Rebecca Agosta

Fall2013
ENGL 1101
Genre as Rhetorical Analysis Project
.e-td.J
From Dean: Genre as rhetoric "emphasize[s] the social ac ions that give rise to the genre. Because certain
situations have developed forms for acting in those situations ... genres are ways of acting: 'Writing is not
only a skill; it is also a way of being and acting in the world at a particular time, in a particular .sjtuation, for
the acbiegernent (Bawarshi, Genre 156) ... [Researchers] might begin with the text but
move into a consideration of the ways the te){ts they explore both respond to situations and allow for
variety and change in those situations ... Frorri this perspective, writing isn't only .. . about the text anymore;
it's als-o'\ bout the situation surrounding the writing, about understanding that situation, and about
ensuring that the rhetorical choices made in using genre are effective for the situation and user" (22-3).
For this assignment, you will work in pairs to analyze genres that exist within a particular scene andjor
situation. This scene may foster multiple genres (such as a college notice board that could have flyers,
calendars, business cards, etc.) or it may be a situation that fosters a similar genre (such as a phone app or
website that asks users to utilize the same form: Vine or an e-dating site, selling a car in a newspaper,
commercial, craigslist ad, etc).
Your group will start with either a scene or a situation, and then you will find multiple genre examples to
explore. For example, your group may start with a scene such as the library and consider the multiple
genres that this scene holds and allow us to act through, such as student ID, online catalog, organization
system. Conversely, your group may start with a situation, such as getting a speeding ticket or selling
cereal, and consider multiple genres that help us act through those situations (the ticket itself, court papers,
ways of informally telling others -text message -- cereal boxes, cereal ads, coupons). Whichever way your
group gets started, inevitably you will identify both scene and situation of the multiple genre pieces
explored.
of f\li S"
q S S
This project includes two pieces:
Your group will make a virtual presentationjposterwith one of the following: create a poster or
resentation at Prezi.com, upload a PowerPoint to Slideshare.net, or create a poster at Glogster.com. This
will be your collaborative assignment and should be worked on by both members of the group.
{1\ Your second piece is written individually. Write a reflection on the process of genre
"':::.} analysis and group collaboration. Your group should submit individual reflections (2).
Due dates:
You will have time on 10/2 and 10/9 to work in class on this project.
10/14: Bring your presentationje-poster for workshop. You do not need a cover letter.
10/16: Genre analysis and reflection is due to the teacher. You do not need a cover letter
See back of page for assignment requirements. .
t 6\tu\a::X\'D - eA\[30{3\ h2 on Soq cU t\ l
t 'no-\1' 5 h s ' :v \ o-e.J) b .
<}tt\.f'{, ra-tnr J
\
\
--------- --------- ----
Your analysis poster /presentation should address the following questions and characteristics:
is the genre used? What kinds of activities happen here? What kinds of people come here?
Do these people have a shared objective?
'Y/. )Nhat is the interaction it accomplishes?
1\.fJ Y Who uses the genre and to do what? Does the user change for each genre piece? Why?
1
How do you know? 1e
What subjects does the genre discuss? V %"
?,; What relationships does the genre suggest? ..-::::::::---
0 \b What roles does the genre suggest f?r participants?
Y.. What kinds oflanguage are used within this situation and genre pieces?
::J What label would you put on this situation?
J "9. Hew does-eb the-genre-pieres?
ij{,. How do the genres shape the situation?
0 11. What does the genre allow its users to do and what does it not allow them to do?
d Whose needs are most served by the genre? Whose needs are least served?
U Does the genre enable its users to represent themselves fully?
_ _ \,Does the genre create inequalities among its users that lead to imbalances of power?
0 . s4-h-EtSSttJn}3t-ions thcrnh-e-yemE:ret1t:rts-pt'i Il"Fg-e cert-atn-wa
;:).,
Your analysis must also exploreS of the following characteristics of genre and analyze how your selected
pieces do or show these things: phvtv- ( s) (c) (h)
0 Social-
b. Rhetorical --t"wi \kr poS -
c. Dynamic 1
d. Historical -
Cultural-
. Situated
g. Ideological

vi G\t.V (VJ
Your analysis will ultimately (portfolio) be evaluated on your answers to these questions and
characteristics (being thorough with your answers and creating an interesting/effective analysis).
rtt) - (s)()
(h
D. "8\ltY-tCA. \\1nlefllt N (.\S \i 6'(\ tr
9.
Examples of Genres, Situations, and Scenes:
CA PR [Zl -
'( 1A c).} t-'"\

Paper /Print-based Technology-based Situations
Bumper stickers Youtube videos Selling something
Poetry Video parodies Recruiting members to an
Children's books (Vine organization
Comic books Music videos Going out to eat
Cereal boxes Commercials Applying for a job
Cartoons Video games Getting in a car accident
Political cartoons Glogsters Setting up a vacation
Debates Wordles on any
Advertisements Websitesedia site (twi=lk
Songs Infomercials ! Expressing beliefs in any
Spoken word poetry Text messages setting
Board games Emails Informing an audience
Posters Blog posts about something
Legal Citations Face book pages Instructing an audience on
Brainstorms ( Twitter something
Diagrams/outlines Reality TV Reviewing something
Freewrites Documentary ... basically any action that
Letters Soap operas you do, see what texts and
Editorial Prezi genres are part of it.
Product Reviews Powerpoint ::::=------- -
Speech Listservs 7 1 ')
Protest signs Mash ups 41CJ- qg-7- 13 7_ '/._
<filotograp@aintings Cell phone apps it'
Complaint letters Podcasts \
Greeting cards
Scenes
Library
Coffee Shop
Auto Repair Center
Theater
Living room
Specialty Store
All materials in a new item
you bought
Dorm hallway
Protest
Rally
Fundraiser
Poetry reading
Court session
Local newspaper
\."\
.;)

-
li""



Movie posters J t:,h t\ 'I
Resume/cover letter tr \\
I -n. , Scrapbook1i _Ja . '\01!< ll')aoJ.. .f.moleorneP..'f/LOL "'.o , h1pe, . _
1
r YV pel>fle C<'q
D. Q ) Q ()])dv seJVS 0.. r.Mbtrev-e.
-tk ;Jj '{filL f
I '2 es , 'oe.c4 >t ItS ti1&y-ih-+N.rrJ 11> ftl>l'l'lo/G -lheiv "'lbll mJ> 1b \16 w ttr \.c- iht-'1 q re f<>lmo { s. fl-'* rf il "'"'* i> v uL
I 3 Not teA H 1\:>C. \sa.\ \rfl\t O't\ of dvLY(l cl-eV-S_; 'I()'!) C(M) ffi GtXl II \)l,r\J \\"6W-OrS I tAAs' en;t) he t
't. Y-es, b -e. ca.u "\0\).)r-\IN \ \\<x ro sts;-t1--e. 'I w t-etweete4
1
.$ -tk mort f't k m6r-<r-fbi)Dw6'S "(l>lf
the 0'\ore. N-e.-\\ fneJVi h 'iuu..a_r.e.; \?ec.ome t-w\\1-eY-{qmot{s,
\5""_