Academic research is just a new form of something you already know how to do: asking questions about the world around you. Engaging in research is not only something we do daily, we also do this in collaborative teams, called discourse communities. These groups share common goals and often encourage our research. Essentially, we engage in research on our own and with others daily in an organic and natural manner. It’s not an activity that we have to take a lot of time out to do and it does not require hours upon hours in a library or navigating the internet. Instead, research is involved in the way that we think and in the way we communicate with others everyday.

You are a member of many discourse communities right now, even if you don’t even know it. When you go to class or go to work and engage in conversations with your peers, you most likely are discussing something that you share in common with someone.

For this discussion post, write 150-200 words describing a discourse community you belong to in your personal life and what you like to research about in your free time.

Respond in two separate posts to two classmates (in at least 75 words for each post). Consider asking a question to learn more about their discourse community. Try to choose one community you’re familiar with and one that is brand new to you.

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