, W 2/19
- Peer Review: Monday, 2/24, and Wednesday, 2/26
- Project 1 Due: Wednesday, 3/5, on our OpenLab site by the start of class
To Submit Project 1
- Add your work by copying and pasting from wherever you’ve been drafting and then adding a post on our site. If you need help, refer to this Help on Writing a Post
- Choose the Visibility and More Visibility Options to decide who can see your post.
- Choose the category Project 1 Work. If you need help, refer to this Help on Categories.
- Be sure to add a title to your post.
Grading
Here are the grading criteria for this project, which you can use as a checklist:
- construction of a narrative that serves a purpose for a particular audience
- development of an overall point/significance for your narrative
- use of concrete, significant details rather than generalizations
- focus on one event or a connected series of events for each of the two experiences you’re writing about
- integration of one or two ideas from our course texts into your narrative
- organization of ideas into paragraphs and paragraphs into a coherent order
- use of tone, language, grammar, and sentence structure as appropriate for your genre, audience, and purpose
- appropriate choice of language: you can write with whatever diction (style of language) you choose, but it must be the best language for the job– as you see it– for your audience and purpose
- submission of project proposal
- submission of project drafts
- meet the scope of the project: aim for 1000 words, without padding or unnecessary repetition.
- attention to finishing touches, in terms of proofreading, formatting, submitting, etc.
You will not be penalized for having negative things to say about college or your major, if that’s appropriate for your chosen purpose and audience. If you have any concerns about this project, its subject, your ability to complete it or to submit it, please communicate with me–we can start with email or scheduling a meeting or meet in student support hours.
I’m excited to read about your discourse communities!
Photo Credit:
“Come Together” by Tim via Flickr under the open license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
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Tequia Williams
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Add Yours →[…] we work on Project 1, please share your plans for your project. Share the following information with our […]
Wikipidea definition of a discourse community is “ a group of people who share a set of discourses, understood as basic values and assumptions, and ways of communicating about those goals”, but i believe a discourse community is deeper than that, it is a chance for you to be yourself, it is your chance to find a second family. The two discourse communities I’m going to talk about are my track team and the school I attend.
When I first entered high school two years ago, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do or what I wanted to stand for. I wasn’t even sure who I was as a person. And it was like that for a while. I went to school and went home; that was my routine. It felt like I wasn’t doing anything with my life. It felt like I didn’t have a purpose. So, instead of having a boring high school experience, I decided to take the initiative and look for extracurricular activities.
One day, I was walking through the hallways on the fourth floor near the boys’ bathroom, and I overheard the older classmen talking about the track team and how they needed people to join. I’ve heard about the track team a couple of times in the past, but I have yet to get the chance to be informed about it. So, instead of letting the perfect opportunity to ask about it pass me by, I asked two questions: “Do you enjoy being on the track team?” and “How do I join?”These questions would change how I viewed myself in a few months.
At first, everything was new to me; I felt like an alien. I didn’t know the name of the events or the terminology and slang they used. It was overwhelming being bombarded with all these new sayings such as “rolled”, which means to be bad at the event you participated in. I had to learn that track and field wasn’t only about running and that it consisted of things like long jump, shot put, pole jumping, etc. All these things made me feel disconnected from the sport, but after a while, I became comfortable and started to act and feel like a track runner.
Track and Field became a way for me to express myself. I never looked at it as extra work, it was always an outlet for me. It was a way for me to relieve stress, a way for me to better myself. The track helped me stay out of trouble by creating discipline in my life, something I wasn’t familiar with before I joined an organized sports team. Not only did it better my life physically and emotionally, but it also showed me that I could rely on others. At first, I didn’t see my teammates as anything more than individuals who shared a common interest with me, but as we progressed through the year, our bond grew closer and stronger. It wasn’t only a track team, but it was now considered my second family.
If you asked anybody that runs track to describe it in one word, they would probably say therapy. Track is a hard sport; don’t get me wrong. But once you get in the groove, everything just flows. It’s like we go through something called runner vision. It’s when runners zone out and get into a state of relaxation.
Without track, I honestly don’t know how I would’ve survived high school. Being at City Polytechnic is like trying to fit a circle where a square is supposed to go, but it just doesn’t fit. When I first heard about City Poly, I was intrigued. I thought I was finally going to be around people who think like me, I thought I was finally going to be understood; I thought I could achieve my goals with like-minded individuals. But then I arrived, and it was the total opposite.
