Dirk and Devitt Response.

In beginning to explore genres, I'm learning that genres are essentially "man made." This is an interesting concept, because much alike all other classification methods genres are more of an idea than they are concrete. A genre exists to one person or one group of people, howver it is not a proven system of classification, but instead genres are a tool for us.

In the Dirk reading my favorite part exists in this example, "Think about George Wash- ington giving the first State of the Union Address. Because this genre was completely new, he had complete freedom to pick its form and content. All presidents following him now have these former addresses to help guide their response because the situation is now a reoccurring one" (p5).

This is so interesting to me because it's so true and plain in its factual basis. George Washington did set the precedent for all presidents giving their State of the Union Address. What he said and how he performed it, has been carried down at least in concept by the following 43 presidents. Until her stood at the podium to speak, there was no genre of formal State of the Union speech given by presidents -- thus man created it.

Another portion of the Dirk reading which I particularly liked is later on page seven when Dirk addresses how interconnected writer and reader really are. He states that all genres matter because each is linked to the actions of the writer, which directly or indirectly are carried out in order to provoke some sort of action from the reader. His example is how in The Onion -- which I love reading, especially for the headlines -- the headlines are written specifically to make readers laugh. The genre of satircle writing is usually meant to provoke comedy and thought. This shows how the writers wanted to connect with readers who will share in their humor, and that these readers have sought out this literature with a desire to do what action pertains to the genre.

In the writing of Devitt, the focus of the article is placed on an escape from the confines often associated with genres. Devitt argues that though genres may be seen as limiting, they can also expand the rhetorical gains a student takes away from the subject and author's purpose of the peice as he or she reads.

Devitt sums up his opinion to be, "The genre awareness I argue for is a type of rhetorical awareness, and others have posited that rhetorical awareness can lead to critical awareness and to more deliberate action."

He claims the more rhetorically aware a student be, the more he or she will take away from the reading and learning at hand. By understanding the context of the reading, it'll aid in understanding the author's purpose for the readers. This is how readers are meant to gain an understanding of the main focus points of the reading, which means the student has successfully gained what he or she originally needed to from the reading.

He goes on in the third and fourth pages discussing how teachers direct impressions of certain topics and "genres" on students by the chosen writings they expose students to. He also claims, though, that teachers must construct lessons using genres as an organization system. This use of genre gives students a building block to construct greater writing skills from.

Though genres are scary for teachers because they may sometimes be self-serving or focus in on one group more than another, Devitt still uses it with his students.

He said, "I want students not only to add to their repertoire but also to learn to critique the genres they know and encounter, with an end possibility of changing the genres that need to change to better serve their needs" (p11). As to say that by learning more about the genres, students begin critiquing not just the work within the genres but also the genres themselves. This way they can judge to see if the genre is really appropriate for what purpose their writing is trying to accomplish. This gives guidelines to writing without constraining the thought power and creativity of the writer.

As a journalist I understand the usage of genres -- we have them within our field of course; features, previews, coverage, editorials, opinion pieces, columns and more. These each guide writers as to which direction to take information in order to most usefully exhibit an idea to readers.

Genres, friend or foe, should be used in a skillful ways to aid readers and writers along the course of what point their making where and why in their writing. It's just another bridge connecting both readers and writers.