Assignment 3/8: Communities of Practice

Due 3/8
Essay 6 paragraph minimum


A Community of practice is one that CREATES norms of behavior as individuals interact within it. Communities of practice are defined by three criteria (1) mutual engagement, (2) sharing a joint enterprise and (3) having a shared repertoire (we are interested in the verbal one here!). Communities of practice are based on shared values and are dynamic units which respond to the larger culture around them, ways of doing things emerge as a consequence of this engagement. After reading about communities of practice and discussing them in class, choose a community of practice that you participate in and describe the language norms and behaviors that define your community. Note that language is just one of the behavior that a practicing community creates!