How it's Made

All chapters of this handbook are separated into four major sections. The "Genre Overview" gives readers a brief description and basic run-down of the genre. Next, the "Genre in Action" section describes how the genre is used in writing, culture, contemporary society, politics, etc. This section is filled with relevant examples and teaches the students how to identify and engage with the genre. Third is "Genre in Practice," which includes free writing prompts and an enriching and fun mini-genre activity. The final section "Questions to ask AI," is a first step towards understanding how we can collaborate with artificial intelligence - not police it - and a monumental leap in understanding, creating, and utilizing, future forms of pedagogy. Likewise, each chapter is filled with the rhetoric of the current student body and have examples, activities, and assignments, that include such talk as podcasting, Vlogging, YouTube, social media, TedTalks, and the like. This is all to say, that this handbook can be equally useful for students and faculty in the classroom. For instance, the "Essay Prompts" tab has one suggested major assignment linked with each genre chapter. Adjust any assignments, prompts, or activities for the wonderful classroom you create.

What is a genre?

A genre is a category or type of writing that shares similar characteristics, forms, or styles. They represent a set of expectations that audiences may have about a category of writing. Genre conventions can be stylistic or plot-based and are a set of rules or standards for that genre. 

You can think about genres as categories in a bookstore or a library. Standard genres in fiction are mystery, science fiction, or romance. As a reader, you know what to expect, for the most part, if a book is shelved in the mystery section, and while genres can be experimental or innovative, they always have an anchor point that connects them back to their overall genre. 

What is the genre approach? 

The genre approach is a pedagogy (teaching) strategy in composition courses that involves learning how to identify and write specific genres in writing. Writing is not a mysterious realm with no rules or regulations. Instead, most writing follows rules and conventions, and one way to establish those rules is to determine the genre of what you are writing, and the conventions of that genre. 

You can think of the genre approach as a lens or a perspective on writing that allows you to look at a piece of writing and then determine the genre of that writing and therefore the conventions of that writing. 

What is a rhetorical situation? 

A rhetorical situation refers to the context in which communication occurs, encompassing the various elements that influence the creation and interpretation of a message. Understanding the rhetorical situation is crucial for effective communication because it helps writers and speakers tailor their messages to their audiences and purposes. 

Asking a barista for a coffee will involve a very different style and form of communication than asking a friend for a coffee because the rhetorical situation is different. Each request will involve different language, different conventions of behavior, and a different style of communication. 

Every form of communication has a rhetorical situation that is facilitated by the following components: 

Topic: The subject matter or main idea being addressed in the communication. It is the specific issue, concept, or area of discussion that the writer or speaker is focusing on. 

Audience: The individuals or groups who are the intended recipients of the message. Understanding the audience's values, beliefs, knowledge, and expectations is essential for effective communication.

Purpose: The goal or objective the communicator wants to achieve. Common purposes include informing, persuading, entertaining, or motivating the audience.

Genre: A category or type of literature that shares similar characteristics, forms, or styles. Genres help readers set expectations about what they are going to read, and they help writers organize their works according to these expectations. 

Context: The broader environment in which the communication takes place, including historical, cultural, social, and political factors that can affect how the message is interpreted. 

Sometimes the rhetorical situation is described as art, artist, or audience. It is the relationship between the person communicating, the person receiving the communication, and the communication itself. 

A rhetorical situation is another way to break down writing into its constituent parts. We use rhetorical situation every day when we figure out how to frame messaging for different audiences, and through this book, you will learn how to apply the same analysis to your writing.