Elsamra 1

Shadi Elsamra
Megan Keaton
ENC 2135-07
8 July 2015
Man vs Genre: The Basic Understanding of Applications of Genre
Most people begin and finish written pieces simply by typing anything that has to do with
their purpose for composing their work. What they dont realize is that there is so much more to
do with writing than just answering the prompt, and this includes the use of different genres in
the writing of the piece. Many when first told about genres, myself included, asked What is a
genre? Genre can be both a dynamic and semiotic construct, and according to Amy Devitt it
illustrates how to unify and form content, place text within context, balance process and
product, and acknowledge the role of both the individual and the social. (Devitt 573). The idea
of genre is that within writing there are types of texts that can change depending on the audience.
(Coe and Freedman 42). Genres can be complicated and confusing, especially when being used
consciously used for the first time, as the values of writing in one situation (testing) are unique
to that situation and not necessarily valued in the same way in other writing situations or for
other purposes (Dean 6). A closer look at a research paper I had recently turned in shows that I
had used several genres to help write the paper, including conferences with my professor, several
friends, and a writing mentor, the FSU library search engine, two technological websites, an
online book, two technology database sources, a movie trailer, motivational videos and music,
and viewing the grading rubric.
The research paper I was assigned from my computing class was to be no less than 1000
words based on my choice of an information technology topic. While I could pick my own topic,
I had to use one of eight sources the professor provided to me, and from there I could branch off
to other websites. In addition to those websites, I had to use two technology database sources and
a book, virtual or physical, that I obtained from the FSU library website.

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My first genre used in the writing of my research paper was to take a look at the grading
rubric and carefully read it, to ensure that everything was done correctly as defined. As I read the
rubric, I saw that there were several requirements that had to be fulfilled to write the paper. This
genre lead to me using other genres because of the requirements of the paper, including using
one of eight websites the professor provided us with to find the foundation of information on our
topic. In addition it was here that I became aware of the fact that I would have use the FSU
library search engine to find an online book and two database sources to assist me in writing my
paper. The rubric was the reason for me conferencing with several people including my
professor, as I wasnt certain on which topic to pick or how to go about starting my paper.
I used the genre of conferencing in an effort to figure what I needed to write specifically
in the paper, obtain a topic worth writing on, and proof reading so that it would be perfect. At the
end of his lecture for the day, my professor assigned the paper to us and told us it would be due
at midnight on Friday. I walked up to him after class and consulted him on the parameters of how
the paper should be written, and he told me that everything was online in the rubric, but that I
should also discuss with friends if I have trouble coming up with a topic for my paper. As I
walked away my mind instantly began to branch out and think about all that I could do to get my
topic. After hours of staring at a blank screen waiting for a good thought to come to my head, I
decided that I needed a break and consulted my friends about the course of action that I should
take. Throughout the discussion of which topic to pick, many thoughts were thrown around by
my friends. After several more hours, I still was not satisfied with any topic that was given,
however the discussions began to spark ideas of what I could write on. Later, after I had wrote
my paper I uncertain as to whether or not my paper would meet the high expectations that my
professor was placing. I printed out a copy and requested that a writing mentor take a look at it to
ensure that not only my grammar was correct, but also that I had stayed on topic. These genres

