Unit 2: Community Elements and Typologies

Lesson 2.3

Community Typologies

Contents

Introduction 1

Learning Objective 2

Let’s Connect 2

Discover 3
Rural and Urban Communities 4
Rural Community 4
Urban Community 5
Formal and Informal Communities 5
Formal Community 5
Informal Community 6
Local and Global Communities 7
Local Community 7
Global Community 7
Virtual Communities 8
Sectors 8
Social Spaces 10

Wrap-Up 12

Try This! 13

Challenge Yourself 15

Reflect on This 16

Photo Credits 17

Bibliography 18
Unit 2: Community Elements and Typologies

Lesson 2.3

Community Typologies

Introduction
Take a look around your community. What do you think is the type of community in which
you are living? Besides your community’s location, have you wondered about the practices,
interests, and circumstances that help form this community? Are there any community
action initiatives present in your community? What are the places in your community
where people often socialize with others?

In further studying the dynamism of communities, another element to explore is how a

community is formed. Learning about different community typologies is essential. Through
this lesson, you will be able to differentiate various community typologies and gain a
deeper understanding of your community and of other communities as well.

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Unit 2: Community Elements and Typologies

Learning Objective DepEd Learning Competency

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to
In this lesson, you should be able to compare and contrast typologies of communities
synthesize the integrative experience of (HUMSS_CSC12-IIIa-c-6).

implementing community action initiatives

by applying social science methods.

Let’s Connect

Paint Me a Picture 10 minutes

This activity will enable the students to illustrate different types of communities. Using their
imagination and creativity, it will help them apply their knowledge and understanding of
various types of communities in society.

Instructions
1. Divide the class into groups of six to eight members each.
2. Appoint a leader who will be assigned to instruct and monitor the members
throughout the game.
3. All leaders from each group will pick from a list of scenes they have to illustrate. Each
of these scenes represents a type of community.
● A barrio in the province celebrating a fiesta
● A session in Congress
● LGBTQ members during a pride parade
● One morning in a busy avenue in a major urban city
● Foundation day celebration at school
● Tree-planting activity lead by a local non-governmental organization
4. Each group will be given two minutes to discuss how they will pose for a picture to
recreate their assigned scenario. When the time is up, everyone freezes. Every leader
of the group shall take turns to explain to the class about the picture they are

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portraying. Points will be given to every group based on how creative and realistic
their illustrations are.
5. The guide questions below will be used for reflection.

Guide Questions
1. Based on the activity, how do you think communities are formed?
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2. Based on the activity, how do you think communities can be different from one
another?
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3. What were the challenges you faced during the activity? How did having a leader help
your group?
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Discover
Through understanding the different community typologies, one will be able to learn more
about the identity of the community; the goals the community members share; their
activities, structures, and organizations; and their interactions and relationships with fellow
members of the community.

Communities can be classified according to the following major characteristics:

1. By location - communities that are bound by geography
Examples: Urban and rural communities, local communities, neighborhood,

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Unit 2: Community Elements and Typologies

cultural communities, etc.

2. By practice - communities made for people participating in the same activity or
profession
Examples: the academic profession, the legal practice, the medical practice,
the business industry, and other formal communities
3. By action - communities with a common goal using collective power in creating
social change
Examples: civic organizations, youth activist groups, global communities with
advocacies, etc.
4. By interest - communities for people sharing a common interest, hobby, or passion
Examples: fan-based communities, gaming communities, belief-based
communities, religious communities, etc.
5. By circumstance - communities for people united by a common situation or
challenge
Example: breast cancer organizations, support groups, the LGBTQ community,
global communities, etc.

Different communities can also be classified using more than one characteristic. Let us now
see the major community typologies and discuss their differences.

What are the differences between the various

community typologies?

Rural and Urban Communities

Rural Community
Rural communities, often referred to as the countryside or farmlands, can be located in
pastoral and agricultural lands where interactions are within familiar residents with a
shared way of life and beliefs. The population is fewer, and the spaces are vast. Cultural
practices are preserved in small communities, and people maintain a stable interaction with
community members.

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Fig. 1. The municipality of Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, Mindanao (left) is a rural community
while the whole region of Metro Manila (right) is an urban community.

