PB1B

           The conventions of a genre are the pieces that make the genre whole. In order to really define and understand the genre, one must look at the conventions. In the previous class we went over many different genres and defined what made them that genre. The various “genre generators” given, all contain conventions that help to define what the genre is.

            The SCIgen is a program that generates computer science research papers for students. The audiences of this type of genre are users who are trying to generate research papers. The SCIgen generator contains many different sections that have different information about the research that the paper is about. The purpose is to share this research for people interested in the subject. The introduction provides an overview of what the research is about and what is in the paper. The paper is split into these sections and chapters so that it is easier for the reader to understand. Diagrams and charts are added to that paper to help the reader visualize what is going on in the paper. At the end of the paper it details what sources were used and who was responsible for the information.

            The comic strip generator provides the user access to random comics and also to generate a uniquely tailored comic that plays to your likes and dislikes. There are many different examples of comics that you can see if you were to use the generator when you are first browsing the homepage. The tone of this generator is completely different from that of the SCIgen generator. Instead of being purely researched based and somewhat bland, the comic generator is more laid back, fun, and as you would guess, comical. The generator asks for donations to keep the site running and also provides easy to use links so that the user can share what they are looking at.

            The meme generator is something that I feel has come about more recently than the other two sites. Memes are used to make fun of a picture with a small, witty caption. When first entering the site there are multiple memes on the main page that any one can click on and use. Besides looking at already created memes, the user can type out his or her own meme or submit a picture and the generator will spit out a caption of its own. Like the comic generator the tone of this generator is comical and good-humored.

            I chose to do another generator. The site I chose is one that I use a fair amount. The site easybib helps the user to input information from websites, books, magazines, really anywhere that information can be obtained, and organizes it into a correctly formatted bibliography. Once all of the essential information is inputted by the user the website does the rest. The site instructs what information is needed and once it is finished compiling the bibliography, you can export it straight to the desired text or wherever you need it to go. The site is free to use but you can make an account if you want to get some extra perks.

           Genre is made up of many conventions and patterns. While all of these genre generators have nothing in common content wise, they all have one thing in common. Each generator clearly explains what its objective is and what it does for the user. All of these genre generators have helped me to understand what genre is. These generators have helped me to see the patterns that help to make up genre. Each generator helps you to go in depth and look at the conventions of each and as a result, a clearer understanding of genre emerges.

PB1A

                  For my PB1A I choose to pick one of my college admission essays. The reason for me choosing this textual genre is because it holds many special places in my heart. The college admission process is no easy feat. It is something that all high school seniors and their parents dread. Each application makes you pick from a series of essays. It was hard for me to choose which topic to write about because the fate of you being accepted into a university hangs in the balance because of two small essays. When applying you are pitted against thousands of other applicants so any advantage that you can get is a good one. When turning in your essay you are trying to convey to the admissions board why they should pick you. The people on the board have to read hundreds of essays a day. When they look at your essay they are looking to see what makes you a better candidate than the next applicant. You have to make the reader see what makes you special. The essay has to be formal and error free. The reader does not want to see slang and other errors and emissions. The writing must be clear and concise. It must answer the prompt and not stray from the prompt at all. The admissions person is looking to see that you will fit in at the school and that you can keep up with the schools rigorous academics. The applications give you multiple different essay prompts to choose from. When I first looked at the many possibilities, I was somewhat scared. It was a daunting task of which essay to write and to put your life on the line with. At first I began to write out outlines for each essay. I remember clearly that I was sitting on a plane and suddenly it came to me. I just started typing away. It suddenly all came out and before me sat the essay that I was going to apply to college with. What makes a college essay a college essay is that you are trying to impress someone that does not know you as a person and only has a few documents from four years of your high school career to judge you off of. The admissions board wants to fill their roster space with a class that is made up of many different people. The essay must be filled with information that shows the reader who you are. It must persuade the person to accept you instead of the application they just reviewed or the ones that they will read in the future. I chose this text for many different reasons. I have never been more proud of a piece of text that I have written than these essays. These essays helped to convey who I really am as a person and as a whole I have never taken so much pride in my writing. I also chose to write about this text because it helped to get me into the best university in the world. I would not be here with out the help of my college admissions essays.

Intro

Hi everyone!

My name is Alden Geller. I am currently a second year student at UC Santa Barbara. I am a Global Studies major and I enjoy doing an array of activities. I am currently on the Division I Men’s Water Polo team. I hail from the city of La Cañada, California which is very close to Los Angeles. My mother is a nurse and my father is in the television industry. I have one younger brother who is a senior in high school. He plays baseball and is currently trying to figure out where he wants to attend school in the fall. I have played water polo for ten years now. I love the sport and until my body gives out, I will continue to play. I currently hold three different jobs. I am a boys under ten water polo coach, I work in a sorority house where I serve the girls food and I also work for a catering company. In my very limited free time, I hang out with my friends and love to go to the beach and play other sports. Another fun fact about me is that I am a third generation Eagle Scout. As for what I want to do in the future, I am currently trying to figure that out. Not quiet sure what I want to do. I am a very friendly and talkative guy so if you ever see me say hello. I hope that you have learned a little more about me and hope that you enjoy my future blogs!