Marissa Makar

11/14/14
1st Draft
Reflection
I feel as if I have strong evidence that Alpha Delta Pi is a community discourse. I
would like specific feedback on whether or not my interviews help prove that Adpi is a
community discourse and if not, what questions in an interview can I ask to help prove it.
Out of Swales six characteristics of a discourse community I discussed goals that Adpi
has, how we communicate, and the difference between old members and new members,
should I write about more characteristics or no is a question that I have.
Discourse Community
Alpha Delta Pi isnt just a normal sorority; it was the first secret sorority to ever
be founded which was in 1851 at Wesleyan Female College in Macon, Georgia. Since it
was the first secret sorority to ever be known. The first original name for the sorority was
The Adelphean Society. Then in 1905 the name changed to Alpha Delta Phi, then
continuing onto the year of 1913 they changed their name to Alpha Delta Pi. In 1979 is
when Alpha Delta Pi international philanthropy committed to the Ronald McDonald
House Charities.
Some people may underestimate a sorority based on stereotypes that are usually
said about them, but Ive have recently become a member of Alpha Delta Pi, interviewed

a new member and an old member, and Ive come to realize its not just a sorority or a
sisterhood, its a discourse community.
The first step I took was I interviewed my Big. I also interviewed a new
member, Linda Monti, to prove that Alpha Delta Pi isnt just a sorority but a discourse
community as well.
Interview with My Big, Lindsay Blackwood
Me - What made you want to join a sorority?
Lindsay - I wanted to have a special connection with girls that I had with other girls
back at home.
Me - What do you like most about it?
Lindsay - How I met my best friends, our philanthropy, and fun functions that we hold
such as Mallard Ball.
Me - Will you be running for any positions for upcoming next semester?
Lindsay - Yes, I will be running for T-Shirt chair, which means you will design all the tshirts for the events that we have.
Me - How do you think Alpha Delta Pi has helped you for your future?
Me - Well it helps my resume since Im involved in Greek life; it also gives you plenty
of opportunities to meet a lot of new girls who may know someone who might know
someone who could expose you to many different job opportunities.

Interview with new member, Linda Monti

Me - So far how do you like being a member of Alpha Delta Pi?
Linda - I love it so far, Im meeting so many girls that I connect with.
Me - Is being in a sorority exactly what you expected it to be?
Linda Actually no, I definitely underestimated being in a sorority. I thought I was just
going to meet girls that I clicked with when in reality I also have been getting so much
more involved with school as well. I was in the parade for homecoming week, sold BBQ
tickets to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House, and in the spring we have Pie a
Pi and its when someone can donate one dollar to pie a member of Alpha Delta Pi in
the face and it benefits the Ronald McDonald House as well.
Me - Would you recommend rushing to be in a sorority to anyone?
Linda - Yes, I would definitely recommend it. Its a great way to get involved with the
schools, do fun activities, and meet new friends since at first it may be hard to connect
with people at a brand new school. Im from Virginia so coming to UNCC was a
completely different atmosphere to me, joining a sorority helped me become more
comfortable with this school and made me feel a lot less alone.
In order to be a discourse community one must have goals and without goals a
sorority wouldnt be a true sorority. Many social events that sororities host revolve
around their philanthropies and charities. Alpha Delta Pis philanthropy happens to The
Ronald McDonald House foundation. Every month we have a group of girls that

volunteer in the sorority that go over to the Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte and
cook dinner for the families staying in the Ronald McDonald House. We recently had a
BBQ that raised 15,000 dollars to the Ronald McDonald House. During the years of 2013
through 2014, Alpha Delta Pi chapters alumnae associations, and house corporations
contributed $1,039,825.69. Another goal would be academic excellence, in order to stay a
member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority we must have a 2.7 GPA or higher, we must spend
a certain amount of hours in the library as well. We get awarded if we make either an A
or B on a test, exam, or project. Education always comes first. Alpha Delta Pi helps with
leadership goals as well; we have authority-holding offices within our sorority that
includes president, executive vice president, membership education vice president,
recruitment vice president, finance vice president, and so much more. These opportunities
for girls to earn, gain leadership. Another goal that Alpha Delta Pi always seems to
accomplish would be to create a sisterhood. We live for each other is our open motto
and it truly expresses the relationship between the girls in my sorority.
Some may wonder how we communicate with each other and the answer would
be mainly through private Facebook pages. We have a page that is Alpha Delta Pi related
and a page that isnt related. The new pledge class that Im in also communicates through
an app called Group Me, it allows 50 girls to be in the same chat room. Another form
of communication that Alpha Delta Pi has would be a meeting called Chapter every
Sunday. We must dress up in our best attire and attend a meeting with all the other girls.
This is where they discuss upcoming events and important things that need to be spoken
about. The purpose of each of these mechanisms of communication would be to keep our
community strong.

The new members are the members that havent been initiated yet, called
Alphas. The old-timers in Alpha Delta Pi would be the members who have already
been initiated, who are called Deltas. Once a sister graduates and becomes an alumna
they become a Pi. When first becoming an Alpha, one is supposed to wear a white and
blue ribbon, which represents our colors, at all times except for bedtime of course. We
also are required to attend the Alpha Meeting hosted by our Alpha mom. During our
Alpha meeting we learn about the history about Alpha Delta Pi, the executive offices, the
positions, the founders, etc. Then we get tested on our knowledge about Alpha Delta Pi
and whether we pass the test or not determines if we will be initiated into Deltas. Over
the next few weeks of being an Alpha we learn our motto of being an Alpha Delta Pi
which is We live for each other, we learn the Greek alphabet, and we learn our hand
sign, which is using your index finger and middle finger on both hands to make your
fingers in a shape of a diamond.
After interviewing with an old member, a new member, stating our goals,
discussing how Alpha Delta Pi communicates and discussing the difference between the
Alphas and Deltas, I believe Ive proven my point when I say that Alpha Delta Pi isnt
just a sorority, but a discourse community as well. Theres much more than just meets the
eye.

Works Cited

Blackwood, Lindsay. Personal Interview. 10 Nov. 2014.

Monti, Linda. Personal Interview. 11 Nov. 2014.

"Philanthropy." Alpha Delta Pi Sorority -. N.p., 2008. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.