Learning to Serve- Mirabelli

Looking at this reading it was much more simple to grasp than any other reading when it comes to Discourse Communities. I feel that I understood more from this reading, and because of that it will help aid me in the Ethnography Essay that I am working on. One particular aspect about 'Learning to Serve' Mirabelli' is the fact that he covered all concepts of a Discourse Community.  There are different literacy's and lexis in each and every Discourse Community and Mirabeau helped strengthen that view even more. While reading,  'Learning to Serve' Mirabelli' it dawned on me that this whole world is made up of Discourse Communities. The moment we become a part of this world, one is automatically placed into their own community. Our own families, can be the potential for our growth.

Then as we get older there is the choice to explore more, see more, and experience more. Therefore, we enlist our own selves in communities we feel we can fit into perfectly. All of the Discourse Communities that we go through in life, are the means to us attaining more knowledge and widening our scope on different viewpoints. That is exactly, what makes Discourse Communities uniquely beautiful in their own taste. Each provides it's own benefits to its members and Mirabelli expressed that well in the passage. The multiple literacies and how they mold into Discourse Communities was of great benefit to me and I loved how Mirabelli provided examples and evidence within the passage. All in all this read was by the far, the most understandable and because of that I gained more insight on how Discourse Communities are.

How My Project is Going So Far...

I was going to do observation on the Pharmaceutical discourse community as an outsider. However, I chose to do it on the campus Library as an insider. So far, my research on discourse communities is going good. Since Atkins Library is right around the corner I was thinking it would be more convenient. Also, observing all of the students in the library would be less awkward than observing a Pharmacy such as CVS or Wallgreens. In general, I am anticipating how the end of my project will look.

I'm also excited where this research will take me. I was looking into the history of libraries also and it seems very interesting. Now, all I have to do is make an outline of my project and continue from there. As of right now, I am putting together all of the interview questions and organizing all of my thoughts onto paper. Since, I've been to Atkins Library many times, I already wrote down previous observations that I have made in the process of studying there a couple of times this semester.

I chose the library because it serves so many great purposes and sometimes as students we may take that for granted. Of course, everyone knows how and what a library functions for; however we seem to overlook many important factors that make this discourse community what it is. I feel that the library is the most unique discourse community out there. Mainly because, almost everyone who walks into one already feels like an insider. Most of the population that decide to go to the library are literate and enjoy reading. Others are there by obligation whether it is for study or for other important assignments this discourse community is fit for everyone.

A library isn't designated for specific people, but at the same time it pulls to it a certain group of people who are similar in many ways. One main element that makes all library members similar is the fact they are going to enhance their own knowledge in something, in a fashion of their own. I would like to implement that into my essay and learn more about this community, through the studies, interview and observation that I make. I am so excited to see where it goes and I hope I learn a lot about this community as a whole.

"The Concept of a Discourse Community"

When first starting to read about what a discourse community was, I did not know exactly what the topic would be about. I've actually never heard of a discourse community. However, after careful and thorough reading I came to the assumption that a discourse community is mainly a specific group that have goals to initiate communication with one another. This is mainly so the group can create a sense of understanding with one another. Looking at this broad general meaning, I now know that discourse communities can be found almost anywhere in this world. They can range from community learning centers, schools, daycares, religious sermons, and even universities.

All of these contain within them elements of what a discourse community requires. Speaking with one another, giving updates, and forming connections to keep things going. All in all, discourse communities have always proven to be effective. This effectiveness mainly has to do with the fact that human beings develop all the needed qualities to live comfortably by being able to communicate with others and learn from their own surroundings.

Discourse communities can also range from social groups, and even individual platforms in which one has the opportunity to discover their own knowledge and skills. The writer of the article compares the different factors between a discourse community and a speech community. One comparison that I grasped from the article was that discourse communities and speech communities both offer some of the same qualities depending on  the individual uses it to their advantage.

Deane Genre Theory

The way in which Dean categorized the different elements of Genre made a lot of sense to me. As readers when we look at genre we see it as composed of only one definition. However, through the theory of Dean one will learn that genre is completely limitless. The possibilities and different formations of a story doesn't only consist of one genre. It can range from many genre's based on where the story is headed and the way in which the story is being told and Dean explained that very well. Looking back at how I saw the meaning of 'genre' I am surprised at how simple I thought it was. The main observation I made from Dean's writing is that genre is a very complex topic and ranges from many different meanings.

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A very intriguing aspect of the entire story is the fact that genre is influenced mainly from social aspects of todays world. It was a very refreshing and enlightening feeling to realize that the elements that make up genre are straight from human imagination and creativity. It's truly a beautiful aspect of writing. The very ability to create what we envision from our minds from what we see in our everyday lives, and incorporate that in our stories is a blessing. This allows readers to see into the magnificence of all genre's and still be able to identify with the hand behind the pen.

