| Title of Article + Proper MLA Citation for Works Cited page |
Kerry Dirk. “Navigating Genres.” Writing Spaces, Readings on Writing, Volume 1, a peer-reviewed open textbook series for the writing classroom, and is published through Parlor Press. 2010, 249-262. |
| Summarize the article — include your reaction, thoughts, anything to help you remember its claims. 100 to 150 words |
In Kerry Dirks’s article, we start off by talking about country music, my personal favorite, and continue to talk about what makes up the genre of country music. From that Dirks is able to stem into all different kinds of music and lead into her main point, navigating genres. We are able to see genres and what makes them up not only in music but also in writing. As readers continue to read we see that we have probably been involved in so many more genres of writing than we thought. The author uses an example to relate to the readers by saying “ By this point, you might realize that you have been participating in many different genres—whether you are telling a joke, writing an email, or uploading a witty status on Facebook. Because you know how these genres function as social actions, you can quite accurately predict how they function rhetorically; your joke should generate a laugh, your email should elicit a response, and your updated Facebook status should generate comments from your online friends. But you have done more than simply filled in the blanks.” (Dirks 253). Continuing on in her writing Dirks uses an example of a ransom letter addressed to Bob. This not only grabs readers’ attention by using the example of a ransom letter by it also drives a few of her points home. Finally, Dirks ends by addressing the audience and saying she hopes that she left us confused rather than knowing what’s going on. And the reason for this is because we are left with suggestions about determining and navigating the genre. |
| Define new terms and concepts by quoting or paraphrasing the original author. |
Surmise – means to make an assumption and go without confirming it |
| How does this reading connect to other articles from class and/or your own research?
|
The works written by Dirks I am able to connect to some of my own research that I have done throughout my educational career. I recall in primary school trying to read a book from every single genre in order to learn a little bit about everything. In the end I found that I really like mystery books, but I was able to see what every genre contained by reading a book from that genre, just as Dirks discusses in her works with the comparison of music. |
| Based on the reading, craft one question to act as a springboard for class discussion. |
After reading what Dirks has to say about navigating Genres, how would you explain this to a younger generation?
- A group of 2nd-graders picking a storybook?
- 5th-grade students writing a book report?
- – Middle school students composing an English project?
|