Project One: Discourse Proposal
Have you ever been with a group of people where you felt at home? How about confused? Maybe outright out of place? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you were likely engaging with a discourse community on some level. For this project, you will be proposing a discourse community you would like to research. Think about a community you desire to be part of or one that you do not understand, such as online communities, sports teams, local organizations, or informal groups (ie: book clubs, Magic the Gathering communities), professional communities, or fandoms. You will then be analyzing your selected discourse community through the guidelines of Swales’ revised discourse community characteristics to explain how your community functions and how it is sustained through the member base.
Brainstorm
Who makes up the community? As we discuss discourse communities in class, think about what community you would like to investigate. This should be a community you are not currently part of, but you can go about this assignment in several different ways:
- Is there a community you were part of as a child and would like to revisit? You can do an analysis about how it has changed or how you don't/still fit into the community.
- Is there a community you have always wanted to be a part of but never engaged? You can explore your expectations of the community before joining it.
- Is there a community you have always struggled to understand either because you don't like them or they confuse you? You can explore what you know about them before engaging and then write about your experience.
- What is the community
- What goal(s) does this community have? (why does it exist?)
- What problems do you anticipate engaging with your community?
- Where does the community meet/exist? Is it local, national, worldwide?
- When can you join? Where do they meet?
- Why do you want to do an analysis of this community?
- How would you recognize a member of this community? What are some common traits - behaviors, objects, actions?
- How are members organized? Who is in charge? Who are the leaders? Is there a hierarchy of membership?
- How does one become a member? What happens when someone no longer wants to be a member?
What Should be Included?
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What is a Discourse Community?
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Your proposal should meet the following requirements:
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The definition of discourse community we will be exploring is from a revised version of what John Swales published in 1990. A basic definition would be: a group of people who broadly share occupational or recreational goals and interests which are united in time, space, and/or rhetoric. This is an oversimplified definition of a discourse community. There are primary characteristics that we will discuss this in depth throughout the semester.
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Proposal Grading
Your proposal will be graded based on the following rubric:
The criteria are defined as follows:
- Discourse Community: Explain how you are approaching the discourse community and fully explain at least five (5) of W's/H's.
- Community Existence: Proof of existence and book, article, or information site referenced.
- Development: A well-developed essay. Keeps the attention of the reader. General flow, introduction, and conclusion.
- Correctness: Well-Written. The proposal follows the guidelines of MLA format, at least 1200 words, and proper grammar and spelling.
- Invention Portfolio: All assignments and fast-writes are included from this unit. Reflection letter included.
- Participation/Presence: Student was in class, attentive, and participated in discussion and group work. Not late or absent.
Deadlines |
What Comes Next?
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There are two (2) deadlines for this project:
Draft (Class Share Out): January 20th Final Draft (With Portfolio): January 22nd Due to the importance of the proposal being done before moving on in the semester, the proposal must be submitted by Monday January 26th for partial credit. Anything submitted after the 26th will result in a zero for the project and will put you in danger of failing the course. A proposal must be submitted in order to receive credit for Projects 2 and 3. |
So you can see what you are getting yourself into, here are some components of your analysis (Project 2):
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Portfolio
1.All your fast writes (except the one I collected already) (1/8, 1/13, 1/15, 1/20)
2.Print your reading log
Should have: Pratt "Art of the Contact Zone", Lessner and Craig "Find your way in", and "Body Ritual Among the Nacierema" by Horace Miner
3.Include “Community Background” assignment.
4.Write a 350 word Reflection letter touching on the following:
-How have you thought about writing so far in this class?
-How has the reading log changed how you go about class readings?
-How do you feel about Project 2?
5. You should have your first draft and your final draft of your Project.
2.Print your reading log
Should have: Pratt "Art of the Contact Zone", Lessner and Craig "Find your way in", and "Body Ritual Among the Nacierema" by Horace Miner
3.Include “Community Background” assignment.
4.Write a 350 word Reflection letter touching on the following:
-How have you thought about writing so far in this class?
-How has the reading log changed how you go about class readings?
-How do you feel about Project 2?
5. You should have your first draft and your final draft of your Project.