AED: A pre-health discourse community Here at the University of Miami we are fortunate to have many student-run organizations on campus. Many of these organizations can be classified as a community, and even more specifically a discourse community. According to the American linguist John Malcolm Swales, a discourse community is comprised of six characteristics. These guidelines are the foundation for group communication and participation within the discourse community. I have conducted some research comprised of an interview and an observation on Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED), a pre-health honors society located here at the University of Miami, that is known for their guest speakers and shadow opportunities that they provide for their members
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Some other pre-health societies on campus include: the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the American Society of Pre-Dental Students, MEDLIFE, Phi Epsilon Delta, OptomEyes, Beta Beta Beta, and the Student Health Advisory Committee. All of these organizations are for students on the pre-health track, but according to freshman Jake Langlie, he says each organization has a different goal. As a member of AED, Beta Beta Beta and AMSA, Jake, emphasizes that AED provides more pre-health knowledge by bringing in guest speakers, where as Beta Beta Beta solely gives volunteer opportunities and AMSA is specific to the medical school application …show more content…
AED models John Swales six characteristics of a discourse community as well as Swales’ Cars Model (which is another one of Swales standards for discourse communities that states the community must establish and occupy a niche). AED has a well-known foundation in the pre-health community that was established through their guest speakers and shadow opportunities. Many of these speakers and volunteer opportunities will continue to be resources that the AED community maintains and uses as a learning experience for their members. After analyzing my data collected during my research (interview and observation) evidently, AED stands out from the rest of the pre-health organizations at the University of Miami because of the variety of professional speakers brought in by the e-board, the shadow opportunities that are provided for members, and the fact that it looks great on a medical school
Some other pre-health societies on campus include: the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the American Society of Pre-Dental Students, MEDLIFE, Phi Epsilon Delta, OptomEyes, Beta Beta Beta, and the Student Health Advisory Committee. All of these organizations are for students on the pre-health track, but according to freshman Jake Langlie, he says each organization has a different goal. As a member of AED, Beta Beta Beta and AMSA, Jake, emphasizes that AED provides more pre-health knowledge by bringing in guest speakers, where as Beta Beta Beta solely gives volunteer opportunities and AMSA is specific to the medical school application …show more content…
AED models John Swales six characteristics of a discourse community as well as Swales’ Cars Model (which is another one of Swales standards for discourse communities that states the community must establish and occupy a niche). AED has a well-known foundation in the pre-health community that was established through their guest speakers and shadow opportunities. Many of these speakers and volunteer opportunities will continue to be resources that the AED community maintains and uses as a learning experience for their members. After analyzing my data collected during my research (interview and observation) evidently, AED stands out from the rest of the pre-health organizations at the University of Miami because of the variety of professional speakers brought in by the e-board, the shadow opportunities that are provided for members, and the fact that it looks great on a medical school