7 Kerry Dirk’s Navigating Genres
Writing Spaces Volume 1
The article explains the importance of knowing the genre one is writing in. This knowledge helps students better structure their writing because knowing the genre means understanding the intended context and purpose their piece is supposed to convey. The article plays on this idea of not needing to “re-invent the wheel,” using the already existing examples as guides and tools to learn from. While the students are still imputing original ideas and concepts into their work, they are structuring that information into a well-established and understood form. Instructors can use this article and the discussion questions to help students understand the necessity for learning and writing within the genre that instructors introduce to them in class. Students are given an easy-to-follow explanation for why they should understand the genres they are asked to write in, hopefully coaxing them into seeking out examples of assigned genre, so they can start learning effective and college-appropriate techniques to implement into their own writing.
“Knowing what a genre is used for can help people to accomplish goals, whether that goal be getting a job by knowing how to write a stellar resume, winning a person’s heart by writing a romantic love letter, or getting into college by writing an effective personal statement.”
MLA Citation Examples
Works Cited
Dirk, Kerry. “Navigating Genres.” Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing Volume 1, edited by Charles Lowe and Pavel Zemlianksky, Parlor Press, 2010, pp. 249-262.
In-text citation
“Knowing what a genre is used for can help people to accomplish goals, whether that goal be getting a job by knowing how to write a stellar resume, winning a person’s heart by writing a romantic love letter, or getting into college by writing an effective personal statement ” (253).
APA Citation Examples
References
Dirk, K. (2010). Backpacks or briefcases: Steps toward rhetorical analysis. In Charles Lowe and Pavel Zemliansky (Eds.), Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing, vol. 1 (pp. 249-262). New York: Parlor Press.
In-text citation
“Knowing what a genre is used for can help people to accomplish goals, whether that goal be getting a job by knowing how to write a stellar resume, winning a person’s heart by writing a romantic love letter, or getting into college by writing an effective personal statement ” (p. 253).
Chicago Citation Examples
Bibliography
Dirk, Kerry. “Navigating Genres,” in Writing Spaces: Reading on Writing Volume 1, ed. Charles Lowe and Pavel Zemliansky (New York: Parlor Press, 2010), 249.262.
In-text citation
“Knowing what a genre is used for can help people to accomplish goals, whether that goal be getting a job by knowing how to write a stellar resume, winning a person’s heart by writing a romantic love letter, or getting into college by writing an effective personal statement” (Dirk, 2010, 47).
About the author
name: Writing Spaces Volume 1
institution: Parlor Press and WAC Clearinghouse
Released in 2010, the first issue of Writing Spaces was edited by Drs. Charles Lowe and Pavel Zemliansky. In addition to the Writing Spaces Website, volume 1 can be accessed through WAC Clearinghouse, as well as Parlor Press.
From Parlor Press
Topics in Volume 1 of the series include academic writing, how to interpret writing assignments, motives for writing, rhetorical analysis, revision, invention, writing centers, argumentation, narrative, reflective writing, Wikipedia, patchwriting, collaboration, and genres.
From WAC Clearinghouse
Charles Lowe is Assistant Professor of Writing at Grand Valley State University where he teachers composition, professional writing, and Web design. Pavel Zemliansky is Associate Professor in the School of Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication at James Madison University.
Publication Information: Lowe, Charles, & Pavel Zemliansky (Eds.). (2010). Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing, Volume 1. WrtingSpaces.org; Parlor Press; The WAC Clearinghouse. https://wac.colostate.edu/books/writingspaces/writingspaces1/
Publication Date: June 14, 2010
