Discourse Communities

We have discussed our different paths to literacy and many of us discussed our literacy in areas outside of reading and writing. Now, as we learn about discourse communities, we will consider the ways we use our many literacies to navigate multiple communities. MISSION STATEMENT: In investigating a discourse community, you will learn to conduct primary research, engage your skills in critical thinking about communication in a different context, and understand how language use supports social goals. Scenario: For this project, imagine our class as a collective of detectives. Each of you will go out into the field and collect data on a discourse community of your choosing. You will then create a booklet briefing your fellow detectives on your discourse communitys goals and communication practices. Requirements: This assignment requires that you first complete primary research utilizing two different methods of ethnographic research. You will turn in your data with your final booklet. We will discuss ethnographic research methods in class as well as the appropriate formatting for your data. After you collect your data, you will use it, combined with your knowledge of your discourse community, to compose a booklet/pamphlet that will provide your fellow detectives with the information they would need to enter your discourse community successfully. You should refer to our class discussions and readings (particularly Swales) to guide your choices in what information to include in your pamphlet. We will discuss principles of visual rhetoric, so your project should demonstrate an attempt to put those principles into practice. You will turn in six copies of your pamphlet (two for me, three for our classroom detective library). We will spend a day at the end of the unit reading each others guides and commenting on their effectiveness. Key Resources: Writing About Writing Chapter 4, Visual Rhetoric resources (OWL, Blackboard materials) Due Dates: Research plan Rough draft of data collection methods Data collection methods finalized Data collection completed + rough draft of formatted data Rough draft of pamphlet Final pamphlet (5 copies) + formatted data

Grading Rubric Discourse Communities (150 points)

Briefing: Information & Structure of the Pamphlet (55 points) A Project provides a logically structured, detailed, wellresearched breakdown of information necessary to a detective seeking to infiltrate the community Project demonstrates a clear and effective use of visual rhetoric principles discussed in class. Useful, constructive research conducted; data collected and turned in in the appropriate format. The pamphlet and data have been thoroughly proofread for grammar and spelling errors. B Project provides a researched breakdown of information necessary to a detective seeking to infiltrate the community; project demonstrates consideration of structure. Project demonstrates a use of visual rhetoric principles discussed in class. Useful research conducted, data collected and turned in in the appropriate format. The pamphlet and data have few spelling or grammatical errors. C Project provides information necessary to a detective seeking to infiltrate the community. D Project demonstrates little evidence of research, lacks clarity, is not helpful to a detective seeking to infiltrate the community.

Visual Rhetoric (20 points)

Research Data (40 points)

Project demonstrates some use of visual rhetoric principles discussed in class, but lacks a well thought out design. Research conducted, data turned in in roughly the correct format.

Project demonstrates little or no application of visual rhetoric principles of any kind. Research poorly conducted or clearly faked, turned in unformatted or wrongly formatted. The pamphlet and data have numerous spelling and grammatical errors.

Mechanics: Grammar, Spelling (10 points)

The pamphlet and data have some distracting spelling or grammatical errors.

On-Time Completion (10 points): This project has multiple steps and requires that you pay attention to

multiple due dates. Consider this an easy ten-point incentive to turn things in on time. Class Pamphlet Library Responses (15 points): When you turn in your final project, you will review three of your peers pamphlets for five points each. F: Project not completed.
Created by L. Curtin 2012