Module Goals

The goals of this module are to

• define "community" in traditional or live contexts
• introduce "reciprocity" as a key element of community
• introduce some conceptions and criticisms of technologically mediated or virtual community
• provide several views/analyses of virtual community building and invite you to comment on at least one of them.

Two Key Outcomes

As part of your Assign 2b team project, be able to (1) define what "community" means in a particular web context and (2) show how
this community is rhetorically constructed.

Pre-Test

Use these questions to help you prepare for this module. I recommend you read all sections:

1. When you think about "community," what first comes to your mind? Jot these ideas down.
2. How important for you are personal or voice interaction (face-to-face, telephone) for building and sustaining a community?
3. Define "reciprocity" and consider how this relates to community.
4. What is the "utopian" view of virtual community building?
5. How might the specific features, tools, or characteristics of a web site rhetorically construct a sense of "community"?

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