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Dalia Gonzalez
Writing 2
Zac De Piero
Section: Mon/Wed 1-2:50

Whats It Going to be for you?

Genre: comedy, romance, drama, thriller, jazz, blues, rock, and so many other types of
genre titles help an individual decide whether they are interested in a specific item, be it a book,
show/movie, or music. These titles carry an underlying set of conventions that help people
decide what category or genre these things should be placed in and what they gravitate towards
based on their likings. While there are many interesting genres, a particularly interesting genre is
travel. Whether it be the to see the flamenco in Espana(Spain), Oktoberfest in
Deutschland(Germany) or fashion week in Italia(Italy), most people dream of exploring new
places, new horizons. Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we
discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond and we cease to be
alone(Wendell Berry). Studying abroad has become a popular topic and itch among many
individuals at a university or college because it is said to be an invaluable experience. After
analyzing several articles under the genre that is travel, such as Rick Steves article Study
Abroad is a Necessity, Not a Luxury in USA Today, Richard Stengals, The Case For Studying

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Abroad in The Huffington Post, and Nicholas Kristofs, Go West, Young People! And East! in
The New York Times, although studying abroad can be pricey, it is a valuable investment
because it benefits you in many ways. With the help of rhetorical features- such as audience,
purpose, context and style/tone- one is able to identify some conventions and similarities such as
the way these columnist appeal to the audience and differences such as the way they go about
appealing to the audience, which in turn help the readers pinpoint the genre.
Primarily, these articles target American college students who have the opportunity of
going abroad to study in a foreign country. More specifically, they target those students that have
a desire to go abroad not only to have the opportunity to travel to a wonderful foreign place, but
also because of the benefits it presents in a professional as well as a personal way as exemplified
by statistics presented Stengals article, The benefits of international study go well beyond
having a great experience. Americans who studied abroad earned on average $7,000 more in
starting salaries than their peers who didn't go overseas, also through quotes by Steves. Our
world is one big, rapidly evolving marketplace. Employers crave graduates who are flexible,
multilingual and comfortable in multicultural settings. Study abroad sharpens these skills and
helps keep American workers competitive. Besides statistics, the columnist uses direct personal
quotes from students who have traveled abroad to persuade the readers to pursue this
opportunity. My mind is broader and more opened to other opportunities outside of the
boundaries of America" (Stengal). Another important tool that all these columnists of these
articles include are pictures of college students in different countries always smiling and having a

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good time to show the readers the amazing time that they too could experience should they
decide to study abroad. While the students are the main audience, other consumers are targeted in
these articles, for example, those who can contribute to the students cause such as parents or
generous people with plenty of money who can start a scholarship program or afford some
donations. As Carroll says in Backpacks vs. Briefcases these people also respond to the
exigence in these articles. Focusing on the audience, the reader is able to see that the
information provided is not just for any consumer, it has constraints or limitations (Carroll 42).
It is specifically intended for a certain audience, those who wish to travel while in college or
those who can help make these college students life more enriching with their financial help. It
is because of the audience that it is clear to see why these pieces are categorized under the travel
genre.
Next, the purpose of these articles are also very helpful in identifying the genre that is
travel. The motive of these pieces and a similarity that they all share, is to present an opportunity
for young adults in college to venture out into different parts of the world and convince them
that going abroad is the greatest possible investment for their future and that regardless of
whatever is holding them back, they can make it happen. The columnist do this by presenting
issues that could possibly prevent students from going abroad such as money and they aim to
provide a couple solutions to these problems. I've heard many students say they fear the cost of
studying abroad. It's true that foreign travel can be expensive, but there are dozens of
government and non-profit programs that help fund foreign study(Stengal). The columnists

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incorporate statistics about future employment and cost that would facilitate things so they could
go abroad. They also use the benefits of travelling abroad and personal experiences abroad to
convince them that it is the best decision that any of those who have gone abroad have ever made
and therefore if the reader goes then they too will have taken the best decision. Nicholas
Kristoffs use of pathos in his article Go West, Young People! And East! by The New York Times
is very convincing by incorporating his own experiences from travelling abroad, I slept on the
floor of Indian temples and rode on the tops of Sudanese trains, and the experiences changed me
by opening my eyes to human needs and to human universals. Another interesting thing that
Kristof does in his article that is different from the others, is that he offers a solution to the
financial dilemma. Besides, giving information about resources willing to help people in their
dreams to study abroad, Kristof incorporates one of his scholarships to aid a lucky person in their
dream to study abroad. Back to my win-a-trip contest: Im delighted to announce that my
winner is Nicole The similarity in all of these articles by insisting on traveling and the
persuasiveness towards it is a huge indicator on where to categorize it. The ethos of these
reputable Op-Eds also does an excellent job in being able to persuade some people, because
these sources are known all around the world to present groundbreaking news and important
things that are happening around the world, therefore many individuals consider traveling abroad
a big deal, just like it is intended. ...there arguments have important, real life consequences
(Seven).

