Analyzing Rhetorical Situations

Writing I've done this week:

Texting friends, texting family, Facebook comment, emailing an instructor, collaborative brainstorming

Texting a Friend: 

When writing to a friend, especially in a text, it's normal to sound super casual, and use abbreviations. My purpose in this writing was to communicate with her what we were doing this weekend, and plan out how we were going to get our other friend to her house. My rhetorical situation allowed me to be informal; there's no set rules or restrictions on how your writing needs to sound to a friend other than whatever the social norm is between the two of you. 

Emailing an Instructor: 

My rhetorical situation here is a lot more formal that what I normally write, as I was emailing to inquire about joining NHS as a Running Start student. I wanted to sound like an interested student, as I wanted to join. I'd never actually met the teacher in charge, so I thought it was important to be polite, as you need to be when talking to someone who has an amount of authority over you. 

Collaborative Writing: 

The collaborative writing I did was a group discussion on a subject we had been assigned to write about. Our purpose was to together contrast our thoughts about a topic, and record our opinions, as well as any new ideas about our subject that came from the discussion. Being the scribe to a collaborative writing effort is quite different than writing by yourself because you have a responsibility to include the voice of everyone in the group. It's also academic writing, so it needs to feel professional enough to be seen by a professor or other students. 

Writers, Authors, and Genres: In Class Lab

Group Discussion: Is Everyone an Author?

Similarities:

Everyone writes

Writing is important

Writing can be seen across the globe

Differences:

Different definitions of “Author”

Is every writer an author?

Authors write more, write books, stories

Authors’ writing is seen by more people

Everyone is a writer, not everyone an author

Authors:                                              Writers:

Writing is seen by public	“Casual” writing, for a friend/family/small group
Write books, stories, informed articles/reports	Shorter writing
More time and effort into what you write, spend time researching your subject	Write quick texts, emails, personal blogs
Writing is a hobby or a job	Less planned out

Types of Writing:                                  Why we Enjoy / Dislike it:

Essays	A lot of work, a lot of thinking, not always an interesting subject to write about, not writing for you
Texting/Skype Messaging	It’s easy, quick, faster than calling
Emails	More formal than a text, still fast and easy
Short Stories	Throwing down thoughts, relaxing, fun writing

Genres of Writing:

Emails, Invitations, Shopping List, Texts, Driving Instructions

 

Email:

Hey Jacob!

Can you help me set up a party this weekend? Send this attachment (the invitation) to all of your friends. Can you drive to Safeway and pick up some soda, water bottles, the cake, and some pizza for us to make? I’m going to hire a DJ, it’ll be awesome. See you there!

Text:

Melanie help! remember my party this weekend? i forgot to go to party city :( do you mind driving over to party city and picking up balloons, streamers, some candy, and masquerade masks for me and you ? then bring it back to my house and drop it all off please Thanks!!

Facebook Post:

Halloween Party This Weekend!!!

When: Saturday Oct. 31st 8 pm - 11pm

Where: My House! 1123 Fourth Street NE, Central City

Bring: An appetizer, a costume and your lovely selves!, Also if you can share this invitation with all of your friends that’d be great, thank you!

See you there! RSVP 111-222-3333

Is Everyone an Author?

        Yes, everyone is an author, even if they don't know it. Writing is more than writing a book or being a scholar, writing is a form of communication that is essential to our world. Being able to represent yourself and your ideas clearly will always be an asset. With the world wide web, more people than ever before can easily express their opinions across the globe. With social media like Tumblr or Twitter, you can instantly upload content that will be seen by anyone with internet access. Even if someone isn't trying to we heard worldwide, writing is a basic skill you probably use everyday. You send emails, text messages, apply for jobs, write papers; writing is a skill that everyone uses, and everyone uses differently. Everyone is passionate about something, and when we're passionate is when our writing best represents us. In its highest form, we use written word to express and explain ourselves and our beliefs. At the very least, explaining a concept or idea, and communicating at a casual and formal level is something everyone will need to do in their lives. Being able to formally and clearly explain a topic, or yourself is something you need to be able to do to be taken seriously. Regardless what it's used for, writing, and being an author, will always be a skill worthy of bettering.  

Collaborative Writing on Writing

What is Writing?

Expressing your opinion.

 A form of communication.

 Can be debatable.

 Answers questions.

What kind of writing do we do?

                                     Write about ourselves, and academic writings.

                                       Recording facts, or notes.

                                      Different genres such as fantasy, fiction, and nonfiction; specific                    formats such as poetry or stories, applications or essays.

How does your persona (tone, level of formality, etc.) shift depending on your audience?

Why?

                                      Your persona is more relaxed in comfortable situations such as a letter to your parents, you allow more of your personality and a wider range of tone to show.  However when you are applying for a scholarship you use a more formal tone and only allow the most appropriate side of your personality to show.  Fictional writing is more influenced by the author’s personality whereas nonfiction is more factual.

                                      You shift tones depending on the impression you wish to make, so they will perceive you in the most appropriate fashion, with sufficient clarity and suitable humor to drive home the point.