Discourse Communities Steven T. Varela Department of English University of Texas at El Paso

Talking Points Good Readers/Writers Good Readers/Writers Discourse Communities Discourse Communities Assignments for Week Assignments for Week

What is a “good” reader and writer? Good readers and writers are good thinkers— willing to explore, challenge and grow. Good readers and writers are good thinkers— willing to explore, challenge and grow. They ask questions: (What? How? Why?) even if it means to question authority. They ask questions: (What? How? Why?) even if it means to question authority. They pay attention to details and use logic. They pay attention to details and use logic.

What is a “good” reader and writer? They solve problems by breaking large complexities into small steps towards solutions They solve problems by breaking large complexities into small steps towards solutions They appreciate excellence in fields other than their own. They appreciate excellence in fields other than their own. Willing to learn from others and recognize their biases. Willing to learn from others and recognize their biases.

What is a “good” reader and writer? Observes patterns and notes similarities and differences. Observes patterns and notes similarities and differences. Looks for evidence that supports information presented. Looks for evidence that supports information presented. Use power to effect change and want to change. Use power to effect change and want to change.

Why care about what you read/learn? “Where knowledge is produced about the problems of the powerless, it is more often than not produced by the powerful in the interest of maintaining the status quo, rather than the powerless in the interest of change.”-- -Gaventa

Discourse Communities

Definition of D.C. Discourse communities are social entities with distinctive writing practices as a result of the communities’ shared values and goals, material conditions for text production, and influence of community members. They employ genres to carry out the community’s purposes and have norms for texts (i.e. “good writing”) and specific roles for writers. Discourse communities are social entities with distinctive writing practices as a result of the communities’ shared values and goals, material conditions for text production, and influence of community members. They employ genres to carry out the community’s purposes and have norms for texts (i.e. “good writing”) and specific roles for writers. –Beaufort, 1997

How D.C have changed… From oral, to typography, to iconography… From oral, to typography, to iconography… Forms of public discourse and the discourse communities themselves regulate and even dictate what kind of content can issue from such forms… Forms of public discourse and the discourse communities themselves regulate and even dictate what kind of content can issue from such forms… What does this mean? What does this mean?

Discourse Community of Oral Communication Made us human, keeps us human and even defines what human means (i.e. creating categories (ex. “chair”) and perceptions (what you call something (or someone) is how you treat it) Made us human, keeps us human and even defines what human means (i.e. creating categories (ex. “chair”) and perceptions (what you call something (or someone) is how you treat it) Culture is a creation of speech (EX. Proverbs as law; Greeks and rhetoric) Culture is a creation of speech (EX. Proverbs as law; Greeks and rhetoric) Would this be suitable now? Is it still valued? Would this be suitable now? Is it still valued?

Discourse Community of Typography Writing freezes speech—created a perceptual revolution—from ear to eye. Writing freezes speech—created a perceptual revolution—from ear to eye. How much more is this discourse valued over oral communication? (i.e. court decisions, degrees). Why? How much more is this discourse valued over oral communication? (i.e. court decisions, degrees). Why? As cultures change their forms of discourse and their discourse communities, their ideas of “truth” change too. “Saying is believing,” to “Reading is believing,” to now—“Seeing is believing.” As cultures change their forms of discourse and their discourse communities, their ideas of “truth” change too. “Saying is believing,” to “Reading is believing,” to now—“Seeing is believing.”

Discourse Community of Iconography Media, television, internet, you-tube, etc. Media, television, internet, you-tube, etc. How has this form of discourse become more valued than typography? (Ex. education, American Idol) How has this form of discourse become more valued than typography? (Ex. education, American Idol) How has this form of discourse changed the need for oral and written communication? How has this form of discourse changed the need for oral and written communication?

This Week’s Assignments