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Hannah Sutherland
April 18, 2016
A Recipe for Genre
4 cups of purpose
2 cups of context
2 cups audience
A pinch of style
A dash of tone
Analyzing a genre can be as easy as following a recipe. Rhetoric can be used to break
down genre into the whats and the whys of a genre. Snickerdoodles recipes, seemingly simple
and explicit, are loaded with rhetorical features such as ethos, pathos, and logos. By looking at
conventions and determining which of those are most important the consumer can base their
decision to use that recipe. Examining these conventionsthe brief description of the cookie, the
approximate yielded amount, and the directions from Betty Crocker, MyRecipe, and
CookiesandCups.com will help in finding the perfect recipe.
One convention of the recipes is a brief description of the cookie, this is a good starting
point in deciding if the recipe if suitable for the individual because it usually has a description of
how their recipes cookies turn out. These early introductions serve the purpose of persuading the
baker by describing anything from taste, appearance, and/or the process. On
CookiesandCups.com, their description meets all three levels of an argumentethos, pathos, and
logos. One can see how rhetoric is used in CookiesandCups description, The BEST most
PERFECT Snickerdoodle cookie recipe ever! Super soft and buttery, loaded with cinnamon and
sugar. Plus theres no chilling the dough necessary, so they can be made QUICK! The author of
this recipe used ethos in the first sentence by the use of tone (Carrol 54). The tone is appropriate

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for the context because she is trying to persuade people to use her recipe, having an enthusiastic
tone and capitalized words puts an emphasizes on how amazing this recipe is. These elements
create credibility and lead the viewer to believe in these cookies as much as the author does.
Next, the author uses pathos by painting a mental image the cookies. This mental image draws
the viewer in and further persuades them by giving them an idea as to how these cookies will
come out if they use this recipe (Carrol 53). Lastly, logos is used by including a factual statement
about the recipeno need for chilling (Carrol 52). A tidbit like this appeals to an audience that is
looking for a quick Snickerdoodles recipe. This collection of details, in just three sentences,
gives an insightful and delicious summary of the cookies that come from using this recipe.
Pathos, ethos, and logos are not used as efficiently in the description on the Betty Crocker
website. Looking at Betty Crockers description one can observe how these rhetorical features
are not as present, They may have an unusual name, but these rich-cinnamon-sugar cookies are
great for holidays or anytime you want a tasty cinnamon treat. This blunt definition of a
Snickerdoodle does not do much to appeal to the viewer. More likely than not, this recipe is only
found when searched for because recipes are broadcasted or exposed to the public as much as
other genres. There is an assumption that people will already know what a Snickerdoodle is
because one used the internet to find a specific recipe to use, so there is no need for a definition.
If the goal of the website is to get more people to use their recipe then they need to add a why to
their description. On MyRecipe.com, their description actually includes a users review of the
recipeOne reviewer called these cookies [sinfully delicious]. Having this review adds a why
the why being possible user should use this recipe by showing credibility (pathos). Reviews
provide real life insight for the reader if they had any questions regarding authenticity a good
review could subside those doubts.

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The perfect recipe is obviously a matter of opinion, which is why using rhetoric is
important. What one person is looking for in recipe could be entirely different compared to what
someone else wants. For example, personally, I examine how many cookies a recipe yields. The
more cookies a recipe can make the better. Usually, I bake with a specific amount of people in
mind meaning if a recipe automatically yields that amount I will be more prone to use that recipe
rather than a different one that I may have to double or even triple. Looking at the rhetorical
features of a recipe can help identify the components that matter most for the individual. The
amounts of cookies a recipe can produce plays a key role in determining which recipe is most
appropriate for the viewer. The Betty Crocker website uses bright red font size as well as a larger
font size to publicize its yielded amount. Yielding approximately 48 cookies, this above average
amount is something that stands out compared to other recipes. Betty Crockers recipe makes an
effort to emphasize this characteristic by writing this information in red (the other text being
written in black) and having the font be 2-3 time larger than the surrounding text. Seeing this
information displayed prominently as it is could instantly convince someone to choose their
recipe. Both MyRecipe.com and CookiesandCups.com have their recipes yielded amount in a
font that is smaller and the same color of the surrounding text, it is also included in the same text
box as their descriptions. Their amounts are about two times less than the Betty Crocker recipes
amount. Although having an estimated yielding amount of 30 cookies is nothing to be shameful
of both websites do not find a need to showcase this aspect of their recipe prominently.
Arguably, the most important part of a recipe are the directions themselves. All three have
their recipes displayed and written differently. Each recipe is written with context to the
experience level of the baker as well as the difficulty, or lack thereof, of the recipe itself. The
simplest of the three recipes is Betty Crockers, without reading the actual instructions it is clear

