8/6/2019 Genre Analysis 384J S2011

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Why? As we will discuss in class, genre is much more than just a category or type; it is a set of conventionalized or naturalized habits of behavior (in writing or other forms of communication) that shape, restrain, but also enable communication and negotiate

relationships between writers and readers. A big part of being able to writesuccessfully is knowing the conventions of the genre you need to produce since theywill determine what your audience expects to see and by what standard they will judge your document. Unfortunately, genres aren’t stable/static things for which “howto” instructions can be written; they are generalized descriptions of what communities,disciplines, professions, or companies actually do, which is constantly changing aspeople, practices, technology, information, and knowledge change. Writing is more of an art than a simple skill, so we need to practice genre analysis.

How? Research writing in your profession (search for books on writing in your field, articles,

talk to professors in your major or professionals you know about what documents theyfrequently write—you could even get an actual planned interview that you could useas evidence both for this assignment and the final project) and select a genre that youfind frequently produced in that profession, then find as many examples of that genreas you can, read through them carefully, and note their physical features, the type of language they employ (jargon, person(1st , 2nd, 3rd), voice (active/passive), the types of evidence they most often use to support claims (reasoning, anecdotes, statistics,empirical research, textual evidence, etc.), how they organize the genre, whattone/approach they take toward the audience, how they establish their authority, howthey connect with reader’s values and beliefs, and what relationships they establish(authority, subject, boss, underling, speaker, listener; who has power?; who doesn’t?;

what are the available means of response? Use your findings, along with the texts ongenre we read for class and any texts on your genre or writing in your profession youfind to write your analysis. While you are doing this, you will also be asked to buildwiki pages on the class wiki, finish your analysis in time for workshop, and meet withme and two or three other students for small group workshop for which you willprepare feedback on peer papers. Finally, write a reflective essay that explains why youmade the arguments you did in your analysis, what you learned, and what grade youthink your project should receive. (Proper citation, documentation, and integration of sources is required for all work.)

Genre AnalysisFor the genre analysis assignment, you will need to choose a common writing genre used in yourintended profession and analyze both its features (form, register (level of formality), conventions,etc.) and its rhetoric (how it creates ethos, logos, and pathos; how it negotiates relationships among

the various people who produce, distribute, and read it). You will then write up your findings in a5–7 page academic paper that introduces the problem of genre (misunderstood as just a “type,”overlooked as “natural” or “correct,” actually subtly determines relationships, hides uncertainties,obscures facts, etc.), discusses what scholars have previously said about genre both in general and inyour profession (if any), and makes a well-supported argument about how the genre you’ve chosenshapes and controls the community that employs it (your intended profession).

8/6/2019 Genre Analysis 384J S2011

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When? Article on writing in your profession: April 18th Wiki page on writing in your profession: April 20th –graded as a response paperWiki page on your genre: April 27th Genre Analysis and Reflective Essay: May 2nd —post the files on-line for peersSmall Group Workshop and prepared comments on peer papers: May 3rd–May 6th 

Grade? Final grades will not be assessed until the final portfolio, but each part of the

assignment will contribute to the final grade:

Wiki page on your genre: 10%Genre Analysis completed in time for workshop and posted online: 15%Prepared comments for peers and participation in small group workshop: 10%Reflective Essay: 15%Final Genre Analysis Project (included in final portfolio): 50%