Conventions: What are three specific conventions associated with the discourse of your topics? 

Topic 1: Ballet 

1.   The process of customizing and breaking in pointe shoes from lighting the box on fire, sewing in the ribbons and elastic, and stomping on the box of the shoes. In addition adding toe pads, rosin, and tape when necessary for each respective dancer.
2. Choreography is being delivered in marking with the hands or french terminology ranging from two frappés into a repeated series of fouettés. 
3. The mirror being both the best and worst possible friend you could ever have. Corrections and improving versus constant comparison and eating disorders. The beauty and grace masking the pain and the mental toll it takes on dancers.

Topic 2: Bookworm /Readers

1.   When your attempts at creative writing begin to “surprisingly” mirror the writing styles of authors or books you’ve read recently. 
2. The unending comparison of movie versions of a book which involves belittling the movie at every turn it is not accurate to the novel because “the book is better”.
3. Inadequacy having not read enough classics and therefore, always compiling a list of “classic” books to cite when asked about what one reads. The overall judgment faced when answering “what is your favorite book?”

Topic 3:  Biracial/Multiculturalism  

1. The “other” option on scantron sheets being the only option when being asked about your ethnicity
2. Your activities and passions are each being classified as one of your respective ethnicities
3. The culinary development through fusions of different cultures  

Discourse community: Can you describe two memories in which you joined in conversation with members of the discourse community associated with these topics? 

Topic 1: Ballet

1. I recall my dance teacher and my entire dance class sharing their ability to nail a technique or sequence of steps during a show because of show performance high. 
2. A few weeks before the pandemic hit and all dance studios were closed for the foreseeable future, the idea of quitting dance was first plotted in my mind. After the initial anxiety of the casting list, members in my dance studio and I discussed some of our disappointment with the roles we received and the ever-present toll that perfectionism played on us all.  

Topic 2: Bookworm /Readers

1. My friend’s sister and I have been in a long time discussion over the morality of Dumbledore’s character. While he was presented to us as somewhat of a god-like figure, I have grown over time to believe him to be a morally gray character which she wholeheartedly disagrees with, and to this day we are still in disagreement.
2. I inquired on Goodreads what everyone’s worst book habits were to which I received judging a book by its cover and Habitual Absent-Mindedness as top contenders.   

Topic 3: Biracial/Multiculturalism  

1. A topic of discussion among my friends and me in middle school was the fact that at one point or another, each of us had been called an “oreo” (or a variation of this term) because of the games we would play, the way we would dress, and the way we would speak. 
2. During a dinner conversation, my family and I discussed the importance of embracing both of our given racial identities. My parents also put an emphasis on learning to speak our different languages and understand more of the culture to help us better relate and identify with being biracial.

Literacy Sponsor: Can you describe two specific ways in which a literacy sponsor has introduced you to the discourse communities and/or conventions of these topics? 

Topic 1: Ballet 

1. My dance teacher was an essential mentor in my ballet career as she not only instructed me to become a stronger dance but also introduced me to more customs and conventions in the ballet world. Under her guidance, I was educated on the history and origins of ballet and also attended live performances of professional ballet companies.    
2. The director of my ballet department allowed me to gain confidence in myself in a community that is often tainted with the convention of the opposite of that. She allowed me to see the beauty and inclusivity that had originally made me fall in love with dance.

Topic 2: Bookworm /Readers

1. My second-grade teacher allowed me to begin to find my passion for reading after she told me I had passed the benchmark for the reading test. Both my teacher’s pride in me and my newfound confidence in my ability to read allowed me to discover pleasure reading. 
2. My sister inadvertently introduced me to Goodreads (where I found a community of others who share my passion for books) and, she has also been the person who initially recommended me all the books I was reading. 

Topic 3: Biracial/Multiculturalism  

1. My sister provided me with the knowledge to further understand my family’s history and cultural background. She also introduced me to the convention of embracing my naturally curly hair which helped me let go of the stigma I had on the curly hair. 
2. My best friend was a sponsor to me by introducing me to shows(Blackish) and movies that I could identify with. That allowed me to gain perspective and see that there is no one biracial experience.