Genre Key Conventions Flashcards
What are the key conventions of a review?
⦁ Usually makes use of formal register.
⦁ Directly addresses reader.
⦁ Gives personal opinion with confidence and authority, immediately and passionately.
⦁ Gives evidence to support opinions.
⦁ Makes comparisons with related ideas (sometimes with exaggerated/humorous ideas) to offer context and sound knowledgeable.
⦁ Has a balance of strengths and weaknesses, while still reaching a conclusion for the reader.
What are the key conventions of blogs?
⦁ Written for a wide audience for a wide variety of purposes (recipes, reviews, diaries, informational, etc). Even individual blogs may not have a target audience.
⦁ Written in first person, reflecting personal idea/beliefs.
⦁ Makes use of informal, chatty language.
What are the key conventions of diaries?
⦁ Written in first person, past tense.
⦁ Makes use of paragraph breaks to organize events/ideas.
⦁ Written in chronological order.
⦁ Expresses thoughts and feelings with emotive language and descriptions can feel closer to the writing.
What are the key conventions of a narrative?
⦁ Can be fiction/non-fiction; linear/non-linear (non-linear aiming to emphasize a characters emotions and perspectives).
⦁ Focuses on the narrator’s perspective of the story’s events, and how people/places in the story look and feel.
⦁ Makes use of descriptive language.
⦁ Makes use of plots of varying complexity.
⦁ Structure: Beginning (hook), middle (climax), end (resolution).
⦁ Makes use of main character/s (the lens the audience experiences the story through); protagonist/s (the prime mover of the plot); and antagonist/s (the barrier the main character/s and protagonist/s must overcome to achieve their goals).
What are the key conventions of descriptive writing?
⦁ Evokes an idea that might not be tangible through the reader’s senses.
⦁ Creates vivid imagery through metaphors, similes, hyperboles, personification, onomatopoeia, alliteration, and the rule of three.
What are examples of discursive writing?
Opinion pieces, essays, speeches, and lectures.
What are the key conventions discursive writing?
⦁ Discusses both sides of an argument on a particular issue, problem or situation. In a balanced way.
⦁ Written in a detched, objective manner (avoiding ones opinons).
⦁ Only at the end, does it give a personal response in the form of a verdict.
⦁ Contrastes the points, using connectives i.e: however, on the other hand, yet, despite this, conversely.
⦁ Show consequences or results with: because of this, the effect of this, consequently.
⦁ Additional/reinforcing points: furthermore, moreover, in addition, besides this, similarly, in the same way.
⦁ Organize and order with: Firstly/secondly/lastly, to begin with, at the same time, ultimately, overall, as a whole.
⦁ Keeps tone and paragraphs balanced.
How do you plan a discursive?
⦁ 2/3 points for both sides, each in their own paragraph for structuring. Inbetween introduction and conclusion
⦁ Start off with weaker/minor points, finish of with stronger/major points to keep readers interested and to create an increasing sense of authority
⦁ Structure:
-> Introduction of idea
-> Opponents points -> own counterpoints (repeat for all points)
-> Conclusion
What are the key conventions of a biographies?
⦁ A biased piece written about a person, by a different person, in third person.
⦁ Shows off the author’s knowledge.
⦁ Can by authorized/unauthorized.
⦁ Starts with a formal introduction.
⦁ The length depends on the audience.
⦁ Makes use of facts and anecdotes, with the purpose of educating the reader on the individual.
What are the key conventions of autobiographies?
⦁ Usually written in the first person, by the individual themselves.
⦁ Depending on writer purpose (to be informative/entertaining); they may or may not start off with a formal introduction.
⦁ Focuses on key/significant dates, facts, places or settings related to authors life.
⦁ Makes use of anecdotes.
⦁ Often reflects on important people in their lives, or those who influenced their lives; their own feelings, reactions, values, and goals.
⦁ Usually written in the past tense, but may include present tense reflections.
What are the key conventions of travel writing?
⦁ Anecdotal writing that aims to inform about; expose to people of; and inspire people to go to places to travel.
⦁ Makes use of a less formal, more chatty and personal tone.
⦁ Written in first person.
⦁ Makes use of descriptive/sensory details.
⦁ May include the authors unique perspective (or helpful travel tips) the author picked up while at the destination.
⦁ Aims to be relatable.
What are the key conventions of an advertisements?
⦁ Sells an idea.
⦁ Made to increase sales of a product or service.
⦁ Made to maintain brand identity/relevance.
⦁ Made to promote new product.
⦁ Made to convey social messages.
⦁ Main goal being to create a need/desire for the product or service.
⦁ Designed to be memorable and hold audiences attention.
⦁ Caters to a target audience by using colours, themes etc. that is associated to that group.
What persuasive techniques can be used, and what are their definitions?
⦁ Pathos: An attempt to evoke an emotional response in the audience, either “positive” or “negative”.
Often uses fear/guilt to persuade the audience.
⦁ Logos: An appeal to the audiences logic using facts, numerical values.
⦁ Ethos: An appeal to credibility/character.
