Discource Community

A discourse community consists of a group of people who link up in order to pursue objectives that are prior to those of socialization and solidarity. The communicative needs of the goals tend to predominate in the development and maintenance of its characteristics. Discourse communities tend to separate people into occupational or speciality-interest groups. They recruit their members by persuasion, training, or relevant qualification.
There are six defining characteristics of a discourse community. First, a discourse community has a broadly agreed set of common public goals. Second, a discourse community has mechanisms of intercommunication among members. These mechanisms vary according to the community. Things like meetings, telecommunication, correspondence, newsletters, conversations, and other things are considered mechanisms. Third, a discourse community uses its participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback. Membership in a discourse community implies uptake of information. Fourth, a discourse community utilizes and hence possesses one or more genres in the communicative furtherance of its aims. A discourse community has developed and continues to develop discoursal expectations. Discoursal expectations are created by the genres that articulate the operation of the community. Fifth, a discourse community has acquired some specific vocabulary. They more often use abbreviations and acronyms. Sixth, a discourse community has a threshold level of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discoursal expertise. These communities have changing memberships. Survival of the community depends on a reasonable ration between amateurs and experts.
The concept of a discourse community is useful to know. Knowing about discourse communities will help a person see how different every group he is apart of is. He may be a part of the tennis club and the national honor society. Each of these are totally different things. With knowing the characteristic of a discourse community, he will be able to see the differences between the two. Also knowing about discourse communities will help a person know how to act in different communities. In one community a certain action is acceptable, but in another it may not be. Lastly, it will help a person know what kind of community he is a part of. He can figure out whether he is part of just a group or community.
A discourse community I am a part of is the Honors Congress. It has the goal of creating a community and helping the community around us. It holds meetings once a month, has a weekly newsletter, a monthly calendar, and events. The newsletters tells member what events and activities are coming up. It has its own vocabulary, like DM and HonCon. Lastly, it has member ranging from people who just go to the meetings to officers.

Artifact Research Questions

Palin's Acceptance Speech:

How does Palin establish credibility for John McCain and prove he is the most credible candidate?

Obama's Acceptance Speech:

How does Obama discredit McCain and prove he is not the most credible candidate?

Rhetorical Analysis of McCain Ad

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Multimedia/Player.aspx?guid=c4745c45-7a80-4b25-8739-a80f29b26be6

In this ad, McCain uses a lot of pathos. The ad talks about Obama cutting off support that could save the lives of our troops and risking lives. What American could say no to this ad? All Americans care that soldiers are dying and will not be who cares. Of course, no American is going to support soldiers getting killed.
The ad also uses ethos. It calls out Obama's credibility. He says he is risking lives and playing politics. The ad thens says he is not ready to lead. This is an attack on Obama's ability to be president.
Judicial is the branch of oratory being used. The ad is accusing Obama of not caring about the troops because of his wanting to cut of support.