Before high school, I was always interested in how things were built. My mom would always buy me Legos and toys that focused on building things. She would also take me to museums and do activities that helped feed my enthusiasm. I was sure this was what I wanted my career to include.
In my last year of middle school, my mom had a sit-down to decide what I wanted to go to high school for. If I’m being honest, my mom always had City Polytechnic in mind because my older cousin went there, and it was also an amazing school for architecture, engineering, and technology. Because of that, my selection of high schools was very limited. When I got accepted, I was excited because I was finally going to be attending a school for something I wanted a career in.
When I first arrived at City Polytechnic, I was outgoing. I introduced myself to the majority of my peers. I bounced around from friend group to friend group to figure out where I fit in. By doing that, I realized that I didn’t fit in with anyone, so I just stayed to myself for the time being. After a while, I found a friend group that best suited me, and those three people would become some of my closest friends. They are another reason I can survive high school.
As I settled in, I realized City Poly is split into two sides: the kids who came here for architecture and those whose parents sent them here. I was one of the kids who attended the school for the opportunities. The kids who came here willingly aren’t from the same background as me, we don’t share the same struggles or experiences. I am a student who is rough around the edges, and they are more polished than I am, and because of that, I was judged. Some of them never wanted to be in the same group as me, or they never spoke to me. It never bothered me at first, but as time went on, I started to feel a way; I started to feel as if I didn’t belong. The more I sat there and thought about it, the more I lost interest in architecture and engineering.
In conclusion, discourse communities play a crucial role in shaping how individuals communicate and interact within specific fields or interests. But just because they share common interests with you doesn’t mean you fit in.
Wikipidea definition of a discourse community is “ a group of people who share a set of discourses, understood as basic values and assumptions, and ways of communicating about those goals”, but i believe a discourse community is deeper than that, it is a chance for you to be yourself, it is your chance to find a second family. The two discourse communities I’m going to talk about are my track team and the school I attend.
When I first entered high school two years ago, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do or what I wanted to stand for. I wasn’t even sure who I was as a person. And it was like that for a while. I went to school and went home; that was my routine. It felt like I wasn’t doing anything with my life. It felt like I didn’t have a purpose. So, instead of having a boring high school experience, I decided to take the initiative and look for extracurricular activities.
One day, I was walking through the hallways on the fourth floor near the boys’ bathroom, and I overheard the older classmen talking about the track team and how they needed people to join. I’ve heard about the track team a couple of times in the past, but I have yet to get the chance to be informed about it. So, instead of letting the perfect opportunity to ask about it pass me by, I asked two questions: “Do you enjoy being on the track team?” and “How do I join?”These questions would change how I viewed myself in a few months.
At first, everything was new to me; I felt like an alien. I didn’t know the name of the events or the terminology and slang they used. It was overwhelming being bombarded with all these new sayings such as “rolled”, which means to be bad at the event you participated in. I had to learn that track and field wasn’t only about running and that it consisted of things like long jump, shot put, pole jumping, etc. All these things made me feel disconnected from the sport, but after a while, I became comfortable and started to act and feel like a track runner.
Track and Field became a way for me to express myself. I never looked at it as extra work, it was always an outlet for me. It was a way for me to relieve stress, a way for me to better myself. The track helped me stay out of trouble by creating discipline in my life, something I wasn’t familiar with before I joined an organized sports team. Not only did it better my life physically and emotionally, but it also showed me that I could rely on others. At first, I didn’t see my teammates as anything more than individuals who shared a common interest with me, but as we progressed through the year, our bond grew closer and stronger. It wasn’t only a track team, but it was now considered my second family.
If you asked anybody that runs track to describe it in one word, they would probably say therapy. Track is a hard sport; don’t get me wrong. But once you get in the groove, everything just flows. It’s like we go through something called runner vision. It’s when runners zone out and get into a state of relaxation.
Without track, I honestly don’t know how I would’ve survived high school. Being at City Polytechnic is like trying to fit a circle where a square is supposed to go, but it just doesn’t fit. When I first heard about City Poly, I was intrigued. I thought I was finally going to be around people who think like me, I thought I was finally going to be understood; I thought I could achieve my goals with like-minded individuals. But then I arrived, and it was the total opposite.
