Analysis of a Discourse Community Assignment

For this paper you will be conducting an ethnographic study of a discourse community.
Ethnography entails using close observation and/or interviews. Thus, for this assignment you
will be observing, interviewing, or both. In addition, your essay will be framed around either
Swales or Gees theory of a discourse community. You must write about how the community is a
discourse community according to either Swales or Gee, and your thesis should clearly state
whose model your community fits.
Overall, the paper will mainly include these components: 1.) description of the discourse
community and 2.) analysis of the discourse community. In the description, you should give an
informative report on the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the discourse community.
A main portion of the description will be in the introduction, and you should answer the who,
what, when, where, why, and how questions in the introduction. You should, however, also use
descriptions and details throughout your essay. You want to vividly convey and describe the
discourse community you are analyzing. Note: You should analyze the community closely but
also objectively.
As mentioned, in the body of paper you should analyze how this community is applicable to the
theory of either Swales or Gee. You will incorporate Swales or Gees characteristics and also
quotes from a person who belongs to the discourse community you are analyzing. The questions
you use to interview that person should serve to aid you in your analysis. For example, if you are
using Swales, you should ask (in your own words) the person you interview questions pertaining
to the six characteristics Swales gives as to what makes a discourse community. Ask a total of six
to eight questions and incorporate at least five responses in your paper.
Lastly, in your conclusion you should also answer and elaborate on at least four of these big
picture questions: why is this discourse community important to members? How does this
discourse community function? Is this function healthy for its members and the society in which
it operates? What is the future of this discourse community? Will it be affected by any foreseen
changes or challenges?

Audience: Classmates who are unfamiliar with your chosen community.

Word Count: 1,500-1,900 words. The interview and works cited page count as the overall word
count.
Format: MLA format, Times New Roman, 12 point font. All parts of the interview(s) cited in
the text of the paper should be accompanied by a transcript of the interview at the end on a
separate page. The interview should be around 300-500 words (see NFG 378-380 for interview
transcript example). After the transcript, you should also include a works cited page citing
Swales or Gee as well as your interviewee.
Due Dates:

First draft due Feb. 23 at start of class (2 copies) and one copy uploaded to BB by start of
class.
Final draft due March 3 at start of class (1 copy) and one copy uploaded to BB by start of
class.
Reflection due March 4 on BB only by 5 p.m.

Significance AKA Whats the Importance of This? Theories are not a new concept in
college. In this paper you will practice applying a complex theory to an applicable situation. In
other classes of your college career you may also be asked to read theory and be able to apply it
to real-life scenarios, so this is good practice. Additionally, this assignment will allow you to gain
firsthand practice at conducting primary research, one of many forms of research you will
perform as an undergrad. You will also build and hone your descriptive skills that you initially
practiced while writing your literacy narrative.