Post 12

According to Wardle (citing Wenger), what are the three ways that newcomers try to belong in a new community?
According to Wardle, citing Wenger, the three ways that newcomers try to belong in a new community are engagement, imagination, and alignment.

Give a specific example to illustrate each "mode of belonging." Then try to apply these terms to the discourse community you've chosen to study for Project 4.
Each mode of belonging is distinctly different than the others. Engagement is a mode of belonging because each individual in the community must interact with one another in order for the group to successfully grow, develop, and prosper. Imagination is necessary for newcomers to a community because they need to add something to the group in order to prove their value and worth to the community. Using the individual's imagination will allow them to develop new ideas, activites, etc. for the community. Alignment is a mode of belonging because the individual must fit in with the community. In order to fit in, they must abide by the community's regulations, customes, etc. just as the pther members of the community do.
My discourse community, my Fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon, exemplifies these three modes of belonging. Each member of Tau Kappa Epsilon must constantly be engaged with not only the other members of the Fraternity, but also the surrounding communityy in order to grow, develop and prosper. Each member of TKE contributes to the community by using their magination in the formation of group meetings, projects with the school and the surroundng society, and functions such as parties and banquets. Each member must properly be aligned with the Fraternity as well. This is done by following the Fraternity's rules and guidelines in our everyday lives.

How do newcomers enculturate in that group?
Newcomers enculturate into the group by pledging. Each brother of TKE has gone through the pledging process in order to become an active member. Once a brother, each individual enculturates into the group by adding their opinions and ideas through things like Fraternal meetings, discussions via text messages, facebook, phone conversations, and engaging possible pledges for the next incoming class of brothers.