Carrascosa 1

Tracy Carrascosa
Professor Megan Keaton
ENC2135
7 July 2016
Defining and Analyzing Genre
In todays modern society when we hear the word genre, we often refer back to movies or
music. This is the definition and understanding we have obtained from society of the word genre.
Authentically, in the standard English literature genre is used to refer primarily to a particular
form (Dirk 251). Genre can ultimately be reverted back to how words communicate with each
other, typically representing how writers use language and specific wording in various situations.
Genre also has specific features that can help in understanding the elements it possesses. Style,
design, and sources are all genre conventions, also known as elements, that when properly
identified can help one see the type of genre they are reading or writing. To be a writer that is
able to compose in various genres, you must be able to identify them first and to whom you are
writing, so then one would be able to successfully experiment in writing in various genres
(Braziller and Kleinfield 14-15).
In the previous work that I have chosen to analyze, it already has a rhetorical situation
integrated into it even after the fact I had already composed it. This situation, not previously
observed of until now, is composed of various factors. A rhetorical situation is also known as the
writing situation. The rhetorical situation is the items a writer takes into heavy consideration
before they even begin to write. Sometimes, we do this blindly without even noticing. Before one
begins to compose a paper they must focus solely on who they are going to be writing to and
about what they are going to write. Before you even begin to think about the paper you are going

Carrascosa 2
to compose, you must take into consideration the audience, purpose, context, and stance you will
use throughout your paper. If you keep this in mind before writing a paper or starting up a blog
for instance, the work would be easier to manage as the writing process would be smoother with
various goals already in mind (Maimon, Peritz and Yancey 6-8).
In my earlier composition, its intended audience was for the admissions committee at
Florida State University. Thinking about the audience to which your composition is anticipated
for is a crucial step to the rhetorical situation and to the writing process. For example, since my
audience was directed to an admissions committee, the tone was not laid-back or chatty. The tone
was assertive and full of meaning, and there was no improper grammar or abbreviations. When
composing a text message to a friend on the other hand, the tone would be more casual, using
slang and abbreviations throughout the conversation. By simply recognizing the difference
between composing a text message and writing a formal essay, you have successfully identified
your audience. Thus in being able to identify your audience, you can now write with more ease
throughout your paper and effectively communicate the points you would like to make across.
Purpose, on the other hand, is most accurately defined as what one is trying to achieve
through their writings. In my admissions essay, the purpose could be stated as one that was to
inform the audience of a personal journey. This journey is one that aided in the transformation
process I have undergone as a unique individual. A journey that has shaped my values, belief,
and my future expectations. The purpose of the essay was to also persuade and explain. In terms
of persuasion and in conjunction with informing the audience, the essay was meant to also attract
the committee into admitting me into the university while also learning something holistically
about me that they would not have known by simply seeing my test scores and GPA. The essay

Carrascosa 3
also explained who I have become and how I became this individual. I explained myself
throughout my essay in a way that a curriculum vita simply could not.
Furthermore, into rhetorical situations, context is the overall meaning of the given text.
When we were younger and did not know the meaning of a word, we were often times told to
look at the context clues for help. Looking at the context clues often meant to read and
understand the text around the word you needed help defining to overall understand the meaning
of the word. The definition of a word can have several meanings depending on the context in
which the word appears to be in. The context of the observed essay was a passionate, personal,
and in depth one. A word had a deeper resonance than it would have had if it were simply in
another context situation. Due to the fact that the words were in the context of such a personal
piece of composition, the words were meant to be more impactful in the given situation.
Following context comes stance. Stance is the assertive standpoint one takes when
addressing their audience. For instance, the stance I took on my paper was an assertive one, I
knew to whom I was speaking to and about what with no hesitation. On the contrary, I would
take a more laid-back stance if I was just simply writing into a diary or composing an informal
email. In order to write well, one must have a definitive stance and authoritative tone in order to
know how they are addressing their audience.
When we think of the word convention we normally think about our nearest convention
center and the event thats going on inside of it. For example, a food convention, where various
food vendors have set up a booth to sample and talk about their delicious specialties. At a food
convention, the common characteristics are the food, the various types of cuisine, the vendors,
and so forth. Genre conventions on the other hand is when a text has various characteristics in
common. The genre conventions to be addressed of my text is the style, design, and credibility.

Carrascosa 4
Speaking of genre conventions, style is one of them. Style in genre convention relates
primarily to the tone used by the writer and the sentence structure throughout the body of the
composition. Throughout my essay, which fell into the genre of being an academic genre, the
style was mostly one where the tone was soft yet firm. The tone of the paper reflected raw and
true emotion, while being firm at the same time when writing about the direction I plan on
heading towards in my future and who I have matured to be today.
Design, something that is so carefully thought of. A writer is much like a fashion
designer, before they sketch out a piece of clothing and before they create it into a work of art,
they must take many things into consideration. For instance, a designer cannot simply sketch out
a dress if they do not take into account the season, colors, style, and what is currently trending.
Much like a designer, a writer takes into account more or less these same things. This writing,
being a college essay, had a layout that was formal. The layout of the paper was formal with it
being well structured throughout. The organizational structure of the paper consisted of it having
an introduction, body paragraphs, and a finalizing conclusion.
When someone is speaking and when they are writing as well, a sense of authority and
credibility must be established throughout the exposition. Even though my personal exposition
was clear and concise with its message, it still needed to contain a stance and strong suiting
direction. Throughout my exposition, the appeal that was used was pathos. Pathos deals with
emotion of the audience. The emotion of the audience can be through using sympathy, empathy,
pity, compassion, etc. Since the essay was so personal and dealt with such raw emotion, it
definitely established a sense of credibility and appeal by using pathos.
The audience has an effect on the way a writer writes. Since my personal exposition was
towards an admissions committee, I had to follow a genre convention that dealt with an academic

Carrascosa 5
genre with characteristics that were higher than just a diary or a genre that was more impersonal.
The audience sways the feelings and reflections of the writer and what they pour into the paper.
A writer can choose to omit feelings and emotions if they do not feel like it is appropriate to
include in their exposition based on the audience that will be part of their paper.
For instance, when it came to the audience, I did not have a personal relationship with the
audience that was going to receive and review my paper. The audience, being an admissions
committee, had no prior knowledge of who I was nor did I know who they were. The relationship
was non-existent. Even though no relationship existed, the proper genre conventions were still
followed. The conventions were followed because the essay was one of high importance and it
had to be done correctly and properly.
Since the beginning of my essay the purpose was clear, to give an insight to who I am and
where I am headed to, therefore genre conventions were surely followed. Since it was followed,
it can be stated that the purpose of the text was clearly affected by me following the genre
conventions that are needed throughout the writing situation. Genre conventions are surely to be
followed for the rhetorical situation and writing process, thus it made the writing process
smoother and better than it would have turned out without it being followed.

Carrascosa 6