Genre+Analysis

The Unfamiliar Genre Project

"Through their analysis of multiple samples, students begin to observe that while each genre looks and reads in a recognizable way, professional writers do not follow strict formulas "(41).


 * What is the key to successful writing in any genre? **

Examine two genres: the Rambling Autobiography and the Tribute Poem

Purpose: To tell your story in moments; several snapshots;both big and small events; convey personality

Structure: From casual to more intense events; finishes with dreams; each sentence is a separate topic; stream of consciousness ; "I WAS" to "I want to be . . ."

Style:direct; few adjectives; first person; unemotional; sentence-long memoirs; sparse details make it seem profound; honesty; some reference to ages and events; helps orient the reader;

Language and Tone:

Other features:

"To a Daughter Leaving Home" Tribute Poem.pdf

Purpose: Author's coping with daughter leaving; Reassuring to her daughter; for other mothers to learn from;

Structure: Exploding the moment; compressing many years in a short poem or a single memory; enjammed one-sentence long free verse poem;

Style: Commas split up phrases that are significant; maintains flow, while divided by lines; giving continuity to their whole lives;

Language and Tone: creates emotion by association with specific memories

Other features: an experience that others can share; verbs tell a story, the good-bye.