My main takeaway when learning about discourse communities is that in order for a

group to achieve their goal, they prioritize communication. Each discourse community is unique
in their own way, whether it is a formal or more casual organization. Despite their uniqueness, it
can help evolve one’s communication skills within a group setting. This skill takes time and
practice in order to develop, which is why it is perfect within a group setting. Now each group
setting can compose of different themes, for example one organization may be focused on
academics while another organization can be focused on a celebrity. One idea that assists
discourse communities are maps. Maps help showcase the group’s goals, principles,
terminology, and themes. These maps are usually presented as the “mission statement” which
exhibits what the group is about and how to achieve their goals. While participating in a group, it
can help members find their interests and perhaps help them obtain information they may have
not previously known about. In addition, with our generation, some of these groups can be
digital or social media based. As our digital world is evolving, it allows members to be creative
through technology and better showcase the group’s ideas and goals. In Swales article, he
states that there are three areas within a discourse community: residential, occupational, and
vocational. These key areas are what help construct a discourse community and are important
to keep in mind.
When learning about discourse communities, I have pondered about my own life and
how I have participated in a discourse community. For example, during my high school I partook
in my school’s Spanish club which occurred every other week. I enjoyed this club because it
allowed Hispanics to join together and bond with one another due to their common
backgrounds. In this group, I did not feel out of place as I was able to share my background with
everyone and we used this club as a method to achieve our goals within the community.
Another organization I participated in was my school’s STEM programs. Our STEM program is
an organization that involves sciences, technology, engineering, and math to help students who
wish to pursue any of those fields. This program helped me bond with other students who had
the same goals and assisted each other in any way possible. Discourse communities are a
great way to get involved while finding other people who share common interests and goals.