Rhetorical Overview
1. What is the author's exigence? Why does the author feel the article/argument needs to be made?
Swales' article explains his definition of discourse community. He explains this through showing how others are incorrect (on page 468 he says that research have coined the term as a "Social View"), defines it in 6 ways (page 471-473), and by examples.
2a. What discourse community is the author speaking toward for the article? WHY do you think that? Provide textual evidence (e.g., specific language, tone, publication venue, etc.,).
I think his discourse community is educators because he refers to other articles (like Porter, even though we have read that) that some students may have not previously read.
3. What is the author's thesis/argument/niche for the piece? If possible, quote specifically from the text?
"We need then to clarify, for procedural purposes, what is to be understood by discourse community and, perhaps in the present circumstances, it is better to offer a set of criteria sufficiently narrow that will eliminate many of the marginal, blurred and controversial contenders" (469).
Summary
1. Write a few sentences that summarizes this article in your own words; make sure to cover the main arguments AND conclusions.
In his article, "The Concept of Discourse Community," Swales explains his six parts of the term discourse community. A discourse community should have common set of goals, intercommunication between each member, uses mechanisms to obtain info, contains one or more genres, acquire a specific lexis (use of language and terms), and have an equal amount content and experts within the community. He ends his argument by stating that "... [the status of] discourse communities is doubtless a matter for future study, but here it can at least be accepted that discourse communities can, over a period of time, lose as well as gain consensus..." (478). Swales means that the definition of discourse community will constantly be argued and changed over time.
2. Take the summary you just wrote and condense it into something “tweetable,” by which I mean a summary that is NO longer than 140 characters. Consider using the same conventions you would if tweeting, meaning abbreviations and informality in language.
Swales believes discourse community has six distinct parts to the term.
3. What hashtags (#) would you use for this article? Stated otherwise, what key terms would you.
#sixparts #discoursecommunity #intercommunication #lexis #contentandexperts
Burkean Parlor/Intertextuality
1. In what ways does this author and/or the ideas in this article connect with, (dis)agree with, speak to or against –I think you get the gist– previous authors and their ideas that we have encountered in this class?
Swales subject topic is the same as Porter's topic in "Intertextuality and the Discourse Community." Swales believes that by stating his six parts of discourse community will proof how Porter's ideas are not necessarily correct. Swales says, "An exclusionary list will also presumably show that the kind of disjunctive question raised by Porter is misplaced. It is likely to show that shared object of study nor common procedure nor interaction nor agreed discoursal convention will... be necessary...for the emergence of a discourse community..." (469).
Assigned Exercise
QDJ: Consider a time when you participated in a discourse community but resisted it or were not assimilated into it. What happened?
A: In my high school creative writing class, we were split up into different groups, which we would be with for the rest of the semester. The group I was put into were all close friends that constantly shared one another's writing with each other. We were supposed to read our writings to the group and have them give constructive feedback. The group, which I was thrown into, met all the requirements of Swales definition of discourse community. I tried to be assimilated nito this group but had a very difficult time doing it because they had already come up with their own common goals, lexis, and had no trouble communicating with one another. Basically, I felt like the odd man out and continued to try and connect with the group. I like to think I did by the end of the semester, but looking back I am not sure I actually was able to establish myself within the discourse community.
AE: Write 1 page letter to incoming student about discourse community...
A: I believe that a discourse community is a set audience that a writer is trying to reach out to. No matter what a student is writing about, him or her will always have a discourse community. Successfully getting his or her idea across to the discourse community is a different subject, but none the less, it will always be there. A discourse community is, as Swales and Porter can agree, have a common interest or set of goals to achieve. All discourse communities have to have something in common in order to exist.
Personal Reflection
1. How can you apply the information in this article to your own writing process? First, consider the main ideas that the author addresses, then consider other elements, such as organization, style, etc.
I think that Swales article was difficult to read. I had to look up the meaning of different words, such as lexis, because he assumed that the audience knew the definitions of all the terms he used in his article. The section that was I understood the most was section 2.3 because he listed his ideas in a list form, which made it easier to follow his ideas.
2. What is confusing about the article?
The last paragraph is very confusing. I tried to explain to the best of my ability in the Summary section but I am not sure if I explained it correctly.
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