Urban Community
Urban communities are developed cities with large populations. There are advanced
technologies and architectural structures like skyscrapers and towers that can be found in
these industrialized areas. Different modes of transportation are essential in cities.
Significant economic growth also takes place in urban communities. Despite the bigger
population and closer proximity among community members than those in rural areas,
interactions are more distant and impersonal given the diversity of lifestyles and beliefs.

Formal and Informal Communities

Formal Community
Formal communities are established organizations with recognized identities and definite
goals. Their interactions are done through formal communication in a hierarchical structure.
Relationships are intentional and are defined between authority figures and subordinates.
There are roles given for each member to fulfill and a set of rules to be followed accordingly
based on the community’s vision. Examples of formal communities are religious institutions,
universities, civic organizations, and other formal institutions.

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Fig. 2. A business corporation (left) is an example of a formal community while activist

groups (right) are considered informal communities.

Informal Community
Informal communities are formed through sociocultural mechanisms. Unlike formal
communities, informal communities do not have a defined organizational structure and set
of rules. These communities may include people sharing the same interests, hobbies,
passion, or advocacies. The relationships formed are spontaneous and motivated by shared
community identity. Neighborhood communities, friendships, youth groups, support
groups, and volunteer organizations are some examples of informal communities. Other
examples may include fan-based communities, gaming communities, and music or art
communities that are common among the youth today.

Check Your Progress

What are the differences between rural and urban communities?
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Local and Global Communities

Local Community
Local communities are shared among people living in the same place. For example, in the
Philippines, we have our barangays (municipalities) and towns as our local community.
People sharing an environment also share the same beliefs, traditions, practices, and
culture unique to them. Local communities focus on cultivating their own resources and
ensuring community members’ well-being from a local perspective. Other examples of local
communities are indigenous communities, neighborhood or co-housing groups, and local
community cooperatives.

Fig. 3. “Think Global, Act Local” is a slogan that urges people to contribute to the entire
planet by taking action in their local communities.

Global Community
Global communities can be anywhere in the world as long as members share the same
values, beliefs, interests, advocacies, and other identities beyond physical, cultural, and
politico-geographic factors. Global communities focus on addressing world issues by
encouraging different nations and communities to participate. Some of these issues include
human rights advocacies, environmental campaigns, and promotion of social, political, and
economic growth of communities, among many other goals of improving communities
worldwide. Some well-known organizations are mentioned below, with their respective
advocacies.

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● Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - The ASEAN collaborates with

Southeast Asian countries in achieving economic growth, social progress, and
cultural development. They also aim to maintain peace, active collaboration, and
continued assistance among member states.
● World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - The WWF works in nearly 100 countries in promoting
the conservation of forests, oceans, and wildlife. It aims to protect and sustain these
natural resources for the benefit of future generations.
● United Nations (UN) - The UN is a recognized international organization that aims
to maintain international peace and security, protect human rights, assist
communities through humanitarian aid, promote sustainable development, and
uphold international laws.

Virtual Communities
Virtual communities are also examples of global communities. Virtual communities are
defined as social networks formed through the internet and function through social media
and different online platforms. These online communities exist to share content,
information, and knowledge to anyone in the world through photos, videos, and blogs. The
most popular social media sites known today are some examples of virtual communities.

Sectors
Sectors refer to organizations, institutions, and initiatives that deliver particular services to
community members. There are several sectors that we are familiar with:
● The government sector is run by the state and facilitates the implementation of
rules and regulations in the country. It also delivers essential services to different
communities.
● The private sector refers to organizations that voluntarily and independently
function beyond and outside of the government. The private sector is usually
non-profit organizations, donors, and volunteers that extend their help through
participating in different advocacy initiatives.
● The business sector includes self-employed individuals, business owners,
enterprises, and corporations that profit in delivering goods and services to society.
The business sector contributes primarily to the economic development of a

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Unit 2: Community Elements and Typologies

community.
● The religious sector covers the churches, sects, and all the other faith-based
organizations and communities. Composed of priests, ministers, pastors, and other
religious or spiritual leaders and their members, this sector maintains the spirituality
of communities. Their community activities involve ministry, fellowship, and
missionary or voluntary work.

