1. Preliminary Genre
Analysis
ENC 1102
MARTINEZ
2012
The Assignment:
We have analyzed several public databases in class. Then, follow these Then, analyze the situation of the
genres in class, and have discussed how steps: genre, and discuss:
genres tell us things about those who use Locate roughly 3-5 articles that 1) Setting: Where did you find your
them. Since you are entering a particular discuss a particular issue within your articles? What other articles were
discipline through your major, it might be discipline. If you are unsure of the types published in the same issue or
helpful for you to analyze the types of of conversations that you should find, try journal? How did you access your
genres that are commonly used in your searching for articles related to articles?
field. This analysis may help you be communication within your field. This
better prepared for the types of may include articles related to doctor-
Due Dates:
communication that you will find once patient communication, issues of
you enter a discipline. communication within engineering, and/ Workshop Draft:
In order to study the academic or issues related to teacher-student
Tuesday, Sept. 11
genres of your field, the first thing you communication (depending on your
Final Draft:
will need to do is to conduct some major). You are not limited to these
Thursday, Sept. 13
research through our library databases. types of conversations, but all of your
We will discuss how to access the articles should be discussing a similar
“topic” or conversation. Total Value: 15% of your grade
• To identify an academic conversation in your discipline
• To analyze how genres in your discipline reflect the values of the
Assignment Objectives: community
• To understand how genre patterns serve rhetorical purposes
• To think about how communication is carried out in your major or
discipline

2. The Assignment, Continued What counts as evidence (personal articles to support your discussion. Be
testimony, facts, etc.)? sure to cite all of your articles according
2) Subject: What topic(s) are 5) Patterns: What do the genre to the citation style used by your
discussed in your articles? What issues, features that you discussed reveal discipline. Look at the works cited portion
ideas, questions are addressed? When about the genre and the situation in of the articles you have found, and follow
people read these articles, what are which it is used? Why are these those patterns when citing your work.
they discussing? patterns significant? What do the The length of the assignment is not
3) Participants: Who typically reads patterns say about the people who use nearly as important as the content.
this journal? Who would be interested Address the assignment in as much detail
them, and how do you know? What
in these articles? What characteristics arguments can you make about these as possible, without adding unnecessary
must readers of this--of this genre patterns? What do the readers of this information. Focus on an analysis of the
possess? Who writes texts in this genre have to know or believe to arguments presented through your
genre? Who are the authors (this might understand or appreciate the genre? genres, rather than providing your own
require you to do some outside What values, beliefs, goals, and opinion on the issues being discussed.
research on the authors)? assumptions are revealed through the Remember that the purpose of the
4) Features: What recurrent features genre’s patterns? What actions does assignment is to analyze the genres of
do the articles share? For example, the genre make possible? What your discipline.
what content is typically included? attitude toward readers is implied in
What is excluded? How is the content the genre? What attitude toward the
treated? How is evidence provided? world is implied in it?
How are sources cited? What sorts of
examples are used? In what format are Guidelines:
the texts of the genre presented? What
You might find it useful to use
layout or appearance is common? How
headings to separate the different
long are the texts?Are the sentences
sections of your analysis. Please address
varied? Is a type of jargon used? How
the questions in paragraph form, using
would you describe the writer’s voice?
multiple examples (quotes) from your