When addressing my friends and family, the grammar and spelling police are

not waiting for me to make mistakes. Most of the time, in my friends and family
discourse community, the atmosphere is not very formal. It is suitable to use short
hand or slang when communicating with this discourse group. The methods of
communication include emails, cards, written letters, text messages, and notes. For
example, I email my father and sister with documents and questions so they can
help with my school work. My mother is not very technology savvy, so writing her a
letter and sending it to her would be the best written communication.
Communication in this discourse group is always personal and relaxed. People apart
of this discourse group are either related to me by law or genetics or have common
interests and exchange personal information or secrets. People outside this
discourse group might not be able to relate or understand the communication. My
friends, family and I have inside jokes and certain jargon we use which makes the
communication more personal. For example, I refer to my sister as Linda every
time I text her even though that is not her name. Someone outside of this discourse
group would not know the story behind why I refer to her as Linda. Communication
in my friends and family discourse group is used to keep in touch with them back
home while in college. Also it keeps that personal relationship by exchanging news,
shows that we are thinking about each other, and love each other. Within my friends
and family discourse group, the topics can range from a baby shower invitation to a
quick text messages to see how they are doing throughout the day.
The school and academic discourse community requires me to be more
formal in comparison to my family and friends discourse community. In a school and
academic discourse community, we all have common goals and have the same
expectations academically. People like my professors, that are also included, have
already reached those goals and academic expectations. Fellow students in this
discourse community all have high school diplomas and have reached the
requirements of the university to be accepted. Formal emails and written
assignments are always sufficient in this discourse community. Sometimes text
messages are appropriate to exchange with students and some professors. For
example, it may be acceptable to ask a professor the authors name of the book
they referred to in class that you did not quite catch. Also a text message to a
student asking what page a homework assignment is found is suitable because it is
quick and convenient. Grammar and spelling is important to ensure the message is
clear. Also, to achieve the best grades on written assignments, correct grammar and
spelling are a must. There is not much special language used within this community
and proper English is best. Although there is not much jargon specific to our
university, a few examples are referring to dismissal from the university as out by
five or referring to students with journalism majors as scrippers. The purpose of
communication in this community is to become more knowledgeable and help reach
our academic and career goals.

In a religious discourse community, the atmosphere may be formal or

informal depending on the on the situation. For example, quickly writing down a
prayer request to your pastor is acceptable and encouraged. When it comes to
posting flyers about the next revival, the message should be formal and clear for
the congregation to read. Emails, flyers, cards, notes, and information typed on
Teleprompters are all suitable forms of written communication in this discourse
community. Topics range from posting specific scripters on the teleprompter during
a sermon to sending Mrs. Abagail get well cards while she is in the hospital and
unable to make it to church. To join this discourse group you must have the same
beliefs and meet with the rest of the community on some regulated basis. There is
some special language used within this community which usually includes biblical
references. Also, at my church the members in grade school ranging from
kindergarten to sixth grade, are a part of a group called toon town. That is specific
to my church, so someone who has not visited or a member would not know the
reference. We all have to same morals and beliefs. We all have the same goal of
establishing a better relationship with God and spreading the gospel to others
outside of this community.