Enlgish 2110 Syracuse University Genre Analysis Review Suggested length of assignment: approx. 3-4 pages (not including references or appendix) Format req

Enlgish 2110 Syracuse University Genre Analysis Review Suggested length of assignment: approx. 3-4 pages (not including references or appendix)

Format requirements: double spaced, font size 12, 1 in. margins

Writing skills to practice:

1)analyzing genres

2)explaining findings drawn from analyzing data

3)formatting appendixes in APA style

4)using comparison/contrast transition words accurately

5)self-edit writing

Assignment description:

The purpose of this assignment is for you to practice analyzing a genre that is unfamiliar to you. You should analyze the genre using steps outlined in the Conducting Genre Analysis handout.

You may analyze any genre that you expect to write in the future, either in your courses or job. Below are some genres students have analyzed in the past (you are not restricted to the below genre and may choose other genres, but your choice must be approved by me):

?lab reports

?job cover letters + resume (must find examples from your discipline)

?statement of purpose (for graduate school application)

?artist statements

?artist portfolio

?report of teaching observations (for education major courses)

?software design specification (for computer science work)

?annual company report (for accounting work)

?newspaper editorials (for journalism work)

?restaurant reviews (for journalism work)

?GRE essay

Your essay should describe your findings, particularly from your observations in steps 2, 4, and 5 of the handout. It should include an appendix of the writing samples you analyzed. In your essay, focus on explaining your findings (conclusions about how the genre should be written and why) in an organized manner and supporting findings with evidence drawn from the samples. Your evidence can be example phrases from your sample texts or references to the sample texts (e.g, “Sample 1”). Do not simply state the data (the textual features) without explaining the point you are trying to make about how the genre should be written. Your essay should also include a list of references if you consult websites to answer step 2 of Conducting Genre Analysis and if you found your sample texts from websites. Genre Analysis Project
Grade value of assignment: 150 points
Suggested length of assignment: approx. 3-4 pages (not including references or appendix)
Format requirements: double spaced, font size 12, 1 in. margins
Writing skills to practice:
1) analyzing genres
2) explaining findings drawn from analyzing data
3) formatting appendixes in APA style
4) using comparison/contrast transition words accurately
5) self-edit writing
Assignment description:
The purpose of this assignment is for you to practice analyzing a genre that is unfamiliar
to you. You should analyze the genre using steps outlined in the Conducting Genre
Analysis handout.
You may analyze any genre that you expect to write in the future, either in your courses
or job. Below are some genres students have analyzed in the past (you are not restricted
to the below genre and may choose other genres, but your choice must be approved by
me):
? lab reports
? job cover letters + resume (must find examples from your discipline)
? statement of purpose (for graduate school application)
? artist statements
? artist portfolio
? report of teaching observations (for education major courses)
? software design specification (for computer science work)
? annual company report (for accounting work)
? newspaper editorials (for journalism work)
? restaurant reviews (for journalism work)
? GRE essay
Your essay should describe your findings, particularly from your observations in steps 2,
4, and 5 of the handout. It should include an appendix of the writing samples you
analyzed. In your essay, focus on explaining your findings (conclusions about how the
genre should be written and why) in an organized manner and supporting findings with
evidence drawn from the samples. Your evidence can be example phrases from your
sample texts or references to the sample texts (e.g, “Sample 1”). Do not simply state the
data (the textual features) without explaining the point you are trying to make about
how the genre should be written. Your essay should also include a list of references if
you consult websites to answer step 2 of Conducting Genre Analysis and if you found
your sample texts from websites.
Suggestions for finding example texts:
? Michigan Corpus of Upper-Level Student Papers (MICUSP): http://micusp.elicorpora.info
? Upperclassman, professors, and professionals in your field
? Search engines, such as Google
CONDUCTING GENRE ANALYSIS
Step 1: Collect samples of the genre
Step 2: Make observations about the situation in which the genre is used
Setting:
Where does the genre appear? How and when is it used? With what other genres does this
genre interact?
Subject:
What topics does the genre address? When people use this genre, what is it that they are
interacting about?
Participants:
Who are the writers? Who are the readers? What are the roles of the readers and writers
in relation to each other (e.g., professor and student)? What are the power dynamics of
the participants?
Purpose:
Why do writers write this genre? Why do readers read it? What purpose does the genre
fulfill for the people who use it?
Step 3: Identify two or three representative samples
Step 4: Make observations about the textual features of the representative samples.
Observations about the text overall:
1. What are striking features of the text?
2. What content is included?
3. How is the content organized?
4. What is the tone of the text?
Observations about each section/paragraph in the text:
5. What kinds of moves are made in each section/paragraph? (In other words, can you
divide each section into smaller parts based on the purpose of those parts? What is the
purpose of each part?)
6. What are the specific language characteristics represented by this text?
a. Statement types (e.g., declarative, questions, commands)
b. Verb tense (e.g., past, present)
c. 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person point of view (e.g., we, you, object)
d.
e.
f.
g.
Passive or active voice
Formal or informal language
Complexity of sentences (e.g., long noun phrases)
Hedges & mitigation (e.g., “may have implications” or “suggests” instead
of “proves”)
h. Cohesive devices used (e.g., in order to, furthermore, also)
Observations about observations:
7. How is the writer trying to affect the reader by using the textual features observed in
questions 1-6? In other words, why do the writers use the specific textual features
observed? (e.g., Writer may use third person point of view to appear objective.)
Step 5: Compare the representative sample you analyzed with other samples of the genre.
1. What is similar or different?
2. Why might those variations exist? (e.g., text is used for slightly different purposes,
genre has evolved)
3. What textual features must be included in your text? Which textual features seem
optional?
4. What might be the consequences of omitting the optional textual features in your own
writing?
Step 2 is adapted from https://eng1020paszekf11.wordpress.com/genre-analysis-paper/
Genre Analysis Paper Rubric
Explanation of rating: Excellent ? Good ? Okay ? Needs some improvement ? Needs improvement
Content: /50 points
The student shows thorough understanding of the genre
The student shows ability to analyze a genre
The essay explains the setting, subject, participants, and purpose of the genre
The essay provides an overall description of the text
The essay explains the rhetorical moves that are typically made in each section of the genre
The essay explains the specific language characteristics that are typically used in each section
of the genre and the genre overall
The essay discusses the writer’s purpose for using specific language features in the genre
The essay discusses which genre features are optional and are mandatory
Effectiveness of writing: /20 points
The introduction appropriately introduces the topic
The main point of the essay is clear
The main idea of each paragraph is clear
The essay concludes effectively
All claims are supported with convincing evidence (from the sample texts)
The essay is well organized
The ideas in the essay are easy to follow
The essay focuses on explaining findings/conclusions (as opposed to simply stating textual
features)
Incorporation of Sources: /10
Outside sources are integrated into the essay appropriately
In-text citations are formatted appropriately
Appendixes are referred to appropriately throughout the essay
Appendix is formatted appropriately
Reference list is formatted properly
Sophistication/language: /10
The essay contains a mixture of sentence structures (simple, compound, complex)
The essay contains advanced vocabulary
Formal writing is used
Grammar, mechanics, and format: /10
There are no major grammatical mistakes that leads to incomprehensibility
The essay is easy to read because it does not contain many grammatical errors
There are minimal errors in mechanics (capitalization, spelling, paragraph indentation,
punctuation, fragmented and run-on sentences)
The essay is formatted according to standard conventions (margins, spacing, font, title, name,
date, etc.)

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