In order to be an effective writer it is important to establish a specific genre by knowing what action you are attempting to accomplish, who the audience is, and the location. In Navigating Genres, Dirk explains how much more a Continue reading →

When you think of a commencement speech there are several things that normally come to mind. Inspirational, story-telling, it teaches you a lesson. People give graduation speeches as a means of imparting on you some wisdom before you go out Continue reading →

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 →