Blog #7: What Discourse will YOU examine?

Over the last few weeks, we have been reading about discourse communities, about communities of practice, and identity kits. We have been defining these terms and asking questions about the characteristics of these groups.

For example:

• How are the characteristics of these groups and their ideologies or values exemplified through genres and other communicative practices?

How do the communicative practices of these groups enable them to fulfill their common goals?

What is the style of communication and how does that exemplify the ideologies or values?

How do these groups initiate new members? What are some of the barriers to affiliation with a community? What are some of the costs of affiliation? How do apprentices facilitate affiliation?

There are more questions, of course, but that's enough to get you started. 

Your task in the next essay is to choose one of these communities and begin looking at the goals and characteristics of this community, asking some focused research questions.  You'll use some of our readings as a means of analyzing this community.

In this blog, think about possible discourse communities, communities of practice, or Discourses that you might be interested in examining. What is it about these communities that interests you? What questions are you most interested in asking?

Choose very carefully and consider how you might begin your research. Who will you interview? What can you observe? What genres can you analyze?

Use this space to narrow your options. And don't forget to comment on other people's blogs.