Analyzing My Genre

Similar to my previous posts, Analyzing Purpose and Analyzing Context, this post will focus in on the details of my genre. In this post, I will provide five examples from a source I have stated below that all have the same structural genre format but that are obviously covering different topics. I will also answer questions from Writing Public Lives page 342.

Bernard Goldbach. "SciFi Genre Pollution." 11/19/2011 via Flickr. Public Domain Dedication.

Five Examples from The Atlantic [www.theatlantic.com]

The Nerve Gas Controversy
The Case Against Perfection
The Ugly Truth About Horse Racing
Dads Caring for Their Kids: It's Parenting, Not Babysitting
Could Human Enhancement Turn Soldiers Into Weapons That Violate International Law? Yes


Social Context

• Where is the genre typically set? It is typically set in way that informs readers that the topic is under debate. In an article of this kind of genre, the author will most likely be in support of or in opposition against a certain stand. The author will try to persuade the audience that his or her views should be understood and followed.

• What is the subject of the genre? The subject of this genre is an evaluative argument This means that the argument will be in support of the topic or subject. Such is the case for my upcoming public argument, I will be writing in support of geoengineering and its branching methods.

• Who uses the genre? People who use this genre are from a wide variety of places. They are more so from a source that caters to a specific population, especially political parties. Authors of neutral sources would not often write about their subjects in an argument-based format. 

• When and why is the genre used? What purposes does the genre serve? This genre is used when a population wants the views of a population from a specific side of an argument. When the author constructs his argument he or she will draw from the views of people with similar opinions. This helps the author create a piece that will serve as a summarizing argument for this side of a debate.

Rhetorical Patterns of the Genre

• What type of content is usually included and excluded? This genre includes the information needed for audiences to fully understand the topic. This includes the data and statistics, the expert opinions and facts, as well as the background of the issue that the genre is covering. Stuff that is excluded is the biased nonsense that people comment and voice their opinions on. The rhetoric is not useful in this genre. 

• What rhetorical appeals are used most often? This genre uses the appeals of ethos and logos primarily. Not much pathos is included as the genre does not want to necessarily appeal to the emotions and feelings of an audience. The statistics is categorized as logos and the expert opinions and facts are labeled as ethos.

• How are the texts organized? These texts are organized as to first introduce the issue and then explain the issue to persons unaware, thus educating readers on the topic. After giving plenty of background, the text delves into the controversial aspects and gives the supporting evidence to why this is the case. The ending is a resolution that ties everything together and gives the audience a reason to want to take action and to also support the cause.

• Do sentences in the genre share a certain style? The sentences do share a certain style. They are structured towards supporting the subject of controversy. The main goal of the article is to persuade readers that the subject is beneficial and should be supported. In by doing this, sentences and paragraphs need to be structured in a way that convinces readers.

• What type of word choice is used? Formal word choice and persuasive word choice is key in this genre to complete the goal of convincing a population. As the goal is to persuade readers that the subject is beneficial, certain wording and context is imperative to completing this goal.

Analyze What Those Patterns Reveal About The Social Context Of The Genre

• Who does the genre include and who does it exclude? This genre includes the opinions and views of experts that are related to supporting the subject causing debate. People against the topic are not included unless there is information included stating that the person's views are non-credible.

• What roles for writers and readers does the genre encourage? The genre encourages writers to delve deeper into an issue to uncover what people want to hear to get them to say that the subject is in fact beneficial towards a cause. Readers in this genre are called into action by the persuasive style of wording and paper formatting.

• What values and beliefs are assumed about or encouraged from users of the genre? Users of this genre, which I assume means authors, hold the values of the goal of the paper. The genre of this kind of argument is going to be in support of the subject under debate. Users want to persuade their readers that this is true for the most part. 

• What content does the genre treat as most valuable? Least valuable? This genre treats any supporting data, statistics or graphs as very useful for making an argument. Any expert opinions that are in support of the issue is also helpful and valuable. On the other hand, opinions of other sources in opposition are not valuable, unless there is evidence to prove that the source is wrong or faulty. 

In Reflection, I viewed Savannah's post and Dylan's post with the title, Analyzing My Genre. Savannah's genre is similar to mine; we both have goals of persuading our audiences with the use of data, statistics and graphs. She must get her readers to think that GMOs are in fact a safe and reliable source of food products. With that data present in her argument, it should turn out very convincing. As the same for Dylan's argument if he includes multiple photographs showing the differences between digital and film movie making. He has stated he would and I agree that if he does, that would be the key element in his argument towards persuading his audience.