Sectors can also be identified based on professional practice and specialized roles:
● The health sector is composed of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, and
other medical-allied professions.
● The law enforcement sector is composed of the police, lawyers, judges, and other
related professionals.
● The education sector consists of teachers, researchers, school administrators, and
other professionals working in the academic field.
● The youth sector is composed of organizations, networks, and relationships that are
run by and for the youth members of the community. Adolescents and young adults
engage in causes that benefit society. The youth sector also focuses on developing
the skills of the younger generation and discusses timely issues relating to them.

Fig. 4. Advocacies for the youth encourage self-expression and empowerment.

These sectors are just some of the other community typologies that have specific goals and
functions in society. Similar to other communities, sectors are formed based on shared
interests or circumstances. Other sectors focus on the environment, culture, entertainment,
film, sports, farming and agriculture, tourism, community activism, anti-poverty efforts, and

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Unit 2: Community Elements and Typologies

many others.

Social Spaces
A social space is a physical or virtual place that people in the community use for social
interaction. Social spaces are created by adapting to the needs of the community. These are
often located in convenient and accessible areas. Public social spaces may include city
centers, parks, streets, public squares, shopping malls, marketplaces, or any other spaces
people use for social gatherings.

Social spaces serve a daily function to the community where these provide places for
socialization and expression of needs. Virtual social spaces can be online social media sites
and other platforms that virtual communities use to communicate.

Fig. 6. Social spaces can be utilized for recreation, social movement, art, and advocacy.
(Top left to right: A community dancing activity in a plaza; A mass demonstration participated
by persons with disability. Bottom left to right: Community mural; Street art)

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Unit 2: Community Elements and Typologies

Whether they are located in rural or urban areas, social spaces must be sustainable since
they have a public significance and usually become part of the community’s identity.

Check Your Progress

Differentiate the interaction of members and the relationships
formed between formal and informal communities.

In Philippine Context
The Philippines is no stranger to natural calamities because of its geographic location. In
times of need, non-profit organizations, corporations, private individuals, and groups
donate and volunteer to help in providing relief to affected families and communities. This
is a manifestation of the Filipinos’ community spirit known as bayanihan.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put our country in a crisis where almost every community is
affected. The national and local governments made initiatives in providing financial and
relief assistance to local communities. The health sector, in particular, received more
attention since it consists of the frontliners fighting the spread of the disease. During the
first few weeks of quarantine, donation campaigns and various social action initiatives by
the private sector were administered to help not only frontliners but also other essential
workers at risk.

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The following are some of the known steps made by the private sector in fighting
COVID-19.
● The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) donated personal protective
equipment and masks to Department of Health employees. They also provided
adolescent well-being hotlines to offer sexual reproductive health services to those
with HIV/AIDS. Webinars on mental health were also conducted.
● An appliance company donated fans, water dispensers, and ovens to select
government hospitals.
● Utility and telephone companies extended payment deadlines of all their services
nationwide since the pandemic has caused a financial crisis to people.
● Local celebrities and citizens raised money to buy relief packs for street-dwellers,
jeepney drivers, and other people who lost their source of income during the
pandemic.

These are just some of the contributions of the private sector. There are many
undocumented contributions as well, but their assistance have been very significant to the
affected communities.

Wrap-Up
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
● Types of communities can be classified according to the following major characteristics:
location, practice, action, interest, and circumstance.
● Sectors refer to organizations, institutions, and initiatives that deliver particular services
to community members.
● A social space is a physical or virtual place that people in a community use for social
interaction.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

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Unit 2: Community Elements and Typologies

Try This!
A. Identification. Identify the word or concept being described. Write your answer in the
space provided.

________________ 1. There are advanced technologies and architectural structures like

skyscrapers and towers that can be found in these industrialized
communities.

________________ 2. Relationships in this type of community are intentional and are

defined between authority figures and subordinates.

________________ 3. These can be in the form of online social media and other online
platforms.

________________ 4. This type of community focuses on cultivating their own resources

and ensuring community members’ well-being from a local
perspective.

________________ 5. Neighborhood communities, friendships, youth groups, support

groups, and volunteer organizations are some examples of this
community.

________________ 6. This sector is run by the state and it facilitates the implementation
of rules and regulations in the country and delivers essential
services to different communities.

