Genre Conventions

Question 1

What are the genre conventions of an article?

Answer 1

• Usually in newspapers and magazines. What is the provenance.
• Use of headings and subheadings which structure the text.
• Use of visuals, graphs and tables used for statistics to reinforce argument.
• Clear paragraphing with economical use of space.
• A sense of audience. Can include direct address.
• A clearly structured argument, with persuasive language used throughout.
• Use of rhetoric devices.
• Use of quotations.
• Intro and conclusion.
• Why do we take articles more seriously than blogs.

Question 2

What are the genre conventions of an biography/autobiography?

Answer 2

• Awareness of audience(especially in an autobiography) and use of first person.
• Contextual factors such as has the person been interviewed for spoken language.
• Writing in a retrospective manner.
• Use of figurative language eg. metaphors, similes.
• Same type of narrative as fiction pieces.
• Use of deixis for references for close friends and family.
• An emotive tone.
• A linear structure.

Question 3

What are the genre conventions of a diary/memoir?

Answer 3

• Layout and graphology; diaries are often set out under dates, or date headings for each entry and are usually chronological. Memoirs likely to be in chapters
• A reflective tone, written in the past tense while in first person.
• A sense of audience will vary as the audience can be seen as an imagined friend and more personal for publication. Diaries usually more personal.
• Diaries characterised by sense of everyday and phatic(everyday) references such as eating breakfast.
• Changes in tone and register. Diaries more likely to be informal and varied tone. If done by accomplished writers may still be formal with a mixed structure.
• In memoirs, their may be figurative language such as metaphors and synecdoche as a result of the reflective nature and purpose.
• Difference in fiction and non fiction diaries.

Question 4

What are the genre conventions of a Blog?

Answer 4

• A series of entries similar to journals and diaries.
• Often short in length with several short paragraphs.
• Inclusion of other media and visuals which affect tone.
• Informal register depending on where its published.
• Links to other blogs and websites.
• Direct Address to audience.
• Self-referential including personal pronouns eg. “In my last blog”
• Spoken language features.
• Blogs are unchecked mostly, raw information and censored.

Question 5

What are the genre features of a podcast?

Answer 5

• Spoken language
• Informal, chatty tone, similar to radio broadcasts.
• Framing devices to build up to questions.
• Use of rhetoric devices.
• Exchanges back and forth with partners(Stichomythia).
• Adjacency pairing. One takes the lead other answers.
• Semantic field of subject involved.

Question 6

What are the genre conventions of an interview?

Answer 6

• A range of question and answer. Also adjacency pairs.
• Linked statements.
• Varying register and formality usually on interviewee’s position.
• Rhetoric devices.
• Is it similar just to public speaking?

Question 7

What are genre conventions of a radio drama?

Answer 7

• Appropriate language for audience(usually daytime audience)
• Language used to create tension and drama.
• Use of voice to frame the actor and play.
• Music and sound effects.
• Titles and credits.

Question 8

What are the genre conventions of a Screenplay?

Answer 8

• A visual or fact based way of the action such as the way the directors uses the cameras.
• use of slug lines e.g. Night and day.
• Use of dialogue.
• Use of stage directions.

Question 9

What are the genre conventions of a reportage?

Answer 9

• Headlines throughout.
• Use of first person and inclusive pronouns like “we”.
• Changes in tone and formality.
• Evidence of editing and drafting.
• Use of fact and statistics
• Use of chronological linear structure.
• Use of figurative and rhetoric language.
• How does it differ from respected journalists to online journalism.

Question 10

What are the genre conventions of a review?

Answer 10

• Usually shared knowledge with the audience.
• Quotations embedded throughout.
• Mixture of registers.
• Use of literary features to engage the audience.
• Awareness of audience.
• Rhetoric features.
• Commentary on the piece.
• Clear paragraphing on the graphology.
• A review often crosses with an article in many ways,

Question 11

What are the genre conventions of a speech?

Answer 11

• Use of rhetorical devices.
• Use of figurative language.
• Clear overall structure. Almost always been revised and worked on.
• Use of repetition to emphasise the point.
• How is the speech delivered.
• Changes in syntax such as tripling and reverse syntax.
• Direct addresses and use of collective pronoun.
• Use of discourse markers
• Make sure to use context and how are they delivering them.

Question 12

What are the genre conventions of a travelogue?

Answer 12

• A narrative and/or a linear structure.
• A reflective tone with shifts to the present tense in pauses.
• Semantic field of travel such as names of different places.
• Use of comparative language to draw similarities and contrasts to different places. Also multicultural references.
• Usually for an educated audience.
• Rhetoric devices.
• Sensory language.
• How is it similar/different to a reportage?