Writing in a Genre

Due:

Assignment

Return to the research you conducted for your reflective annotated bibliography and what you learned about your topic, and decide on a genre in which to share your research. By sharing your information in a new genre, you can reach a different (or wider) audience. Think about what will change about the way the information is presented.

One of the goals of this assignment is to repurpose the information you have gathered and use it to compose in a new genre. Transforming your writing in this way will help you think about how the conventions of genre relate to audience and affect writing and the presentation of information.

Note: This is a two-part assignment.

Part I: Reflection and Genre Analysis

Write a one page reflection (approx. 600 words) explaining which genre you will use (see the list below) and why.

In your reflection make sure to do the following:

  • Discuss the specific audience with whom you will share your research. Briefly describe who they are, why you chose them, and how this research relates to them. (You have already done some of this thinking and writing for class posts and assignments.)What do you think your audience knows about the subject? And what might their concerns or assumptions be about this particular topic?
  • State the genre you will use to share your information with your chosen audience and explain why this is your choice. In other words, does your choice relate to this audience’s interest, age, or a community they are part of? Or something else?
  • Discuss at least five traits that are unique to this genre.

Choose one of the following genres (pick a genre that would appeal to your audience):

  • script for a TED Talk
  • script for a radio or television interview
  • an Op-Ed
  • Twitter thread (at least 10 Tweets for the thread)
  • an interview
  • podcast script and (optional) recording of the podcast
  • an infographic or academic poster presentation
  • a brochure
  • an open letter
  • a listicle
  • a poem or song
  • a children’s book

Note: If there is another genre you would prefer to write in, reach out so we can discuss your choice.

Part II: Writing in a Genre

Take your research and draft a document for your specific audience. Write your piece using the format and conventions of the genre you have chosen and analyzed: be sure to pay attention to the unique qualities of your genre, and incorporate traits from the list you made earlier.

Your objective is to share your research with your specific audience.

Note:

  • Regardless of the genre, you must write a minimum of 500 words and follow the formatting and conventions of the genre.
  • In your finished piece, you must include at least two quotes from your research.
Here are the grading criteria for the Writing in a New Genre project:

Part I: Your one-page reflection…

  • is thoughtfully written and follows the assignment guidelines.
  • clearly and convincingly explains why the genre you plan to compose in makes sense for the audience you have chosen to address.

Part II: Your original piece…

  • uses one of the genres from the list provided or one we agreed on.
  • follows the conventions and formatting of your chosen genre.
  • uses the research from your annotated bibliography.
  • incorporates quotes from your research into your genre piece.

Overall: Your Unit 3 project…

  • uses tone, language, grammar, and sentence structure appropriate for this genre.
  • has been carefully proofread.
  • meets the required word count.
  • has been submitted on time.