Before high school, I was always interested in how things were built. My mom would always buy me Legos and toys that focused on building things. She would also take me to museums and do activities that helped feed my enthusiasm. I was sure this was what I wanted my career to include.
In my last year of middle school, my mom had a sit-down to decide what I wanted to go to high school for. If I’m being honest, my mom always had City Polytechnic in mind because my older cousin went there, and it was also an amazing school for architecture, engineering, and technology. Because of that, my selection of high schools was very limited. When I got accepted, I was excited because I was finally going to be attending a school for something I wanted a career in.
When I first arrived at City Polytechnic, I was outgoing. I introduced myself to the majority of my peers. I bounced around from friend group to friend group to figure out where I fit in. By doing that, I realized that I didn’t fit in with anyone, so I just stayed to myself for the time being. After a while, I found a friend group that best suited me, and those three people would become some of my closest friends. They are another reason I can survive high school.
As I settled in, I realized City Poly is split into two sides: the kids who came here for architecture and those whose parents sent them here. I was one of the kids who attended the school for the opportunities. The kids who came here willingly aren’t from the same background as me, we don’t share the same struggles or experiences. I am a student who is rough around the edges, and they are more polished than I am, and because of that, I was judged. Some of them never wanted to be in the same group as me, or they never spoke to me. It never bothered me at first, but as time went on, I started to feel a way; I started to feel as if I didn’t belong. The more I sat there and thought about it, the more I lost interest in architecture and engineering.
In conclusion, discourse communities play a crucial role in shaping how individuals communicate and interact within specific fields or interests. But just because they share common interests with you doesn’t mean you fit in.
[…] Assignment instructions for Project 1: Discourse Communities […]
Discourse Community
In my essay I will be talking about discourse community. What’s your thoughts on having a discourse community? A discourse community is a community where you and the person in the community share a similar goal and interest with the same language.
————–> The discourse community, I identify with is food- lovers community. Because a story that defines my belonging is when I can recall joining the culinary art course in high school. I was new towards the whole cooking in school kitchen idea with a stranger teaching me how to prep, cut, clean, boil rice, season my food, etc. It was interesting to cook in school with my friends and learn how to do things. We often started off with greetings like we had a strict rule from our chef flavor (is the name of the chef) about never coming to class without acknowledging him. Like we had to say hello chef flavor what’s the menu? Or any other froms of saying hi chef flavor you need to say it with your chest. By doing this you earn a point and feel a sense of working in a restaurant because he said usually you communicate with your mouth and say it with your chest in the kitchen because people are so focus on working that they are unaware of what is going on around them so speaking is essential and greeting your team is essential to a positive environment. But then after all that explanation of how we greet, we ended up making a dish of my peers’ likeness, she wanted fried rice its mostly commonly an Asian cuisine because if you go in an Asian restaurant you can see on the menu fried rice. Then we had all the vegetables and sauces, eggs, oil, rice, and the stainless pan. Well, I chose to rinse and prep the vegetables, and some other students chose to cook it, and some chose to serve it and plated it. We had a lot of fun cooking food that we tried all the time but never cooked them. It was interesting to see how much things go into making fried rice. I then learned how to identify cuts like I thought there was only one name for all these cuts but no. We have julienne, which is a long slim rectangle shape cut, medium dice which is a small cube, brunoises which are tiny cubes cut perfectly for serving. I think it’s eight types or more cuts. I feel like saying this word can be a language because if I say Professor give me a drawing of julienne cut shape would you know what am talking about if you’re not interested in cooking in the kitchen. Like would you know? Because I didn’t know even though I watched master chef for like four months in my birth country. Even doing the culinary art course makes me feel happy to cook. Because I always wanted to learn how to cook. Like I said, I used to watch master chef with those children making pastry and baking. Every day I sat down in front the tv watching the tv show and how the judges say your dish is the best thing I ever taste. Sometimes I used to envision myself being there in that big, weird kitchen where the judges can see me make a mess of myself and cook a tasty dish from my birthplace for them. But I never went on the tv show but I did told my mom I would like to learn how to bake and cook. The first food I made was pumpkin strew with brown rice and beef as the meat. It tasted good because my mom told me what to do. Then I gain a bit of confidence that I can cook like I brag about cooking that strew and how my mom and brother loved it. But I just started to watch my mom cook and baked her favorite things… These are the reasons why I felt a belonging as a person who genuinely love food and cooking it.
