genre-model-scavenger-hunt

As we know, genres are only recognizable once a number of readers, viewers, listeners, gamers—in other words, an audience—can identify and expect specific conventions as belonging to a particular genre. Because of this, you cannot make up a brand-new genre for your RIP project—who would recognize it besides yourself?

Instead, you’ll need to search for models of your chosen genre(s) with conventions that you can imitate. Two main guidelines for selecting your genre:

• You can combine more than one genre, as long as you can explain in your writer’s memos how the conventions of each genre complement each other in a rhetorically productive way.

• Your chosen genre(s) must feature substantial writing, but may include multimodal elements, including images, sound, and/or video.

This scavenger hunt is intended to help you get started selecting and analyzing your chosen genre.

Part 1

1) Use Google to define your chosen genre. In the search bar, type “define:your genre.” For example:

• define:public service announcement
• define:think piece
• define:hot take
• define:film analysis

Browse the top results and then describe the genre’s purpose and important conventions.

2) Based on your reading, answer the following questions:

• Which genre conventions does your text absolutely need to follow so that your audience will recognize your text?

• Which conventions can you change to suit your message and audience? How do you think you can change them?

Part 2

Use Google to search for models of your chosen genre. Record the following details for each model that you find.

1) Bibliographic information in correct MLA format.

2) Brief description of the source (a real-life model, a template, a how-to guide, a reference article, etc.)

3) Preliminary Genre Analysis:

• What is the model text’s venue? In other words, where does this model text exist and how would a reader encounter it? (“Internet” is too vague and obvious!)

• What is the model text’s primary message and purpose? How do you know?

• Describe the style of this model text. What notable features of language, style, content, visual design, etc. do you see? How does it look? Be as specific as you can.

• Does this model text exhibit any significant differences from other models or guides? How and why are these differences present?

• Who is the intended audience for this model text and why are they reading? (This may or may not be the same as your own audience.) How does this model appeal to its intended audience? Think in terms of logos, ethos, and pathos.

• Describe the relevant social, cultural, and/or historical context(s) of the model text. (This may or may not be the same as your own proposed context.) How do external factors shape how we view it and how the model communicates its message?

• What genre conventions could you adapt from this model? How will you adapt these conventions for your own project?

Complete Parts 1 and 2, and upload everything here in a Word document.

Note: you must find at least three models in order to receive full credit for completing this assignment. However, in order to ensure a successful RIP project, you are encouraged to include more than three.