Synthesis Chart

Swales (discourse community)	Gee (Discourse)	Wardle (Activity System & Communities of practice)	Devitt, Bawarshi, Reiff (genres & genre analysis)
-6 defining characteristics of discourse community: 1) broad set of public goals - common objective 2) mechanisms of intercommunication among its members -different ways to communicate ideas 3) uses mechanisms to provide info and feedback -actively involved members 4) possess one or more genres -topics and form that DC uses 5) specific lexis -language that DC -vocabulary 6) threshold of members relevant to content and discoursal expertise -new members can enter, but old ones still there	-primary Discourse: early in life; at home and with the family -secondary Discourse: public institutions; church, schools, community groups, or other organizations; anything non-home based -dominant Discourse: brings goods (money, status, etc) from secondary Discourse -nondominant Discourse: brings solidarity but not actual goods -tension and conflict between 2 Discourses -assuming the term “language” means grammar = misleading assumption	-identity and authority -Identity: 3 interrelated modes of belonging: engagement,  imagination and alignment -engagement: relationships one makes with other members -imagination: Figuring out where one belongs within the system -alignment: finding common ground with oneself and the community -Authority: bestowed by institutions, can be withdrawn, and must be maintained through approp. expressions -Alan example	-Devitt: law community; miscommunication between specialists and nonspecialists; creates conflict and confusion; not explaining key terms and definitions causes language barrier; (tax forms, ballots, jury members) - Bawarshi: PMHF; medical community; doctor gives narrow view of a person/ patient àdiscusses how limited language does not allow others access to community’s genre -Reiff: Ethnography research; students can compose community’s genre and social behaviors through this type of research