________________ 7. This sector is composed of organizations, networks, and

relationships run by and for the youth members of the
community.

________________ 8. These are places that serve a daily function to the community
where these must provide a place for socialization and expression
of needs.

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________________ 9. These are often small communities where cultural practices are
preserved.

________________ 10. This type of community focuses on addressing world issues by

encouraging different nations and communities to participate.

________________ 11. This refers to organizations, institutions, and initiatives that deliver
particular services to community members.

________________ 12. These can be online social media platforms that virtual
communities use to communicate and express their needs when
meeting personally is not possible.

B. Short-Response Essay. Answer the following questions briefly and coherently.

1. How do you think local communities can affect global communities?

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2. In your opinion, what is the essence of dividing communities into sectors?

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3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of virtual communities?

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Unit 2: Community Elements and Typologies

Challenge Yourself
Short-Response Essay. Answer the following questions briefly and coherently.

1. Choose one community typology (e.g., formal or informal communities). Through

research, choose specific communities that represent this typology. Gather
information about these communities
2. Discuss how these communities were formed using the characteristics mentioned in
the lesson.
3. Compare and contrast their characteristics, interactions, and roles of members.
Provide a short write-up of your output in the space provided.
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Suggested Rubric for Grading

The rubric below is a suggested one. Your teacher may modify the rubric based on your
needs. Consult your teacher for the final rubric.

Performance Levels

1 2 3 Suggested
Criteria Score
Beginning Proficient Advanced Weight
Proficiency Proficiency

Content Less than half of the More than half of All of the answers
answers are coherent the answers are are coherent and
and plausible. plausible.
×3
coherent and
plausible.

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Unit 2: Community Elements and Typologies

Completeness Less than half of the More than half of All the required
concepts are stated the concepts are concepts are stated ×2
accurately. stated accurately. accurately.

Language Less than half of the More than half of All answers are
answers are the answers are grammatically
grammatically correct grammatically correct correct and free ×1
and free from spelling and free from spelling from spelling errors.
errors. errors.

Total Possible Score 18

Reflect on This
Short-Response Essay. Write a short essay that expresses your insights on the given
questions below.

In which types of communities do you belong? What are the characteristics of these
communities? What are the shared interests, values, traditions, and activities that make
you part of this community? What have these communities contributed to your growth as
a student, youth, and citizen? Provide examples to support your answer.

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Photo Credits
Manila street view by Marcin Gabruk is licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr.

Lake Sebu, Philippines by Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ is licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr.

Metro Manila by Hero Wilson is licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr.

Cheerful leader motivating his business team by katemangostar is licensed under CC BY 2.0
via freepik.

Think Global, Act Local by OuiShare is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr.

Group of activists giving slogans in a rally by master1305 is licensed under CC BY 2.0 via
freepik.

DACS Youth Camp by Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ is licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr.

Ateneans gather along Katipunan Road to protest the burial of the former dictator at the
Libingan ng mga Bayani. by Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ is licensed under CC BY 2.0 via
Flickr.

Zumba at People's Park Davao City by Bro. Jeffrey Pioquinto, SJ is licensed under CC BY 2.0
via Flickr.

25 April 2018 - Celebrating the 1974 Carnation Revolution - Portuguese Disabled

sAssociation by Pedro Ribeiro Simões is licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr.

115.DruidHillAve.BaltimoreMD.11June2019 by Elvert Barnes is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

via Flickr.

STREET ART IN CRAMPTON COURT [LOVE THE LANES PROGRAMME]-116174 by William

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Unit 2: Community Elements and Typologies

Murphy is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr.

Bibliography
Collier, Mary Jane. Community Engagement and Intercultural Praxis. New York: Peter Lang,
2014.

Griffiths, Heather, Nathan J. Keirns, Eric Strayer, Susan Cody-Rydzewski, Gail Scaramuzzo,
Tommy Sadler, Sally Vyain, Jeff Bry, and Faye Jones. Introduction to Sociology 2e.
Houston, TX: OpenStax College, Rice University, 2017.

Melegrito, Ma. Lourdes F. and Diana J. Mendoza. Zeal for Action: Community Engagement,
Solidarity and Citizenship. Phoenix Publishing House, Inc., 2016.

2.3. Community Typologies 18