Discourse Community Essay

Cedric Woodfork
University of Texas at El Paso

Discourse Community Essay

Since its onset, writing has become a staple in the everyday interactions
between humans. Today this is even truer as we have turned to writing as an important
tool for communication in the various communities we belong to. Be it to reach a family
member, document pertinent information, garner advocacy for a pressing issue, or to
show understanding of an assigned reading, writing laid the groundwork in improving
how mankind stays connected. Each discourse community we are involved in has specific
modes (and rules) of communication that will be explored throughout this essay along
with various examples.
Professionally, I work as a French Bilingual Customer Service
Representative at Telerx. One can become a member through the process of getting hired:
placing an application, attending an interview, and passing the bilingual reading and
comprehension test. Written communication takes place by digital media, between the
office employees and consumers who choose to contact customer service via email. Most
texts are information driven, for example, providing troubleshooting tips for defective
Tassimo Home Brewing Systems or informing agents on the call floor of changes in call
handling procedures. Representatives are expected to talk in a professional and courteous
tone when dealing with consumers email inquiries. Proper email etiquette, including
correct spelling, grammar, and spacing is required at all times. The same applies when
documenting the cases that come over the phone. Working in a bilingual customer service
environment, the language is kept at a rudimentary level, in either French or English, so
the consumer may easily understand the response. In the vain of keeping responses brief

and simple, if an issue is deemed too complicated to solve via email, the consumer would
be instructed to call in for further assistance.
I do not participate in many voluntary communities, though I do like to
interact with local creative talent by going to the local open microphone events that
happen regularly. Writing takes place online through social media to help spread the word
of the next event and its location. The audience would be considered those who have
liked the The Barbed Wire Open Mic Series page on Facebook. These posts are
accompanied buy a digital flyer highlighting who this months featured artist is. The
featured artist is one who is given the last performance of the night and most stage time.
Each post tends to be written with proper grammar in mind, but is subject to include an
informal yall from time to time. Anyone that is interested in creative expression in any
way (Comedy, Music, Drama) is welcome to attend the shows.
My roommates represent my personal discourse community. We send text
messages from our cell phones to stay updated on things that are happening around the
house. For example, when our new Internet service was activated, the owner of the house
(Tulara) sent her tenants a message with the new username and password. My tone is
very casually with them; texts are usually written in shorthand with acronyms like lol
or wyd (what you doin). One would need to live in our house to be a part of this
group.
I am currently enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso. I was
accepted as a student after simply placing an application online. Generally writing is used
as a tool for responding to and/or synthesizing information gathered through classroom
lecture or independent research. Students may also contact a professor in an email to get

clarification on an assignment or due date. In most cases the professor is the only
audience member, unless a student uses their peers as proofreaders. Papers are submitted
as a word document online or on paper, per the guidelines of the instructor. Students are
expected to use appropriate grammar and citing (when necessary); errors are often
grounds for penalty. My Rhetoric and Composition instructor for example, Mr. Josue
Alvarez, requires that emails contain a proper salutation (Dear Mr. Alvarez, etc.),
structure and closing for him to consider responding to it.
As sophisticated beings, it has become commonplace for us to be able to
change our modes of communication to best suit the situation we are faced with. In
exploring how writing plays a role in the major facets of our lives (personal, academic,
civic, and professional), one can become more adept at transitioning between discourse
communities more seamlessly, and doing so, becoming a more effective writer.