Tries to convince audience that a company/product/service is credible/reliable.
Using character endorsements from celebrities/relevant experts.
What is a brochure?
A pamphlet intended for free publication.
What is a leaflet?
A informative/promotional made of a single sheet of paper.
What is the structure of a leaflet?
⦁ name and logo, plus a catchy slogan
⦁ Enticing cover
⦁ Main text, containing relevant information (describing product/service) and enticing language to persuade the audience
⦁ Contact information
What is an editorial?
An article that gives the newspapers opinion on an issue.
What are the purpose of an editorial?
⦁ To explain/interpret an idea/issue.
E.g.: To explain the way a newspaper covered a sensitive/contraversial topic.
To explain new school rules/student body effort like food drive etc.
⦁ To constructively criticize actions/decisions/situations. Focusing on the problem rather than the solution.
⦁ To persuade someone, focusing on the solution more than the problem.
E.g.: Political endorsements.
⦁ To praise people/organisations for doing something well.
What are the key conventions of an editorial?
⦁ The opinions of the writer are delivered in a professional manner.
⦁ An objective explanation of the issue, especially when dealing with complex issues.
⦁ Contains a primary topic/s.
⦁ Has an intended audience in mind.
⦁ Makes use of facts/statistics to increase credibility/logos of text.
⦁ Makes use of arguments to support the thesis.
⦁ Shows the ideology/viewpoint of author.
⦁ Develops logical and ethical arguments; while avoiding purely emotional rhetoric.
⦁ Collects evidence, examples, and support for the viewpoint being promoted.
⦁ Provides alternative solutions to the problem/issue being criticized.
What is a speech?
Someone expressing their opinion on an issue, and convince people to agree with their opinion.
What are the key conventions of a speech?
⦁ Structure: Introduction, body, conclusion.
⦁ Makes use of engaging, emotional langauge.
⦁ Makes a compelling argument through the use of rhetorical devices. Makes infrequent use of rhetorical questions for maximum effect.
⦁ Frequently links back to main idea for clarity.
⦁ Makes use of informal langauge/presentation to make the speech more personal to the listener.
⦁ Makes use of facts/statistics, anecdotes (to add a human element to the text, making it more personal), and humor (to break up tension).
⦁ Considers the expectations, interests, and nature of the audience.
What are the key conventions of a news stories?
⦁ Makes use of factual accuracy (names, dates, quotes).
⦁ Makes use of a fair and balanced perspective, including both the arguments and counter-arguments.
⦁ Gives an objective recount of the events/ideas discussed.
⦁ Makes use of concise and clear messages/meanings, which so be distilled to avoid audience confusion.
What are the types of articles?
⦁ Popular articles:
Written by journalists for the general public, so makes use of a shorter, simpler, and easier to understand style.
E.g.: magazines.
⦁ Scholarly articles:
A longer, scientific report written by an authority/expert in a relavent field for a more scientifically inclined audience.
Reviewed by a board of peers.
Makes use of charts and graphs, displaying research results found. Citing any source material used.
What do you need to plan an article?
⦁ Angle:
The lens through which information gathered is filtered and focused to make it meaningful to the reader (point/theme).
⦁ Introduction: First two or so paragraphs (into/lead).
⦁ Quote: Always includes a quote in some form.
⦁ Attribution: Where the information in your story comes from, and source of quote (including full name, job title).
What is investigative journalism?
A systematic, in-depth look at topics that are either purposely concealed/hidden under chaos/confusion in circumstance/information; with use of original research.
What are the key conventions of investigative journalism?
⦁ Tends to be more lengthy and complex than a typical news story.
⦁ Avoids using absolutes: all, none, must, etc.
⦁ Makes use of active verbs to engage the reader.
⦁ Makes use of detailed, clear facts to establish credibility.
⦁ Makes use of interviews/quotes to include multiple different perspective/credible sources of information.
What is the structure of a letter?
⦁ Details:
Send address, date, return address.
⦁ Greetings:
Dear…
Dear Ms/Mrs/Mr…
Dear job title…
Dear full name…
⦁ Introduction:
Introduce self.
Give brief overview of the reason for writing.
⦁ Main body:
Expand upon introduction and give the details of the main point/s of the letter, separating the points with paragraph breaks.
⦁ Closing:
Rephrase introduction with information provided in main body in mind.
Call to action if necessary.
⦁ Outro:
Formal: sincerely, yours truly.
Informal: Cordially, best regards.
⦁ Signature:
Skip 4 lines, full name.
Skip 1 line, job title and company name, if necessary.
Add a signature if necessary.
What is structure of a podcast?
⦁ Sponsor message.
Introduction, a jingle.
Longer introduction.
⦁ Main point of topic.
Supporting point, data and quote.
Example of topic.
An anecdote of topic.
Conclusion of topic.
Segue into next topic.
⦁ Closing remarks.
Outro, a jingle.
What are the key conventions of a podcast?
⦁ Paint pictures with words.
⦁ Keep points concise.
⦁ Give yourself flexibility to keep conversational nature.
