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Tecora Logan Emilia Fuentes English 1101 October 24th, 2013

The Ultimate Crowd Pleasers One of things that interest me the most is cheerleading and Ive been cheering since I was five years old. Unfortunately I decided to not cheer in college because I wanted to focus on my academics. I miss cheering much because it was like a part of me and now I no longer do it. Waking up on Friday mornings knowing there was a game at 7pm always made my day easier. Being a crowd pleaser and swearing that smile with pride was so amazing. Everyone thinks that cheerleading is just a rah -rah sport but its actually very difficult. It takes skill, technique, strength, time and a lot or preparation to be a great cheerleader. You cant show a cheerleader the ends and outs o f cheerleading in a couple of practices like you can show a football player. You cant watch cheerleaders and learn what they do like you can watch a football or basketball game and learn some new tricks. Competitive cheerleading is not all fun and games. I would consider cheerleading a discourse community under Swales six characteristics of discourse community. Cheerleading has all six of these characteristics in its basis. The basis of my ethnographic paper is going to be about cheerleading and cheerleaders. Theyre a sport team and they fit the six characteristics of Swales definition of discourse community only in some settings. The one that fits Swales definition the most is competitive cheerleading or collegiate cheerleading rather than high school and little league cheerleading. Competitive or collegiate have a more of oriented goal than just cheering on their team. They have a separate identity from just being crowd pleasers at the game and theyre way more skilled than little league and high school cheerleading.

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I.

The basis of Cheerleading A. B. C. What do cheerleaders do Where do you find them What do they stand for 1. 2. 3. 4. Sisterhood Competition Supporters Attention/recognition

II.

Differences in cheerleading A. Levels of cheerleading 1. 2. 3. 4. B. Little league Middle/high school Competitive Collegiate

Do the differences in cheerleading effect their perception 1. Newcomers vs. experts

C. III.

Do these levels fit into Swales six definitions

Components of Discourse community A. B. C. Interview of a veteran cheerleader/associate Goals and aspirations Modes of communication 1. Chants/cheers a) b) c) Verbal Written Physical

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D.

Lexis 1. Stunts a) b) c) d) e) 2. Helicopter Basket toss Liberty Extension Scorpio

Movements a) b) c) High V Touchdown Candlesticks

3.

Tumbling a) b) c) Back handspring Back tuck Walkover

IV.

Ann Johns A. Authority figures 1. 2. 3. B. Levels vs. levels Years vs. experience Newcomers vs. veterans

Conflicts 1. 2. Newcomers vs. veterans Power struggle a) 3. Titles a) Captains vs. squad Group of ladies

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b)

Coach vs. squad