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

Comment [W1]: Single space your header and

place in on the left.
Comment [W2]: Create an interesting title:
http://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/tit
les.pdf
Comment [W3]: Good opening quote!
Comment [W4]: Awkward

imagine while you read that matters. 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 ideas. Along with becoming openminded, 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

Comment [W5]: Redundant:

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/gram
mar/are-you-annoyingly-redundant

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

Comment [W6]: Avoid 2nd person:

http://english.tjc.edu/jbru/grammar/second.htm
Comment [W7]: Eliminate 1st person.
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one becomes open-minded it helps them adapt to the ever changing society. Enhancing their
skills can help them 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. This leads to the next characteristic in a discourse community

Comment [W8]: New paragraph?

http://www.writingclasses.com/WritersResources/A
skTheWriterDetail.php?ID=235

Ubdasja Calixte and Gabrielle Dunlap

20 October 14
Rough Draft
Discourse Community
which is intercommunication. Intercommunication can be defined as the action of engaging with
another. Communication among other members is vital. In this discourse community, you are

Comment [W9]: Source?

able to share ideas in multiple ways. Some methods used to communicate are meeting in groups,
blogging, social networking, or even writings to one another. 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

Comment [W10]: New paragraph?

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

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talking about what you know to understanding more of what you thought or seeing how someone

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else read what you read. Discourse communities utilize and possess one or more genres in the

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communicative furtherance of its aims.(Swales, 472). In this community, many different genres

Comment [W11]: year

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

Ubdasja Calixte and Gabrielle Dunlap

20 October 14
Rough Draft
Discourse Community
member has to share at least two thoughts from the readings. There will be certain gestures used.
If someone shares a thought, and you 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.

Comment [W12]: This paragraph needs to be

broken up by topic.

Being in a reading discourse community can help you in so many ways. Youre able to
expand your knowledge through the exchange of ideas among members, and explore different
topics that lead to one becoming open-minded. 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.

Comment [W13]: Awkward

Comment [W14]: You need a strong closing.
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/businesscareer/public-speaking/openings-and-closings