A. Requirements 1. Rhetorical Situation & Resources Audience & Purpose Your audience for this report will be business writers. Your purpose will be to introduce them to your chosen genre and provide information that will help them to become more aware of how the genre can be flexible in different rhetorical situations so that they can become more effective writers.

QUESTION

A. Requirements

1. Rhetorical Situation & Resources

Audience & Purpose

Your audience for this report will be business writers.

Your purpose will be to introduce them to your chosen genre and provide information that will help them to become more aware of how the genre can be flexible in different rhetorical situations so that they can become more effective writers.

You may choose a more specific audience and purpose depending on the genres you analyze; however, you must still write to business writers (not your classmates, not students, and not your instructor).

2. Analysis Steps

Decide what one business-related genre you would like to research. Begin your research and your analysis. The below steps will guide your analysis.

Find several examples of one genre. You can use genres I have collected for you here, or you can find your own samples of the genre. I recommend you work with at least three to four (3-4) examples of the genre.

Analyze the similarities and differences in rhetorical situations. Think about their contexts, audiences, purposes, and personas. Use the questions in Ch 2.2 Rhetorical Analysis to guide you.

Analyze the similarities and differences in rhetorical choices. Use the questions in Ch 3.1 Rhetorical Choices to guide you.

Consider how the genre fits the criteria discussed in Ch 5.1 Genres (flexible, adaptable, etc.) based on what you found in your analysis. For instance, if you find that different audiences cause writers to make different rhetorical choices, you might conclude that the genre is adaptable to different audiences.

Understand how the genre, despite any differences, is a genre – a typical response to a recurring rhetorical situation.

At minimum, you must include the following report components and content:

• • Title page
  • Table of contents
  • Executive summary
  • Introduction
  • Body
    • discusses at least one rhetorical situation component (audience, purpose, etc.)
    • discusses at least one rhetorical choice
    • discusses at least one genre characteristic (see Ch 5.1 Genres)
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Two visuals (minimum)

No specific type or quantity of source material is required. However, I do expect that you will use a variety of primary and secondary sources.

• • Primary sources will be examples of writing from the companies/organizations (i.e. the examples of the genres). I recommend that you work with at least three to four samples of the genre.
  • Secondary sources are those that may discuss different aspects of the companies (e.g. a newspaper article about the company). Secondary sources may also include any of our assigned readings or handouts. You may use any additional source material that will be helpful for your research.
  • Visuals are also sources. All visuals must be cited (see below). You should also follow the guidelines for figures in Ch 6.4 Figures & Tables of the webbook.

All source material (including handouts used as secondary sources and visuals) should be given appropriate attribution and citation.

• • • You may use any documentation style format (e.g. MLA, APA, etc.).
    • Appropriate documentation/citation will include in-text (parenthetical) citations and some sort of reference page/section.
    • You will be evaluated on correct citation. You can find helpful information in Ch 5.7 Sources & Citation.

Below are the content from chapter 5, you mush follow the instructions carefully to write the assignment

Genre = a typical response to a recurring rhetorical situation

The above is our working definition of genre. Let’s break down this definition:

• • • typical = to call something “typical” is to say that is normal or the usual; another word that means the same thing is “conventional”
    • response = in this definition, “response” means to address or answer a situation
    • recurring = this means to happen again and again, not just once
    • rhetorical situation = this is a situation in which we use language effectively for our context, audience, purpose, and persona

Returning to the above definition, we can say that a genre is the normal or usual way that someone addresses a rhetorical situation that happens again and again.

What are some recurring rhetorical situations?

• • • applying for a job
    • writing a dating profile
    • submitting a college application
    • filing a complaint

All of the above are rhetorical situations that generally happen in the same way with the same rhetorical situation. This is not to say that the rhetorical situation components will be the exact same every time, but there is a usual situation.

For example, when applying for a job, your context is that you want or need a new job. Your audience is the employer (or the employer’s representative). Your purpose is to get an interview. Your desired persona is professional and competent. Whatever job you are applying for, it is likely that your rhetorical situation will look similarly.

What is the genre response?

Remember, a genre is a typical response. So, a typical response to this recurring situation of applying for a job is to write a resume. The genre is a resume.

What is typical about the genre?

