Wednesday, January 14, 2015

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.

1 comment:

  1. Alden,

    Your bio:
    “Very limited free time” is my middle name—we might be distant cousins. I admire the fact that you’re holding down 3 part-time jobs on top of the water polo gig. Keep up the hard work.

    PB1A:
    You thought very carefully about the college admissions essay as a genre. Nice job. I would respectfully argue, though, that the formality and use of slang are conventional boundaries that could be pushed by the writer—that those rhetorical decisions might show an admissions advisor that this student is “driving their own car,” so to speak. (By the way, it’s awesome to hear how proud you are of that piece—it’s amazing how much time, energy, and passion we can pump into one ~2-page document, isn’t it?)

    PB1B:
    Easybib is another genre generator; you’re absolutely right! Good call.
    It seems to me like you’re definitely getting all this genre/conventions business, but make sure that you get as specific as you can—try to pinpoint what even seems like the absolute tiniest of conventions. In Writing 2, we’re trying to train you to become super-observant so that you can get down to the nittiest of details and adhere (if that’s what you want to do) to the audience’s expectations.

    Keep up the solid work, Alden. And thank you very much for your participation in class. Check.

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