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Lastly, a very influential part of genres is the rhetorical aspect. The very use of rhetorical strategy is for creating a sense of positive impression on the readers. This alone is a very fundamental aspect of social life. As we humans we love ourselves and want others too also and thus seek to create good impressions when socially relating with other people. This very phenomenon is used by writers who seek to create positive impressions on their readers and genre consists of rhetorical use of strategic writers.

Well hello to anyone who is now reading this. So far, my snapshot essay is going great. Whenever I am writing the essay I think about Kothari and Malcolm X and use their snapshot's as my referance. This way of writing my snapshot, through comprehensively understanding the two snapshots we've read in class helped me a lot. Without reading the reflections of Malcolm X or Kothari's peice I wouldn't have known exactly how to do a snapshot. Now, because I know I am very grateful.

Secondly, my snapshot essay is on a very straightforward subject. It is all about reading. I will start from when I first read, what I read, and my first feeling on reading. I chose reading  because I just love reading teen fiction books, futuristic, adventure and Greek and Roman mythical books. Whenever it is my intention to read I plan it out. First, I get my reading space ready. Since, I believe reading to be a journey then I would like to be as comfy and cozy as possible. Then if its warm I get frozen yogurt, a smoothie, fruits, or ice cream ready. If it is cold I get a warm beverage. A latte, hot mocha, Somali tea, and bread with cheese metled in the middle with honey and rasplberry topping put over. Whenever I am ready, I get my favorite blanket and prepare to take off.  I know then that when I start reading, my mind is not going to be in this world anymore. Rather it will voyage into another realm. I just love that about reading! It's like traveling without having to be there physically, I think this phenomenon is such a wonderrful gift from God.

If You Are What You Eat, Then What Am I? - Geeta Kothari

Kothari, the narrator of the story in 'If You are What you Eat, Then What Am I?' is very detailed in explaining the different aspects of her life when it comes to food. The main summary of this essay revolves around the food choices of Kothari as an Indian-American. Her family, who originally came from India have certain ideals set on how food should taste. Moreover , Kothari's parents expect their children to hold on to traditional foods. Kothari's mother goes about this by cooking traditional dishes every now and then. Since Kothari was a child she was curious about the foods that she couldn't have. She developed an internal struggle and a longing for different tastes. Her mother saw this desire in Kothari and felt the need to learn various America dishs to give her children a sense of belonging to this new culture.

From this essay, I see how different cultures can have different opinions on what tastes 'good'. It can be easily agreed that where a person comes from has the ability affect their different food options. Kothari also made me come to the realization that what I find tasty, may not be tasty to others and culture may play a part in that. In other words a persons culture plays an essential role in the food they consume.

All in all, the essay was exceptionally well written; especially the part where Kothari describes the different diet transitions that took place in her life, "...And how do we go from to Chef Boyardee to pasta and home-made sauce, made with Redpack tomatoes, crushed garlic, and dried oregano? Macaroni and cheese made with fresh cheddar and whole milk, sprinkled with bread crumbs and paprika. Fresh eggplant and ricotta ravioli, baked with marinara sauce and fresh mozzarella? " This enticing way in which Kothari described the different food changes to her daily menu, honestly had my mouth water. Then again, every type of food becomes desirable when one is hungry. Anyway, the main objective that I learned from Kothari's piece is that food is beautiful only to the sight of it's beholder. In other words, the beholder is the only one who can taste the sensation that a particular plate has to offer.

"Literacy looms as one of the great engines of profit and competitive advantage in the 20th century: a lubricant for consumer desire; a means for integrating corporate markets; a foundation for the use of technology; a raw material in the mass production of information"

Above, Brandt describes literacy as a benefit to the growth and sustainability of a society. Many of the sentiments of Brandt wrap around the idea of literacies importance and function when it comes to each class in society. Whether one is considered to be a part of the "minority" or not literacy affects each person the same way. Ofcourse, this substantial factor depends on whether a person takes every oppurtunity present to better their literacy skills. However, this equity in obtaining high literacy was examined very differently by Brandt.

In the section titled, Sponsorship and the Rise in Literacy Standards; Brandt states the following, "Sponsors are engaged in ceaseless processes of positioning and repositioning, seizing and relinquishing control over meanings and materials of literacy as part of their participation in economic and political competition. In the give and take of these struggles, forms of literacy and literacy learning takes place."

I find this particular statement of Brandt to be very interesting. The reason why is because Brandt is indicating that those in the higher positions in society are responsible for the  resourcing of literacy to the general public. Themany faces of literacy are not giveb to the public with the intention to educate the populace with the benefit of literacy. Rather competitions take place beween the sponsers on who can cease and relrelinquish power in the process of producing literacy.

This way of producing literacy is not only beneficial to society as a whole, but it is also convinient for those who wish to gain "goodies" from their production of literature for people.