In college my major is Hospitality Management. The major I am in helps me feel a more belonging in this discourse community because it teaches me about food and how to cook, prep, and what’s it like to be working in a real restaurant kitchen with people with degrees and years of experience. Also get knowledge of food and beverages. A story time of me going on a recent college class trip to the number one hotel that made me feel a sense of belonging is when we saw the hotel and spoke to the people that worked their and get their Insite of how’s it like greeting guest… also we saw the kitchen and chefs working of course and rooms and pool it was interesting to see in and understand the reason why they open up the hotel where they did because of what the hotel is built from recycle materials that mostly be causing pollutions. Oh, I almost forgot the food, it was expensive, but it tasted great. The reason why this discourse community is significant to me is because I was always fascinated with cooking and then loving the dish I made which causes me to be a food lover. But the importance of this community is the job I want to work in when I graduate from college. The steps I took were doing culinary art in high school and watching master chef, also cooking with mom. These things give me more knowledge and made me love food even more. Since I get to see the process on how things is made.
In conclusion, being a part of a discourse community means you get to be more involved in society norms. Then you learned new and interesting things that can build you in the future. Which will help you get opportunities in life with first-hand experience of the job requirements.
A discourse community is a group of people who share similar goals, language and practices. A discourse community that brings a sense of belonging to me is being a part of the dance community. I started dancing at 5, from my memory, and I’ve always loved it. Dancing at school and going to dance class was always a joy. I grew up with a different meaning of dance. The reason why I started going to dance class is because dancing was simply easy for me. It was never difficult and never confusing. I guess I can say it’s in my blood. Dancing is a part of my culture, my Caribbean culture. Dancing isn’t just moving your body to music. In the Caribbean it’s more than that. Dancing is a way to connect with other people of different races or with people that share the same race as you. We share the passion for different Caribbean music that’s played. We dance to soca, we make beats with glass bottles listening to Calypso, we dance to reggae and dancehall, there is no choreography, just vibes. Yes there are different countries of the Caribbean but together we are family. We share similar history and music.
The dancing community brings a sense of belonging to everyone. Dancing is a way people express themselves. Dancing is a form of art. You can move your body according to how you’re feeling at the moment. The dancing community includes dancers, choreographers and peers who communicate to enhance their skills in art form. Members of this community participate in attending dance classes, performances, learning about the history and discussion of dance techniques and styles. Communication within this community often uses vocabulary and terminology related to dance, genres, movements and techniques. For example, ballet dancers might use the terms “ pirouette”, “plie”, and “arabesque” while hip hop dancers might use “pop and locking” or “breaking” This shared language helps members communicate with each other and work together more efficiently. Additionally, the dance discourse community often relies on various platforms for interaction, including social media and dance studios. These platforms allow dancers to interact with each other by sharing their videos, offering feedback, staying up to date with events and opportunities. Dancing comes with confidence. You can’t be a coward and expect to make it in the dance industry, But, through these interactions, dancers can build connections, gain inspiration and continuously improve. The dance discourse community is where dance members can thrive and express themselves through the language of dance.
I am aiming to be in the nursing community as of right now I completed most of the prerequisites the only one left is Human Anatomy and Physiology. That class so far is hard because we have to learn the structures and functions of the body, the different body cavities. We also have to memorize all 600 plus bones and 700 plus muscles in the human body, histology, cytology, chemistry, biology, which organ is responsible for what in the body, different body sections and different body planes, anterior, posterior, lateral, distal, superior, inferior and etc. That’s a lot right? But that’s what it takes to work in the medical field. I want to be a nurse because I have the ability and the tools to save someone’s life. And joining the nurse discourse community at City Tech will allow me to pursue that.
The primary goal of the nurse discourse community is providing high quality patient care. This involves not only addressing patients physical health but also their emotional and psychological well being. For a nurse to be able to access you and diagnose you, the nurse has to offer you their trust. The commitment to patient care is evident in the rigorous training and education that nursing students undergo. I spoke about completing Human Anatomy and Physiology. But little did I know I have to take pharmacology, I have to maintain a 3.6 and higher GPA, I have to score extremely high on the TEAS exam because the nursing program is highly competitive. Save me. I am terrible at math but going into the medical field, I can’t go in with a negative mindset. A part of the nursing program I’m a little excited about is clinical rotations, where we gain hands-on experience in different health care settings. I can’t especially wait for the pediatrics side in clinical rotations. Completing clinicals will make nurses well prepared to meet their patients needs.
