PB2B: Moves

Backpacks vs. Briefcase and Navigating Genres: Analyzing the Moves

                Backpacks vs. Briefcase and Navigating Genres were two readings from the beginning of the course during the study of genre and analyzing its conventions. Both of these readings fall under the literary genre of "genre analysis"

                Backpacks vs Briefcases establishes the target audience in the opening paragraph with a relevant quote: "Imagine the first day of class in first year composition at your university". Not only does it provide a somewhat interesting introduction to draw in a reader, it sets up the idea of who the writing is targeted to (most likely first years in a composition class at a university). The introduction also lays down many questions to relate the idea of the opening quote to the context of the entire reading. The sections that follow are labelled with a sub title dividing each set of paragraphs and setting up the reader for what the section is about. It also serves as a transition when switching from one idea to another. Another move that Carroll uses to appeal to an audience is using various media sources that a freshman university student will mostly be able to relate to. The author effectively uses the notion of genre and applies it to concepts such as social media and advertising. The analysis and conclusion that Carroll provides emphasizes the importance of context and persuasion even outside the realm of academic writing.

                Navigating Genres is similar to Backpacks vs Briefcases in that they both discuss genre. Even more similarly, Dirk uses a joke in the hook to also draw in the reader and make a connection to the subject matter. "Because it just so happens that in order to get this joke, you must know a little something about country music in general and in particular country music lyrics". This is Dirk's way of relating the introduction to the concept of genre, very similar to the way Carroll connects the first impression of a teacher to analyzing for genre. Unlike Carroll, Dirk does not set the target for the audience of the reading through the introduction. The body paragraphs are set in a different tone, characterized by Dirk's use of "I" to convey concepts to the reader: "I will admit...". The examples brought into the text are from other textual sources, namely other books and readings mostly about the topic of genre itself. While Dirk does use some social media examples sources like Carroll ("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"), they use them in different ways. Carroll uses the media sources like Facebook as the primary means of analyzing genre, while Dirk uses them to illustrate and supplement the ideas from the other texts sourced. Dirk also makes creates an example (the ransom letter) to illustrate the concept of genre conventions.

                The two readings are very similar in the material discussed, but very different in the way they are written and external sources are integrated. In my opinion, the moves used in Backpacks vs Briefcases were better for the audience that the readings are presented to. For example, the opening paragraph of the text was very relevant to when it was assigned as reading at the beginning of the quarter. The moves are effective because they are shared in a writing class primarily filled with students reading them before making genre analysis and writing about them. Carroll's move of relying on examples that a student would find more interesting and relevant makes it more interesting. Dirk uses more examples from other books that students most likely are not as interested or familiar in. However, Dirk's ransom letter example and analysis of the conventions that went into writing it are very effective because of how simply dissected the genre is. It mixes in some humor with a very good anecdote about the practical and textual forms that genre conventions add up to create different types of writing.

                Both Backpacks vs. Briefcase and Navigating Genres are informative readings about of the 'genre' genre, but both present their information in different ways. These moves made by the author were done specially to appeal to the audience in the most effective way. They are unique to each author and can be used to distinguish one piece of literature from another from a different person.