Conclusion

What's next? 

You are a student embarking on an academic adventure—your handbook, like a trusty companion, holds the keys to unlocking your potential across various classes. As you crack open your composition textbook, you will encounter a treasure trove of genres: reviews, profiles, proposals, reflections, memoirs, creative writing, presentations, commentary, and reading responses. Each genre is like a different path through a dense forest—a unique way of cracking a code, expressing ideas, persuading, or reflecting. That is to say, in every academic adventure there will be obstacles to overcome, and this handbook will help be your guide.

Imagine you’re in a biology course, pipette in hand. You’re writing a lab report— a genre! Remember how your composition class dissected Proposals? Well, here’s the twist: scientific papers follow a similar structure. Introduction (hypothesis), methods (experimental setup), results (your microscope epiphanies), and conclusion (did the bacteria throw a party?). Problem solved! Next, you’re in an economics seminar, advocating for a sustainable business model. Your presentation skills kick in: audience analysis, clear objectives, and persuasive language. Suddenly, you’re not just a student; you’re a powerhouse public speaker. Easy! Creative writing genres like memoirs, reflections, and commentaries—invite you to dance with words. For instance, in composition, you may have penned heartfelt reflections on the roller coaster of life. Now, picture yourself in an art history lecture. The professor shows a mysterious painting. Your creative muscles flex: What story lies hidden in those brushstrokes? You then WOW the classroom by analyzing, interpreting, and weaving a cohesive narrative. Simple!

Thus, the genre approach isn’t just about traditional essay writing; it’s about painting your thoughts across disciplines. In this grand academic adventure, your composition handbook isn’t a mere guide; it’s a magical compass. The genre approach whispers, “Explore, adapt, and conquer!” So, embrace genres like old friends. They’ll accompany you beyond composition like a lantern lighting your way through the academic wilderness. 

How do I use these skills in my career? 

We hope that after reading and using this book this semester, you have realized that writing has rules, or at least commonly practiced conventions. All communication can be broken down into its constituent parts, and all communication can be understood through genre convention and rhetorical situations. 

In the future, you will encounter genres that you are unfamiliar with, but we hope that after using this textbook you will be able to assess the rhetorical situation and genre of what you need to write or communicate to simplify the writing process. 

Regardless of the medium of your work, asking yourself the following questions will be a useful way to ensure that your messaging lands the way that you intend. 

What is the core message I need to communicate (topic)?

What is the reason g this message (purpose)?

Who is my target audience (audience)?

What is the context in which they will be reading or engaging with this (context)? 

What is the traditional style or form of this communication (genre)? 

As you take these skills to other classrooms and eventually your career, remember that writing has rules and standards and remember to have fun within the conventions of each genre or rhetorical situation.