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connected with the genre of the rubric because I needed to make sure that I was going to get the
passing grade that I wanted by following the instructions.
As a way to relieve stress and pressure that comes with writing a paper, I usually have
some sort of filler playing in the background to cancel out noise from people around me. This is
where the genre of video and music came in play. I listen to motivational videos and music
ranging from hip hop to 90s punk to not only help cancel noise but also to make sure that my
own thoughts do not incinerate my brain with overwhelming pressure. This genre is directly
connected to movie trailers as I saw the trailer as an ad on one of my videos.
The genre of movie trailers was the one thing that gave me my idea to write my paper on.
As I was trying to come up with a topic, I had music playing in the background to ease my mind.
An ad came on for the movie Terminator Genisys, and being a fan of the series, I knew that the
main idea of the movie was an artificial intelligence program that decided to turn on humans as it
viewed the whole race as a threat. It was in the moment that I knew that I was going to write on
the topic of artificial intelligence. This genre was the inspiration to my topic and the specific
parameters I would have to use to search for sources among the required websites, databases, and
books.
The FSU library search engine was the next genre that I used in the process of writing my
research paper. As specified in the rubric, I was required to find over half of all the sources for
my paper through the engine. After clicking the link in the rubric that took me to the website, I
began to type several synonyms and variations of technology and artificial intelligence. After a
few searches this lead me to the two databases I was going to use, and after another search I had
found a copy of an online book that related to my topic. The FSU search engine was the required
search tool from the grading rubric, and the databases and books were found using the engine.
The genre of the technological databases assisted me in writing the paper, as the two
articles were not only a required source, but also a major component in the process of writing the

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paper. Both databases lead me to articles that explained not only what artificial intelligence was,
but also the theory of how it could be used to help everyday life. It was also in these databases
that I found a list of pros and cons of implementing artificial intelligence into the work force, a
significant part of my research paper. The databases were found using the search engine specified
in the rubric for the paper.
The online book I used, although very limited, was a critical genre that was used during
the creation of my research paper. Besides being yet another required source to get full credit for
the paper, I needed a block quote that perfectly described what artificial intelligence was. The
articles from the databases and websites I found could not be used for a block quote, as every
few lines they had a quote from someone other than the author and secondhand quotes were not
allowed in the research paper. The book, being written by one author, had quotes in it long
enough to meet the requirements. This genre was found by once again utilizing the FSU search
engine to find a physical or online copy of a book to complete my paper.
Possibly the most important genre used in my paper once I had found my topic was the
technological websites. In the rubric, the professor specified that you had to use one of eight
different websites he gave you the link to, and then when you found an article on that website
you had to find a website that was an authority on your source. From the first website, I found a
blog on the uprising of artificial intelligence and what it could mean for the business world.
Within that blog, there was a link that lead me to a website article that talked about a company
that was using artificial intelligence as a receptionist, giving me a real life example to put in my
paper. This genre was linked to the rubric, as the rubric contained a list of eight different
technological sites, one of which had to be used in the articulation of the paper.
What this genre ecology says about me is that Im somewhat creative in what I draw
inspiration from and I stick to the rules and instructions of a paper. While it is true that someone
can draw inspiration from anything, to be able to pick a topic for a 1000 word research paper

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from a movie trailer is quite creative, as not many see movies as more than just entertainment.
After I finished my paper I looked over the grading rubric to make sure that everything was
exactly as it said it should be, as when it comes to writing a paper, or doing anything, I stick very
closely to the rules and instructions that are given.

Technology websites (Required sources and main information on AI

applications in real life scenarios)
Bo
ok
on
AI
(So
urc
e
of
the
blo
ck
qu
ote
on
AI
an
d
ex
pla
ine
d
wh
y
AI
is
so
ba

Conferences (Discussion with friends, professor, and mentor on

Sear
ch
engi
ne
(use
d to
find
all
sour
ces
exce
pt
the
web
site)

Grading Rubric (guideline for the paper)

Research paper
on Artificial
intelligence

Music + Motivational Videos (stress reliever,

lead to lnspiration for topic)

Technology databases (contained articles with info on how AI

functions, including pros and cons of AI in real life)
Movie Trailer (inspiration for topic which I would write about

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Works Cited Page

Coe, Richard and Aviva Freedman. Genre Theory: Australian and North American Approaches
Theorizing Composition, A Critical Sourcebook of Theory and Scholarship in
Contemporary Composition Studies. Ed. Mary Kennedy. Greenwood, 1998. 136-147.
Print.
Dean, Deborah. Genre Theory: Teaching Writing and Being. Urbana: National Council of
Teachers of English, 2008. Print.
Devitt, Amy. Generalizing About Genre: New Conceptions of An Old Concept. Vol. 44 No.4.
Urbana: National Council of Teachers of English, 1993. Print.