In this assignment, you will apply your understanding of genre conventions by writing a short piece of text in a specific genre. As we’ve learned, each genre has its own set of conventions, including style, formatting, tone, and language. This assignment will challenge you to demonstrate your genre awareness and adaptability as a writer.
Note: You will likely need to research the genre you select below. You may use the links included below as to start. A little research, up front, can save a lot of time later on.
Assignment Details
1. Genre Selection:
Choose one of the following genres for your assignment:
- Academic Essay: Write a concise academic essay (at least 500 words) on a topic of your choice. Adhere to MLA formatting and citation style.
- Short Story: Create a short fictional story (at least 750 words) that adheres to the conventions of the short story genre. Pay attention to narrative structure, character development, and plot. Use specific details and dialog to show the experience happening, rather than telling it through a narrator. Use past tense.
- Opinion Editorial (Op-Ed): Write an opinion piece (at least 500 words) on a current social or political issue. Follow the conventions of opinion editorials found in newspapers or online publications.
- Business Memo: Compose a professional business memo (at least 250 words) to a hypothetical colleague or team. Apply the conventions of business communication, including clarity of message.
- Poem: Craft a poem (at least 12 lines) that adheres to the conventions of poetic writing. Consider aspects like rhyme, rhythm, and figurative language.
- News Report: Write a concise news report (at least 300 words) on a fictional event or topic. Follow the inverted pyramid structure and objective language typically seen in news articles. You may want to visit a contemporary news site, like TheWeek.com or Axios.com, and study how they write their articles, such as one- to four-sentence paragraphs, frequent subheadings, frequent bullet points, etc.
2. Genre Conventions
Research and review the specific conventions associated with your chosen genre. This may include examining sample texts, style guides, or relevant resources.
Identify key elements such as formatting, tone, structure, and language usage that are characteristic of your selected genre.
Take notes! THESE NOTES SHOULD BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH YOUR ASSIGNMENT. LABEL THEM CLEARLY.
3. Compose Your Piece
Write your text based on the genre conventions you’ve identified. Pay close attention to details such as headings (if applicable), style, and language.
Aim to adhere closely to the conventions while maintaining clarity and coherence within your piece.
4. Reflect on Adaptation
In a brief reflection (150-200 words), explain how you adapted your writing to fit the genre’s conventions. Discuss any challenges you encountered and how you overcame them.
Consider the effectiveness of the genre conventions in conveying your message or story to the intended audience.
Submission Guidelines
- Your assignment should be submitted as a PDF or DOC file in MLA format.
- Include your notes on the genre characteristics you are trying to emulate.
- Include your reflection response on writing for the genre’s conventions.
- Clearly label each document or file.
Evaluation Criteria: Your assignment will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Adherence to Genre Conventions
- Clarity and Coherence
- Adaptation and Reflection
- Overall Quality of Writing
- Presentation and Formatting
- Creativity and Engagement (10 points)
Good luck, and enjoy exploring the world of genre-specific writing!
