Ubdasja Calixte and Gabrielle Dunlap

20 October 14
Rough Draft
Discourse Community
Reading Discourse Community
Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes
what we read ours, this was said by John Locke, an English philosopher from the
Enlightenment period. John Locke is trying to say that its not what you read, but what you
imagine while you read. Everyone has their own vision of what they read and connects
differently to the material than others. In a reading discourse community, one is allowed to share
ideas and become open-minded to others. Along with becoming open-minded, one is able to
expand their critical reading skills. For those who are novice readers, they will eventually
become more experts as they continue to analyze why the author wrote the way they did, or why
the author used the words he or she chose. They will also broaden their vocabulary as they come
across words that they are unfamiliar with. Overall, the exchange of ideas and analysis of the
materials will make them expert analyzers of fiction, and will enrich their minds.
In a discourse community you have to have an agreed set of common public goals. These
goals, or beliefs, are objectives everyone can follow. In our reading discourse community, your
goal is to become open-minded and to expand ones reading and comprehension skills. When
one becomes open-minded and enhances their skills, they are able to further their abilities in their
everyday life. In life, we need help understanding and comprehending information that we
receive. By simply reading a book, all of that can change for the better. Reading helps with your
memory, stress, writing, vocabulary, and even boosts your analytical thinking. This leads to the
next characteristic in a discourse community which is intercommunication. Intercommunication

Ubdasja Calixte and Gabrielle Dunlap

20 October 14
Rough Draft
Discourse Community
can be defined as the action of engaging with another. In this discourse community, you are able
to share ideas in multiple ways. One is able to have a discussion with others in a group, blog,
social networks, or even writings. Either way, youre able to share your thoughts and beliefs with
other and see if others agree or not. Sharing what you know with others allows you to get more
information on the book, or view the material in a different way. Exchanging and sharing
information is the third characteristic of a discourse community. This characteristic plays an
important role with trying to meet the goal of the discourse community. When you share or
exchange ideas or thoughts, you most likely go on a journey. You go from talking about what
you know to understanding more of what you thought or seeing how someone else read what you
read. Discourse communities utilize and possess one or more genres in the communicative
furtherance of its aims.(Swales, 472). In this community, many different genres of fiction will
be explored. However, they will be appropriate for all ages to explore. In this community there is
no age limit, so texts that are too gory or sexually explicit will not be explored. Some of the
genres that will be explored are Science Fiction, Mystery, Horror, Romance, Drama, Comedy,
and Satire. Well be exploring different forms of literature as well, such as novels, poems, short
stories, graphic novels, and drama. Therefore, every member can step out of their comfort zone
and read something new. What differentiates members from non-members, is note taking
involved with analyzing the material, and the way that members voice their thoughts. There will
be rules for sharing ideas such as being silent while someone else is voicing their thoughts that
way all members will be respectful of each other. Each member has to share at least two thoughts
from the readings. There will be certain gestures used. If someone shares a thought, and you

Ubdasja Calixte and Gabrielle Dunlap

20 October 14
Rough Draft
Discourse Community
agree with it and want to add on to their ideas, you can snap your fingers twice after they
completely stated their idea. If you disagree, then you can raise your hand after a persons
thought and negate what has been said and give your thoughts. Those rules are very unique
compared to other discourse communities and new members who arent sure about the rules, and
just shout their ideas out loud interjecting another persons thoughts then they will stand out like
a sore thumb. Members of this discourse community ranges from novices to expert analyzers.
This community ranges from all ages. However the common goal established is to improve, and
continue analyzing materials. Novice analyzers can improve upon their weaknesses and become
experts over time. Expert analyzers can learn more, and continue doing what they love. Members
overall will improve upon their weaknesses, and can share ideas among each other. The materials
will range from current new novels to novels that have been analyzed many decades ago.
Being in a reading discourse community, can help you in so many ways. Youre able to
become open-minded, expand skills used in everyday life and in reading, as well as appreciate
others point of views. Having an open-mind can help you with your decision-making skills, and
dealing with people. Not only does it broaden your mind, but it helps you with communicating
with other people. Along with these things, youre able to explore different genres of reading
and improve your vocabulary. Together all of this can help you become an expert and analyzing
books.

Ubdasja Calixte and Gabrielle Dunlap

20 October 14
Rough Draft
Discourse Community
Discourse Community Peer Edits
Kenese
I like how you began with a quote about English
Expand on the roles of each level of readers
Good how you talked about different genres

Tante
You use "one" a lot? "When one is able to" , "One is allowed" , "One is able", etc. 2nd
paragraph
"We'll be exploring different forms..." to "We will..."
Overall : Paper organized into very clear separate ideas.