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.