Discourse CommunitiesDiscourse Communities

Steven T. VarelaSteven T. Varela

Department of EnglishDepartment of English

University of Texas at El PasoUniversity of Texas at El Paso

Talking PointsTalking Points

Good Readers/WritersGood Readers/Writers

Discourse CommunitiesDiscourse Communities

Assignments for WeekAssignments for Week

What is a “good” reader and writer?What is a “good” reader and writer?

Good readers and writers are good Good readers and writers are good thinkersthinkers——willing to explore, challenge and grow.willing to explore, challenge and grow.

They ask questions: (What? How? Why?) They ask questions: (What? How? Why?) even if it means to question authority.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?What is a “good” reader and writer?

They solve problems by breaking large They solve problems by breaking large complexities into small steps towards solutionscomplexities into small steps towards solutions

They appreciate excellence in fields other than They appreciate excellence in fields other than their own.their own.

Willing to learn from others and recognize Willing to learn from others and recognize their biases.their biases.

What is a “good” reader and writer?What is a “good” reader and writer?

Observes patterns and notes similarities and Observes patterns and notes similarities and differences.differences.

Looks for evidence that supports information Looks for evidence that supports information presented.presented.

Use power to effect change and want to Use power to effect change and want to change.change.

Why care about what you Why care about what you read/learn?read/learn?

““Where knowledge is produced about the Where knowledge is produced about the problems of the powerless, it is more often problems of the powerless, it is more often than not produced by the powerful in the than not produced by the powerful in the interest of maintaining the status quo, rather interest of maintaining the status quo, rather than the powerless in the interest of change.”--than the powerless in the interest of change.”--

-Gaventa-Gaventa

Discourse CommunitiesDiscourse Communities

Definition of D.C.Definition of D.C.

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

––Beaufort, 1997Beaufort, 1997

How D.C have changed…How D.C have changed…

From oral, to typography, to iconography…From oral, to typography, to iconography…

Forms of public discourse and the discourse Forms of public discourse and the discourse communities themselves regulate and even communities themselves regulate and even dictate what kind of content can issue from dictate what kind of content can issue from such forms…such forms…

What does this mean?What does this mean?

Discourse Community of Oral Discourse Community of Oral CommunicationCommunication

Made us human, keeps us human and even defines Made us human, keeps us human and even defines what human means (i.e. creating categories (ex. what human means (i.e. creating categories (ex. “chair”) and perceptions (what you call something (or “chair”) and perceptions (what you call something (or someone) is how you treat it)someone) is how you treat it)

Culture is a creation of speech (EX. Proverbs as law; Culture is a creation of speech (EX. Proverbs as law; Greeks and rhetoric)Greeks and rhetoric)

Would this be suitable now? Is it still valued?Would this be suitable now? Is it still valued?

Discourse Community of Discourse Community of TypographyTypography

Writing freezes speech—created a perceptual Writing freezes speech—created a perceptual revolution—from ear to eye.revolution—from ear to eye.

How much more is this discourse valued over oral How much more is this discourse valued over oral communication? (i.e. court decisions, degrees). Why?communication? (i.e. court decisions, degrees). Why?

As cultures change their forms of discourse and their As cultures change their forms of discourse and their discourse communities, their ideas of “truth” change discourse communities, their ideas of “truth” change too. “Saying is believing,” to “Reading is believing,” too. “Saying is believing,” to “Reading is believing,” to now—“Seeing is believing.”to now—“Seeing is believing.”

Discourse Community of Discourse Community of IconographyIconography

Media, television, internet, you-tube, etc.Media, television, internet, you-tube, etc.

How has this form of discourse become more How has this form of discourse become more valued than typography? (Ex. education, valued than typography? (Ex. education, American Idol)American Idol)

How has this form of discourse changed the How has this form of discourse changed the need for oral and written communication?need for oral and written communication?

This Week’s AssignmentsThis Week’s Assignments