All Guides: English 111--Introduction to Composition: 3: Genre Analysis

Unit 3: Genre Analysis

In this unit, students will compare and contrast two or more texts written on the same subject but in different genres—paying special attention to the rhetorical situation and strategies, content, structure, and language for each genre sample. The purpose of the assignment is to allow writers to gain a better understanding of the importance of genre and discourse community knowledge to writers. Critical genre awareness allows writers to better understand the ways writing differs among genres and across rhetorical situations and discourse communities, and it will prepare them to adapt to unfamiliar writing situations.

Additional resources are included for classes focusing more on rhetorical analysis or media analysis.

PBS Documentaries

The Persuaders
In "The Persuaders," FRONTLINE explores how the cultures of marketing and advertising have come to influence not only what Americans buy, but also how they view themselves and the world around them. Watch the full program or select parts online.
The Merchants of Cool
Teenagers are the hottest consumer demographic in America. At 33 million strong, they comprise the largest generation of teens America has ever seen--larger, even, than the much-ballyhooed Baby Boom generation. Last year, America's teens spent $100 billion, while influencing their parents' spending to the tune of another $50 billion.

But marketing to teens isn't as easy as it sounds. Marketers have to find a way to seem real: true to the lives and attitudes of teenagers; in short, to become cool themselves. To that end, they search out the next cool thing and have adopted an almost anthropological approach to studying teens and analyzing their every move as if they were animals in the wild.
POV: Documentaries with a Point of View
Several of these documentaries are short, and viewers can search by topic or title. There is also a link for educators with lesson plans.

Genre Across the Disciplines

Genre Analysis

Purdue OWL: Introduction to Rhetoric

In Defense of Rhetoric

Media Literacy Resources

Rhetorical Analysis Resources

Thinking Rhetorically
Texas A&M University Writing Center--Rhetorical Analysis
Multimodal Rhetorical Analysis
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The following assignment is intended for guidance. Students should adhere to specific instructions from their classroom teachers.
Analyzing Multimodal Projects
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Chapter 2 from Writer/Designer: A Guide to Making Multimodal Projects. http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/Catalog/product/writerdesigner-firstedition-arola
Multimodal Rhetorical Analysis--Advocacy Campaign
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This link is provided for guidance and ideas. Students should adhere to specific assignment instructions from classroom teachers.

Genre Analysis Resources

The Genre Project
The Genre Project is a research endeavor from the University of North Carolina Writing Program. Our goal is to study the genres students read and write across the disciplines, both at UNC and beyond.
Genre Across Borders
Genre is a concept and construct that crosses disciplinary, national, methodological, conceptual, and pedagogical borders. The aim of "Genre across Borders" (GXB) is to advance genre theory and research by helping scholars and students cross these borders through access and scholarly contribution to reference guides and online networking.
Genre Analysis Essay
A sample assignment instruction set from Owen M. Williamson.
Genre Analysis in Technical Communication
Abstract—An increasing body of research relies on genre to analyze academic and professional communication and to describe how members of a community use language. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of genre-based research in technical communication and to describe the different approaches
to genre and to genre teaching. While some research focuses on the textual analysis of genres, other studies focus on the analysis of the social context and the ideology and structure of the discourse community that owns the genre, and on the role of genres as social rhetorical actions of the community. These two perspectives are also reflected in the teaching of genre in technical communication.