To start, read pages 644-651 from our course textbook (beginning with the section titled “From Reading to Analyzing Genres” and ending with the section titled “Practicing Genre Analysis”). These pages describe what a genre analysis is and then give you an example analysis of the complaint letter genre. After reading these pages, respond to the following 3 prompts:
- After reading pages 644-651, how do you understand what a genre analysis is? What are the purposes/goals of conducting a genre analysis?
- As the reading explains, when conducting a genre analysis, it is best to move from general to specific features of a text. According to page 646, what are the 5 specific features for analysis?
- Now, explain each of these 5 features in more detail, writing 2-3 sentences for each one. In each explanation, describe what the feature is and what specifically you should be considering when you analyze a genre for that feature.
Step 2:
Next, we are going to conduct a genre analysis of the web text. Since you are going to be creating a web text for Unit 3, this activity is excellent preparation. Put simply, by better understanding the genre, you will be better prepared to create a text within this genre.
For your genre analysis, choose two of the web texts from the list below. After you select your web texts, read each one and then respond to the following genre analysis questions. Note, you must make specific references to each of your web texts within each response in order to receive full credit for this assignment.
• “Dalai Lama: We Must Act as One to Preserve Our World”Links to an external site.
• “Nudged by social distancing; teletherapy for children takes off”Links to an external site.
• “These Are the New Dating Deal Breakers”Links to an external site.
• “RS Latin Music Picks: Week of July 6”Links to an external site.
• “Young Black Women Are Learning to Code Thanks to These Brazilians”Links to an external site. - Which web texts did you select for this analysis? Give the title of each one.
- Consider the readers of each web text.
◦ Who are the specific intended audiences for each web text? Here, do not say everyone. Instead, think about the specific readers that each web text is targeting. Consider specific demographics such as age, culture, geographic location, career/vocation, hobbies, etc.
◦ Under what circumstances is each audience reading the web texts? (e.g., at their leisure, for entertainment, for research purposes, on the run, in waiting rooms, for work/school, etc.) - Consider the purpose of each web text. What is the specific purpose or purposes of each web text? (To inform, entertain, persuade, educate, move to action, etc.) Here, be as specific as possible. What is each web text trying to get their readers to do, think, believe, and/or feel?
- Consider the sources/evidence used in each web text.
◦ What types of sources/evidence are used within each web text? (Personal testimony, researched facts, statistics, interviews, published studies, something else?)
◦ How are sources/evidence presented within each webs text? (Hyperlinks, videos, photographs, direct quotes, in-text citations, references list?) - Consider the structure of each web text.
◦ How is each web text organized? (In a single column? Multiple columns? With headings/sub-headings? Paragraphs? Bullet points?)
◦ If there are paragraphs, describe the paragraph length of each web text. On average, how many sentences are there per paragraph?
◦ What do you see when you first click on the web article links? How does this help to grab the reader’s attention and/or let them know what they can expect in this web article? - Consider the visual aspects of each web text.
◦ Describe the fonts you see within each web text – the type of font, size, and color. Here, look at the title, any sub-titles, headings/sub-headings, and body of the article and compare the different types/sizes of fonts you see.
◦ Are there photos, graphics, or videos used within each web text? If so, where are they placed and what purposes do they serve within the articles? For example, do they link to more information, provide additional information, and/or provide evidence/support for what is written? - Now, think about the web text you will create during Unit 3. Based on the genre analysis you just completed, what are at least 3 specific things you’ve learned about the web text genre that will help you to create an effective web text of your own?