Introduction:
Your introduction should provide the following three elements:
Provide a clear definition of the concept of discourse community in your opening sentence, attributing the definition to Swales (No need to list all 6 points in your intro).
Identify a specific professional organization and tie it to your specific discipline (major). Write no more than 2 or 3 sentences about your organization.
Present a clear thesis about this organization, tying it to Swales, and identifying it as an effective discourse community.
Sample Thesis: According to Swales six-point definition, [Organiztion X] qualifies as an example of a professional discourse community. This is the point you will prove in your body paragraphs.
Body Paragraphs:
Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence that mentions one of Swales six traits of a discourse community:
1. Shared goals
2. Mechanisms for communication (meetings, telecommunications, conversations, newsletters)
3. How do members provide feedback and information (Ex. How to grow better roses)
4. Genres of communication: Mention three different genres (types, categories) of writing this group uses (newsletters, scholarly journal articles, trade magazines, blogs, website) and provide one quote from each genre (total of 3 quotes in APA format).
5. Shared vocabulary (lexis) common words and acronyms.
6. Experts and novice (new) members: Explain new members can learn from experts here
Conclusion: Your conclusion should do three things:
1. Remind the reader of the definition of a discourse community according to Swales.
2. Point out that your chosen professional organization is, according to Swales definition, an example of a professional discourse community.
3. Mention the benefits of being a member of this discourse community for members in this field.
Make sure your essay is grammatically and mechanically (spelling and punctuation) correct.
Make sure your essay is formatted in proper APA style. See Hacker, PerdueOwl, or the APA Quick Guide from the GMU Writing Center posted on the Course Content page.
