David Foster Wallace, in his 2005 commencement speech at Kenyon college, addresses the typical rhetoric of a commencement speech and rejects the genre at the same time. He realizes that following the conventions of genre is not essential to creating Continue reading
Biography, romance, and science fiction are some of the more common ideas that come to mind when thinking about genres, but according to Kerry Dirk, genres can be much more. Genres come with their own expectations, which allows authors to Continue reading
In “Navigating Genres,” Kerry Dirk explains that genres shape our everyday lives; we make specific decisions because we know what response we will receive. The genre of a commencement speech comes with the expectation of including inspirational wisdom and advice, Continue reading
In This is water, David Wallace speaks to a graduating class trying to keep the hundreds of eyes on him. He must do this without abandoning the genre of a commencement speech. The topic of genre can be a difficult Continue reading
Genres allow people to understand or give us a set of expectations of what we are about to read or listen to. If one is about to analyze a research paper, they can expect to find the essay filled with Continue reading
One might think that a genre only relates to a type of book or a style of song, but they are used in our lives much more than we think. Genres range from how you tell a joke to your Continue reading
When writing a graduation speech would you consciously think about following a specific genre in order to achieve your goal? Probably not. Kerri Dirk demonstrates the power of genres and their impact in writing through her essay, Navigating Genres. In David Foster Continue reading
The book “This is Water”, by David Foster Wallace is often used as a graduation speech. It is used due its inspiration and wisdom which is relatable(significant) for graduating college students. Yet he uses abstract metaphors and diction which fall Continue reading
Genres serve the audience and the writer by offering a certain set of expectations. This creates a feeling of familiarity among readers and ensures that interpretation of the piece is in accordance with what the author wishes to convey through Continue reading
A question that can become complicated is what is a genre. From the more traditional comedy to the everyday mindless note, each has its own elements that make it a genre. With this being the case, Kerry Dirk mentions how Continue reading
