Part 1 Journal (This will be first file needed)

Instructions

First re-read this unit’s major writing assignment instructions. Then, answer the following questions either in hand-written notes or in a typed document. (If you choose to hand-write this assignment, make sure that you can scan or photograph your handwritten notes, so that you can turn in a file and receive credit for this assignment.)

This process might seem a little silly at first, but eventually, you will find that “interviewing yourself” will help you to better understand and prepare for your upcoming writing assignment.

First, ask yourself this question:

What communities do I belong to?

On a sheet of paper or in a typed document, list as many communities as you can think of. Define “community” as broadly and as narrowly as you want. Answer any of the following questions that apply:

Where do I attend school?

• Where do I work?

Where do I live?

What city?

What neighborhood?

• Do I live in a dorm? An apartment complex? A shared house? My own house?
• What is my major?
• What is my intended career field?

What clubs do I belong to?

• What sports teams do I play on?
• Where do I worship or attend church?
• Do I identify as a part of the military? If so, what branch?
• What activities do I participate in regularly?
• At what locations do I frequently find myself? (i.e., grocery store, library, farmers’ market, the gym, etc.)
• What “class” am I in school? (i.e., freshman, sophomore, etc.)
• What is the largest group I am are a part of?
• What is the smallest group I am are a part of?
• After you have listed all the communities you can think of, select one community. Then, dig deeper into this community by answering all of the following questions:
• What makes someone a member of this community?
• How do I know if someone is a part of my community?
• What makes someone not a member of my community?
• When did I first join this community?

How is the community organized?

• Who are the formal leaders of my community? Who are the informal leaders?

What sub-groups exist within my community?

What are my community’s common interests and concerns?

Finally, reflect in writing on the language used by your community. Answer the following questions:

What kinds of language do members of this community use?

• What words, phrases, terms, or slang that are unique to this community?
• When did I first learn these words, phrases, terms, or slang?
• How does the language this community uses help to bring the community together?

What does the language used by this community imply about what the community values?

• What happens when a member of the community makes a linguistic mistake?
• What misconceptions do outsiders have about the language this community uses?
• After you have written down your answers to your self-interview, upload them to this assignment. You may upload a photograph of handwritten notes if you would like, or upload a typed document.either as a typed document file. Please upload either a .doc, .docx, .jpg, .gif, or .pdf file. Use your journal as a starting place for this unit’s major writing assignment.  
• Part 2 (Second File)  
• Task 2 Instructions

The famous philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein wrote, “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” What did he mean by this statement?

As you learned in this unit’s readings and discussion, language awareness is central to successfully navigating life. When we are locked into one pattern of speaking, writing, thinking, we limit the boundaries of our existence. Experienced writers know that they belong to many language communities and know how to switch between varieties of language to address specific audiences, subjects, genres, and/or social contexts.

To complete this unit’s major writing assignment, write an essay in which you explore one (please pick just one) particular “language community” that you belong to. Include discussions of the language habits used by members of the community, and discuss how this language community has shaped your own identity. This will be central to the focus of your essay. After reading your work, I should get a detailed look into your language community and how it has shaped your identity. Consider this question: how has your language community helped make you who you are today?

• It will be up to you to determine what story about your language community you wish to tell. I would suggest selecting just one single story. If you select more than one story, the details can get confusing and the reader may lose track of the purpose of the paper. So think about one single story that you can tell about your language community that helps you “illustrate” how that language community has shaped you into the person you are today. 
• This essay will be a combination of a narrative and an illustrative essay in that you want to “tell a story” (narrative) about your language community while “identifying very specifically” (illustrating) for your reader how this language community has shaped you into the person you are today. 
• Questions to Consider: (Do not answer all of these questions in the paper. They are meant only to help you start thinking about the community you will write about.) The Unit 2 Essay should “tell a story” (narrative) about your language community while “identifying very specifically” (illustrating) for your reader how this language community has shaped you into the person you are today. 
• How has this community shaped your sense of identity? How is your sense of self tied in with the community you belong to? How do you navigate between different communities — for instance, how do you move between your job community and your family community at home?
• What are some common misunderstandings of your community? Why or how is your community so misunderstood? Describe your community — its membership, practices, and values — in order to “set the record straight” and clear up misconceptions and stereotypes.
• Given your experiences so far, what do you know about the community of college students? Is college one big community, or a collection of multiple, smaller ones? Compare and contrast two of the disciplines from which you are taking courses this year (for example, a history class and your biology class). How are those disciplines similar in their expectations of students? How are they different? What does this mean in terms of the values of the disciplines?
• Through observation and interaction, learn about a community that is brand-new to you. This could be a community formed around ethnicity, hobby/interest, religion, college major/minor, lifestyle, etc. Like a reporter, write an essay that describes, in detail, that new community. Then, reflect on what the experience means to you, what it taught you, perhaps, about keeping an open- mind in the face of difference.