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The context of these articles is very significant because it easily aids one in identifying
various conventions which in turn gives away what genre it is. All these articles focus on
traveling abroad, all the opportunities and benefits that come from studying abroad, and how
anyone could make it happen regardless of possible hindrances by discussing financial help and
resources. These pieces also incorporate thoughts, feeling, and photographs from individuals
who have had a chance to travel due to travelling abroad making them a stronger piece due to the
appeal of pathos, logos, and ethos. They address the audience on a personal level. The fact that
these articles are targeted towards American college students is not by chance either, these OpEd sources know that many college students would like to travel abroad and that there are many
things preventing them from doing it so they try to provide a solution. Their solution is to agree
that studying abroad is pricey, but there are things like financial aid and scholarships that can
make studying abroad possible.
The style and tone of these articles are also very important rhetorical features which aid
the readers in understanding what genre these articles fall under. The style of most of these
articles are short informative pieces, which provide statistics and students personal experiences
while studying abroad. However, Kristofs piece in The New York Times has an interesting style
that makes it more of a fun read. Its format is more blog-like with a more casual and
conversational tone. ...what is a person called who speaks no foreign language at all?...Answer:
An American. Kristofs makes jokes throughout his piece and this is especially helpful with the
intended audience because most of those reading these articles are college students interested in

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studying abroad that dread reading long, boring pieces. Although Stengals and Steves articles
are more formal, the fact that they are not very long and provide a lot of facts- on how to make
studying abroad an option regardless of financial background- in their articles make them a good
read, because it provides financial information that is very important when deciding to go
abroad. The style and tone of these pieces help identify who this piece is intended for and
therefore what the genre is.
All in all, the similarities and differences in each piece along with the rhetorical features,
aid the reader in identifying what genre these articles fall into which is the travel genre. With all
the conventions in each piece it is easy to identify travel to be the intended genre. In order to
identify genre, one must be acquainted with it and understand it. It is important to understand it
not only as a consumer, but also as a producer, because if you are a reader then it is easier for you
to know what kind of genre you like and look for in a movie, book, or even music. Meanwhile as
a producer, such as a writer or musician, you are more inclined to produce something that you
know your desired audience will enjoy. For example, a director might be more inclined to
produce comedy if that is what people generally demand and enjoy the most. Genre is important
in everyday life as we are surrounded with many tv shows, novels, articles, and music to chose
from.

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Works Cited
Kristof, Nicholas. "Go West, Young People! And East!" The New York Times.
The New York Times, 15 Mar. 2014. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.

Steves, Rick. "Study Abroad Is Necessity, Not Luxury." USA Today.

USA Today, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.

Stengel, Richard. "The Case for Studying Abroad." The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 21 Nov. 2014. Web. 17 Jan. 2016.

Carroll, Laura Bolin. "Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps Toward Rhetorical Analysis."
Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing. Vol. 1. Print.

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Writing 2 Feedback Matrix for WP1

Table of Textual Features
Did Not Meet
Expectations

Met Expectations

Thesis Statement

X-

Use of Textual Evidence

from Genres

X/X-

Use of Course Readings

Analysis

Organization/Structure

X-

Attention to
Genre/Conventions and
Rhetorical Factors

X/X-

Sentence-level Clarity,
Mechanics, Flow

Exceeded
Expectations

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Dalia,
Other Comments

Studying abroad and traveling -- very cool topic, and I

highly endorse doing so if you get the chance. :)

Please read through my comments on some ways to help get

this paper to the next level. On top of some of my other
suggestions, Id like you to make friends with paragraphs -- I
want you to use them (as the writer) to help guide your
reader along. Each paragraph should enhance your
argument in a meaningful and specific way -- I felt that , in
some of your paragraphs, there was so much information
that I wasnt sure what to take out of it and how it related
back to your thesis.

Also, Id like you to consider making more tie-ins to our

course readings (beyond just that one source). You can use
them to really help explore the major concepts of genre and
add another layer to your argument and analysis.

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, Id like you to think

about the structure and organization of this piece. I want you
to have a reason for ordering the paragraphs, idea by idea, in
the way that you have. You may have had a good one, but it

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didnt quite come across to me -- I could anticipate where
you were going next, or why I was necessarily reading what
I was in a given paragraph. I think that working on a reverse
outline and giving a hard look at what you see after
poemifying this paper could really help you to get a great
birds eye view of your own paper to see how the pieces of
your paper could best fit together.

Z
7/10