ENGL 1100: Dr. Pine: Discourse Communities

Delaware Campus ENGL 1100 OER class

What is a Discourse Community?

Discourse Community (DC) is the largest of the five knowledge domains of writing, and subsumes the other four (subject matter, genre, rhetorical, and writing process). While there is not a single definition of DCs, it is understood that a DC is composed of a group of people, often with shared goals and exclusive or technical language, who communicate in writing in a way understood by members of the DC.

Some Discourse Community Examples

Discourse Communities are varied and may include (but are not limited to):

Societal

  • Clubs
  • Organizations
  • Ethnic Groups (e.g. Puerto Rican)
  • Religious Groups (e.g. Mennonite)
  • Activist Groups (e.g. Sierra Club)

Civic

  • Political Groups
  • School Groups (e.g. PTA/PTO)

Cultural

  • Fan Groups (e.g. Trekker/Trekkie)
  • Gamers (e.g. Pokémon)
  • Sports (e.g. Crew fans)

Academic

  • College Majors (e.g. Psychology)
  • Careers

How Might I Find Others in My Discourse Community Using Library Databases?

Examples of Professional Organizations

Where Can I Research Career Discourse Communities?