Another reason I want to join the nurse discourse community is to promote good health. Nurses aren’t only care givers but they’re also educators and advocate for their patients. The provide valuable information on how to stay in good health, how to prevent diseases and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. By empowering patients with knowledge, nurses help to make informed decisions about their health and well being. This section of nursing requires strong communication skills and the ability to build trust with your patients. And to be able to do that a nurse is required to have strong communication skills and psychology. Because what if a patient comes in with ashy white hands and you notice how ashy your patients hands are. Then you may ask your patient, do you wash your hands frequently? And if your patient replies with “Yes! All the time”. In your head, you should automatically think of OCD. That’s when psychology comes into play.
In conclusion, the dance discourse community allows me to have fun and go with the flow. The dance community for others may bring dancers closer and learn choreography. It doesn’t matter what type of dance genre you’re doing, all that matters is you’re having fun. The nurse discourse community is defined by sharing goals of providing high quality patient care and promoting health wellness. Nurses have a type of language they use to communicate with other nurses. And that is important because they are charting information and leaving it for other nurses. Nursing is also a commitment to lifelong ethical practices. So, I want to join the nursing community to give my patients the best care and the best advice on how to maintain good health by working out and eating a balanced meal.
Discourse community
“Discourse communities play a crucial role in shaping communication and knowledge-sharing within different fields. These communities are defined by shared goals, specialized language, and practices that enable individuals to effectively exchange ideas and refine their skills. This paper explores two distinct discourse communities: the hairstyling community and the healthcare administration field. The hairstyling community thrives on creativity, using specialized terminology and shared techniques to stay updated on trends, while the healthcare administration field relies on precise communication, including medical and administrative terminology, to ensure efficient patient care and facility management. By examining the unique ways these communities communicate and share knowledge, we can better understand how language fosters collaboration and expertise across different professions.
The hairstyling community is a dynamic and creative discourse community, fueled by a passion for innovation and a shared commitment to refining techniques. As someone who enjoys hairstyling, particularly braids and wig installations, I have observed firsthand how hairstylists exchange ideas and collaborate to perfect their craft. In this community, professionals and enthusiasts communicate through social media, tutorials, and in-person interactions to stay abreast of the latest trends. For instance, when working with lace frontal wigs, hairstylists must follow a set of precise steps—such as cutting, coloring, and installing—according to the client’s specifications. Effective communication is essential, whether it’s greeting clients, booking appointments, or providing guidance on hair care products and maintenance. Additionally, hairstylists educate clients on the type of hair required for specific styles and demonstrate various techniques using tools like curlers, hot combs, and rollers. Through referrals and client interactions, hairstylists cultivate strong relationships, further strengthening the community. By continuously developing new styles and refining techniques, hairstylists contribute to a culture of creativity and learning, ensuring that this discourse community remains innovative and ever-evolving.
Similarly, studying Health Administration has given me a deeper understanding of how the healthcare field operates as a discourse community, one that I am truly passionate about. In my courses, I’ve learned how healthcare compliance ensures the smooth functioning of medical facilities and promotes safe, ethical patient care. One standout aspect of this field is the emphasis on clear and precise communication using medical and administrative terminology, which helps avoid errors and maintains organizational efficiency. I’ve also realized that patient care extends beyond just treatment—it involves addressing emotional and cultural needs, an element I hadn’t fully considered before. What makes this discourse community particularly meaningful to me is how it combines structure and organization with the ultimate goal of improving people’s lives. Through my studies, I’ve gained a strong appreciation for the way healthcare administration unites professionals around a shared language and purpose, and I am excited to be a part of this field in the future.
While the hairstyling community is rooted in creativity, collaboration, and personal expression, the healthcare administration field is characterized by structure, precision, and a focus on patient safety. Despite these differences, both communities emphasize the importance of effective communication, whether it’s through artistic techniques in hairstyling or administrative and medical terminology in healthcare. These shared languages allow professionals in both fields to advance their craft and expertise, ensuring continued growth and innovation. Understanding how these discourse communities function deepens our appreciation for the role of language in fostering professional collaboration and expertise across industries.