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that there are minimal steps and minor direction within each step. This websites recipe has only
four steps, the steps are listed numerically and only include 1-2 sentences for each number.
Having the recipe being listed helps the reader know what step they are on when following along
while baking. An easy-to-follow instruction such as Roll dough into cinnamon-sugar mixture
does not over complicate things; this quaintness tailors to the bakers needs by having short
instructions by limiting confusing directions. This recipe would be useful for someone who has
little baking experience because of its simplicity.
Simplicity is important in a recipe because if it becomes too difficult to follow the
product may come out incorrect. MyRecipe.coms recipe lacks simplicity in two ways,
organizations, and content. This recipe is organized in almost a paragraph form; there are no
numbers in which the directions are listed and there are multiple sentences per each section. This
alone inhibits the clarity of the recipe because it makes it easy to get lost in which step one left
off on. The content also disturbs the fluidity of the recipe by including tips within the actual
instructions. This is confusing because the tips appear as instructions, so if someone was not
familiar with alternative ways to do something they may believe they have to use this tip to
receive the results they want. For example, the recipe stated lightly spoon flour into dry
measuring cups; level with a knife instead of this sentence being combined with the following
instructions in one paragraph it would be more effective if it were placed before the entire set of
instructions. Having this step separate from the steps would reduce the size of each step and
would no longer be seen as an instruction but as a suggestion instead. This type of strategy is
used on CookiesandCups.com
CookiesandCups.com combines visual simplicity with contextual simplicity. Their recipe
is organized in a numerically listed fashion, but instead of only four steps like Betty Crocker they

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have nine steps. Having this many steps does not complicate the process because each step is
only a sentence. CookiesandCups.com does not infer that people already know some steps. Line
a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper, set aside seemingly simple step could
easily be overlooked if not reminded to do so. Just this minor detail makes the recipe more
effective than other recipes because it preps the reader for future steps. There are also tips and
tricks included in the blog sections above the recipe. Placing the tips before the recipe gives the
reader a heads up and suggests they use these tools prior to beginning the recipes, if they were to
be included in the instructions themselves it would make the recipe appear more complicated
than it is.
Decisions are made based on preferences. These preferences are developed from
conventions, the conventions that one finds the most valuable. The ability to identify why certain
conventions stand out to individuals can make decision making easier. Practicing rhetoric can
build these skills as well as provide insight as to why those conventions are important for the
genre itself.

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Work Cited
Carroll, Laura Bolin. Backpack vs. Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis Writing
Spaces: Reading on Writing, Volume 1. Parlor Press, 2010.
Colvin, Lorrie Hulston. Snickerdoodles.MyRecipe.com. September2007. Web. 12Aprile2016.
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/snickerdoodles-2
Jaronsky,Shelly. Perfect Snickerdoodles. CookiesandCups.com. 01Feb2015. Web.
12April2016.
http://cookiesandcups.com/perfect-snickerdoodles/#_a5y_p=3305716
Snickerdoodles. Betty Crocker.com. 2015. Web. 12April2016.
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/snickerdoodles/7ffc92a9-d847-4869-9ecb-99de3b751b14

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Writing 2 Feedback Matrix for WP1

Table of Textual Features
Did Not Meet
Expectations

Met
Expectations

Thesis Statement

Use of Textual Evidence from Genres

Use of Course Readings

Analysis

Organization/Structure

Attention to Genre/Conventions and

Rhetorical Factors

Sentence-level Clarity, Mechanics, Flow

Other Comments

Exceeded
Expectations