Documents become genres because they tend to share features (sometimes called conventions) regardless of the situation or writer. For instance, in a resume you would expect to see sections, headings, bulleted lists, short phrases, education, past work experience, and skills. You would not expect to see paragraphs, favorite foods, cited sources, or jokes. These are all rhetorical choices.

Because most resumes have these features (or conventions), we can call it a typical (normal, usual) response to the recurring rhetorical situation of applying for a job.

What are some sample genres?

The below are some common genres you might expect to encounter in academic, professional, and other settings. As you review these, think about the typical features of the genre. In other words, think about the normal or usual rhetorical choices that writers might make for these texts.

Genres have features that make them genres. The below are a list of these features:

Typical Rhetorical Choices

Genres have features that tend to stay the same (see Section 3 for a list of choices).

Most resumes have bullets.

Typical Rhetorical Situations

Genres respond to rhetorical situations that tend to stay the same (See Section 2 for more information).

Resumes are written for the purpose of getting an interview.

Flexibility

Genres allow writers to make the same choice in different ways.

Some people put their education at the top of the resumes, but others put their education on the bottom.

Adaptability

Genres can be adjusted for changes in the rhetorical situation.

A resume submitted in hard-copy (paper) form may look different than a resume submitted digitally on a website.

Evolution

Genres can change to take on different conventions for specific fields.

A resume for a banking position will likely look different than a resume for a design position.

Control and Shaping

Genres control readers and how they respond to the genre.

The way a resume is organized and formatted will influence what a reader notices.

Playfulness

Genres can be combined with other genres or become new genres.

An online professional profile (such as on LinkedIn) could be considered a new form of the resume genre.

Analysis = to break into parts to determine how the parts relate to the whole

Genre = a typical response to a recurring rhetorical situation

Genre Analysis

to identify the typical rhetorical choices and situations that makes the text a genre; to understand how the genre characteristics influence the writing of the genre

To perform a genre analysis, you will want to do the following:

Step 1: Identify the Typical Rhetorical Situation

Since a genre is a typical response to a recurring rhetorical situation, you will want to describe the recurring rhetorical situation.

• • What is the exigency for the text? What is the specific situation to which the author is responding?
  • What historical, cultural, social factors are influencing the text?
  • In what discourse community is the text being written/shared?
  • Where, when, and how was the text produced? What medium is the writer using? What limitations are on the writer?
  • Where and when is the text published? What do you know about the goals, accepted styles, etc. of this publication?
  • What is the author’s background, credentials, affiliations, etc.?
  • What research methodologies were used in the production of the text?
  • What resources did the writer have available to him/her?

• • Who are the primary/secondary audiences for the text? What are some specific parts that help you to identify these audiences?
  • What can you tell about the values, beliefs, expectations, background knowledge, demographics of the audience(s)?
  • What role did the author expect the audience to take on while reading the text (skeptical? interested? concerned, etc.)?
  • Though the author may not have been writing directly to them, who else might read the text, and why?

• • What are the primary/secondary purposes for the text? What are some specific parts that help you to identify these purposes?
  • In what specific ways is the author intending to influence the audience’s beliefs, actions, etc.?
  • What does the author expect the primary audience to do with the information provided?

• • What is the author’s persona(s) in the text? What are some specific parts that help you to identify this persona(s)?
  • How do you see the author establishing credibility for his particular audience?
  • How do multiple personas work together in the text (e.g. concerned and angry)?
  • How are the personas used influenced by the context, audience, and/or purpose of the text?

Step 2: Identify the Typical Rhetorical Choices

Genres are types of writing that are characterized not only by their rhetorical situation but the similarities in rhetorical choices. Part of your genre analysis should describe these typical conventions. Though there will always be exceptions (as genres are not templates to be filled in but flexible forms), you will want to look for patterns in rhetorical choices across most examples of the genre

Step 3: Analyze the Genre Characteristics

Using the above full descriptions as a guideline (see “What are Genre Characteristics), discuss how the genre exhibits the following characteristics:

• • What rhetorical conventions usually remain the same across examples?
  • Which are likely to be modified for particular rhetorical situations?

• • What differences in rhetorical situations are likely to cause a change in rhetorical conventions?
  • How would a change in a specific rhetorical situation influence a particular change in a rhetorical convention of the genre?

