Discourse Community Observation Assignment

As a young woman who strives to make a difference both locally and globally, I know that membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will aid in accomplishing my life long goals. The emphasis this organization places on assisting and supporting others through the Five-Point Programmatic Thrust, is truly a reflection of the public service initiatives that I make an effort to take part in. The opportunity to form a lifelong bond with other college educated women, who share some of the same morals and beliefs as I do, is phenomenal. I know that membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will mean taking that initiative to become a part of something that’s bigger than myself, because I certainly can’t take on the world alone. The incredible

​From a time when achievement was rare, and succeeding among minority was minuscule, a sense of order was needed. During this time Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated came into the world, bringing core values and achievement. Within the five objectives Kappa Alpha Psi showcases the distinction of itself from other fraternities. The founding fathers had the desire to shape a unique group personality different from the other greek letter college organizations, around the idea of achievement. When achievement was mainly concerned with improvement of personal status, security, and meeting the demands of everyday living the founders of the fraternity envisioned something bigger. Thus bringing about the Five Objectives that men of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated live by and exemplify on a day to day basis showcasing Achievement in every field of human endeavor.

To be a part of a discourse community, one must be credible, possess factual knowledge and draw on the values of its members to be accepted into the community. At the same time, a person must learn typical ways people in that community communicate and argue. They share a certain genre—type of writing. Members of discourse communities provide information and feedback that are imperative in order for that discourse community to grow. In the following paper, I will discuss three discourse communities and a genre that they typically use: people who read Nutritional Facts religiously, college students, and industrial organizational psychologists.

The discourse community I have chosen is within my sorority, Delta Delta Delta (Tri Delta). There are many stereotypes associated with Tri Delta, and that is the most irritating thing about being in a sorority. Anyone from my high school would insist that I am not a sorority girl if someone were to ask them. When I started my fall semester, I was not expecting to rush because once again again, I am not the “sorority type”. Greek life at Boise State is unlike any other campus. Some may think that being in a sorority is all about social standing, parties, and being better than the people around you. In reality, it is the exact opposite. For the rest of this paper, I am going to prove to you why Tri Delta is a discourse community.

I believe the purpose of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is to grow and develop women scholastically and to help women reach their goals. This organization is noted for its extensive service, reaching beyond college campuses. The purpose is also to stay dedicated and committed to academic excellence. Women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., not only give back to their community but are also leaders, uniting women to have a positive impact on others. Joining a sisterhood such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is a lifelong commitment. Since Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. starts in the collegiate years, the skills you learn can help later on in life. It is also preparation for working with people with different personal and professional backgrounds. Also, to be aware of what is going on around you and how you can make an impact. Young women looking for mentorship can have a positive

In order to be accepted into a discourse community, a person must learn typical ways people in that community communicate and argue. In this paper I will prove that I entered the discourse community of my high school soccer team by acquiring knowledge, establishing my credibility, and learning the game I love. In other words, I will be using the ethos, logos, and pathos appeals. I love to play soccer and watch the professionals who play on TV. I have played since I was ten years old and always played in a city league team. The requirements of being part of the team were simple but at the same time very hard. I was recently part of my high school soccer team, the Crowley Eagles. People might

As the semester comes to a close, it is always interesting to look back and reflect on the events and opportunities my English class has given me throughout my first semester as a whole. At the beginning of this semester it was evident that I was feeling uncomfortable due to the adjustment that I was going through as a student moving to college. It was very difficult expressing myself through my writing since I was nervous about good impressions and my good grade. While this class was one of the most difficult courses that I have taken this far, it has become quite evident to me that I have grown a substantial amount as a writer and as a person; Especially, when it came to explaining my ideas, writing academic essays, and making arguments.

Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated purpose is to be of service to all mankind dealing with critical issues in communities domestically and internationally. What I have grown to understand an envision a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated to be, I accredit largely to the ladies of the Gamma Theta chapter. This has the result of attending many of the chapter’s events during my time at Hampton thus far. One of my favorite events was a screening of a documentary Girls Rising. I learned to appreciate every opportunity to learn and gain knowledge because in some parts of the world girls are restricted from receiving an education. A

Every member understands their duties as Ivy League black male and how to use their status to better the situation of others. I chose to pursue Alpha because they exhibit the true meaning of brotherhood and thrive in every endeavor they make. As I continue to learn more and more about the organization, I find other reasons why I want to be a member. They are always giving one hundred percent to everything that they do. They make it evident that they possess the skills necessary to be great in any field that they so

The abiding impression that numerous Pi Nu chapter men of Kappa Alpha Psi have imprinted in my heart with its motto, “achievement in every field of human endeavor,” I wish to obtain membership into Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. I am currently a sophomore criminal justice major at University of Maryland Eastern Shore. In addition, my desire to become an active member of your fraternity has been in my heart and mind.

While conducting research on the partnered sororities of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, I discovered particularly fascinating attributes associated with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. What fascinated me the most was the sorority’s distinct dedication to education, sisterhood, mentorship, and international service. I desire membership of the first organization people look to for help; that is Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. This sorority has made its way relevant from 1908 to modern day and progressively moving forward. I want to be able to say the same thing about myself.

In his article “The Concept of Discourse Community,” Professor John Swales defines what a discourse community is, following with a list of six different points that a group must align with in order to qualify as a discourse community. These parameters are as follows: “a broadly agreed set of common public goals,” “mechanisms of intercommunication among its members,” the use of “participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback”, use or possession of “one or more genres in the communicative furtherance of its aims”, “some specific lexis”, and “a threshold level of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discoursal expertise” (471-473).

By using a collection of interviews and recollections, the audience receives both sides about the truth of fraternities while lacking any sort of bias. Throughout the article you made it clear that a solution to ether side was impossible; therefore the focal purpose is to teach students, parents, professors, or community residents about fraternities. The absence of a possible resolution leaves a window for any reader’s interpretation.

Within sororities is a language all their own; many words are created or used in a different manner. For example, “big” is not an adjective that describes something grand or large as in the English language. However, “big” is a term used to describe an older sister whose is assigned to a younger sister within the organization to be a mentor and a friend. Another example is the word “waltz”, which is not referring to a ballroom dance but rather the celebration of a sister’s twenty first birthday. Even the word “sister” is a part of a sororities’ unique language as it does not denote the relationship between blood-related relatives, but rather signifies the sister like bonds between members. This language is imperative to a sorority’s culture because it unifies members under a commonality that distinguishes them from other groups and organizations, much like racial and religious cultures.

Promptly from the very beginning, feeling of formal writing strikes in mind while reading the paper and it is maintained throughout the whole writing. Coherence, clarity and attention grabber particularly at the onset of first paragraph through definition of discourse community, in the fifth paragraph via counterargument and many examples of real life experiences makes the paper interesting and always engaging to read. These are the strengths of this paper.