• • How might the genre look or behave differently for different fields or discourse communities?
  • How do the needs and values of the different discourse communities influence these differences?

• • What do audiences of the genre have to know, believe, etc. in order to fully understand and get meaning from the genre?
  • How does the genre control the audience’s response to what is being written?
  • What actions are encouraged by the genre?
  • What actions are discouraged or restrained by the genre?

  • ANSWER

  • Genre Analysis: Exploring the Flexibility and Effectiveness of Business Reports

    Table of Contents

    1. Executive Summary
    2. Introduction
    3. Analysis of Rhetorical Situations
    4. Analysis of Rhetorical Choices
    5. Consideration of Genre Characteristics
    6. Conclusion
    7. References
    8. Visuals

    Executive Summary

    This report aims to introduce business writers to the genre of business reports and provide valuable insights into how this genre can be flexible in different rhetorical situations. By analyzing multiple examples of business reports, this report identifies the recurring rhetorical situations, explores the rhetorical choices made within the genre, and discusses the genre characteristics that contribute to its adaptability. The findings of this analysis will help business writers become more aware of the effective utilization of business reports in their writing endeavors.

    Introduction

    Business reports serve as a crucial genre for conveying information, analysis, and recommendations in various business settings. Understanding the typical rhetorical situations, rhetorical choices, and genre characteristics associated with business reports is essential for becoming a proficient business writer. This report aims to delve into these aspects by examining several examples of business reports and providing a comprehensive analysis.

    Analysis of Rhetorical Situations

    To understand the recurring rhetorical situations of business reports, several key questions need to be addressed. Firstly, the typical context of the genre should be identified, including the exigency for the report, the historical, cultural, and social factors influencing it, and the discourse community in which the report is shared (Jeffrey, n.d.). Secondly, the analysis should focus on identifying the typical audience of business reports, their values, beliefs, expectations, and demographics. Additionally, the author’s intended purpose and the expected role of the audience should be examined. Lastly, the persona of the genre should be explored, including the author’s credibility and how multiple personas may be utilized within the report.

    Analysis of Rhetorical Choices

    Genres are characterized not only by their rhetorical situations but also by the recurring rhetorical choices made within them. Analyzing the rhetorical choices in business reports involves identifying patterns and conventions (9.3 Glance at Genre: Rhetorical Strategies – Writing Guide With Handbook | OpenStax, n.d.). Key elements to consider include the structure and organization of the report, the use of headings, subheadings, and bullet points, the tone and language employed, and the inclusion of data, charts, and visual aids. By analyzing these choices, business writers can gain a deeper understanding of the genre and its effectiveness.

    Consideration of Genre Characteristics

    Genre characteristics play a significant role in the flexibility and adaptability of business reports. By examining the typical rhetorical conventions and identifying which elements remain consistent across examples, business writers can gain insights into the essential components of the genre (Rousculp, 2016). Furthermore, understanding how different rhetorical situations can influence a change in conventions helps writers adapt their reports accordingly. The report will also explore how business reports may evolve to suit various fields or discourse communities, considering the influence of their needs and values.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, this genre analysis of business reports highlights their significance as a typical response to recurring rhetorical situations in the business world. By examining the rhetorical situations, choices, and genre characteristics of business reports, business writers can enhance their effectiveness in conveying information and influencing their audience. Understanding the flexibility and adaptability of business reports empowers writers to craft reports that are tailored to different contexts, audiences, and purposes.

    References

    9.3 Glance at Genre: Rhetorical Strategies – Writing Guide with Handbook | OpenStax. (n.d.). https://openstax.org/books/writing-guide/pages/9-3-glance-at-genre-rhetorical-strategies 

    Jeffrey, R. (n.d.). 6.2 What is the Rhetorical Situation? Pressbooks. https://pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu/csu-fyw-rhetoric/chapter/rhetorical-situation-the-context/ 

    Rousculp, T. (2016, August 1). Rhetoric & Genre: You’ve Got This! (Even If You Don’t Think You Do . . .). Pressbooks. https://pressbooks.pub/openenglishatslcc/chapter/rhetoric-genre-youve-got-this-even-if-you-dont-think-you-do/