Learning Outcomes: Practice choosing from and composing in different genres and media for diverse audiences and purposes; Gain experience reading and composing in different genres to understand differences in genre conventions and how they are shaped by readers’ and writers’ intentions and purposes; Gain experience reading a diverse range of texts rhetorically to understand how various features of texts are organized to suit different audiences and purposes.
Instructional Materials: Before beginning, review the following:
Profile Description and Rubric
The Rhetorical Situation: An Overview
Module 4 Learning Materials
Discussion Assignment Guidelines
Genre simply refers to the different categories texts fall into. And each genre consists of a collection of identifiable characteristics (called conventions) texts within that genre share. These conventions are expected by readers or consumers familiar with the genre. For example, movie genres include thrillers, adventure, and romantic comedies. Each of these genres has specific features, or conventions, that audiences expect. A thriller has a mystery to solve, chase scenes, and a dramatic finish. A romantic comedy has an unlikely couple, a conflict and falling out over differences, and a reconciliation over shared traits and values.
Profiles also have their own conventions. As you’re reading these samples and beginning to compose your own profiles, remember that the “profile” genre generally includes the following genre conventions:
Tells a specific story
Uses descriptive language (sensory details)
Draws on primary research such as:
Interviews
Sensory details taken from direct observations
Embraces multimedia (such as images, photographs, and videos)
Readers in part recognize a text’s genre based on conventional features. Therefore, analyzing the conventional features of the profile genre can help you purposefully and strategically use them to compose your own profile.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Read through the following sample profiles linked below. As you read these texts, pay attention to the characteristics—or conventions—these samples share in common.
https://www.cuisinenoirmag.com/kikis-chicken-and-waffles-south-carolina/
“Uncommon Coffee Company” (uploaded)
“Wang’s Vintage” (uploaded)
Remember, *none* of the sample profiles were written specifically for our profile project and are not exact models for you to follow. All authors had different purposes than you do for the profile. You should read these samples to detect specific commonalities of the profile genre.
Step 2: Summarize and Apply Your Learning
Next, compose your discussion post. Your post will be two paragraphs (150-200 words each) in total.
Paragraph 1: Summary
Summarize what you have learned about the profile genre. Using quotations from the learning materials and sample profiles as support, please:
Explain the goal of a profile, as though you were teaching someone who had never heard of one before.
Briefly describe the characteristics, or conventions, shared by these samples. In what ways are they similar? In what ways are they different?
Describe 1-2 features you have noticed about how images are integrated into these sample profiles (e.g., location, text wrapping, size, captioning). How do these images support the goal of each sample profile?
Explain what makes for a successful profile.
Paragraph 2: Planning
Apply your learning and begin planning your own profile.
Identify 2-3 genre conventions (at least one of which has to do with the visual mode of communication) that you would like to try out in your profile. Explain how these choices will enhance your audience’s reading experience.
List any questions or concerns you have about composing in this genre.
Optional: Are there any genre conventions you would like to subvert, and how would that help you achieve the goal of your profile?
Step 3: Respond to Peers
After you complete your initial post for this assignment, you will have time to read over your peers’ posts. Then, by the due date indicated in the course calendar, return to Canvas and respond to two of your peers following the 3CQ approach.
Peer 1:
“Prior to this class, I was largely unfamiliar with the entirety of the profile genre. In other words, this a genre that never I never had written in before. One thing that I have learned about this genre is that it relies on imagery. Every example I read had images of the small business and those in it. Each image also had a caption of the image that was being shared. For example, the Sipping on Good Vibes and Good Coffee example had figure one labeled and explained how it related to the interior of the coffee shop. Specifically, I quote, “As seen in Figure 1, Throughout the entirety of the large and spacious cafe, they feature a variety of houseplants as well as a large variety of books throughout the shelving and placed randomly yet beautifully throughout their cafe. They feature wooden benches, secluded booths, comfy seating, and window seats so you have the opportunity to utilize the space however it best suits you, wherever you feel the most comfortable.”
I am going to take into account how images are used when I make my profile. In every example I saw, there was an image of the one who is the owner, founder, director, etc. of the institution. For example, The Cornell Daily Sun, had the images of the student groups from Cornell University (in Ithaca, NY). The example about Kiki’s waffles had the image of the founders of the restaurant. That said, when I make my profile, I believe that it is going to be an essential aspect that some kind of imagery of the owner, founder, executive director, president, etc. is included at the very beginning of the profile. I have no questions or concerns for how this project is going to play out. The organization that I am creating my profile on already has images of the founders and high other echelons clearly laid out. Thus, I will have no problem securing these pictures. I am also going to add in images of the ones that benefit from this organization.”
Peer 2:
The goal of a profile is to tell a story that incorporates the use of interviews, draws on the writer’s direct observations, and multimedia visuals to provide a full picture of a topic to the reader. There are many similarities between the given profile examples for this assignment. All profiles included photos. Kiki’s Chicken & Waffles, Uncommon Coffee Company, and Wang’s Vintage all showed photos from inside of the small businesses and drew the reader in, making them feel like they are part of the experience. The photos were periodically spaced throughout the profile- some featuring text captions underneath. Some examples, such as Kiki’s, Wang’s and the Cornellian Student Group showed photos of the business owners, or people involved. This gives a personal aspect to the profiles, making the reader feel as though they are getting an intimate glimpse into the lives of these people. All profiles draw on interviews. The incorporation of these interviews into the profiles gives the reader a feeling of sitting down and talking face to face with the people involved. The reader gets first-hand information directly from the source of the businesses or organizations being profiled. These are key components of a successful profile. The reader should feel as if they are a part of the experience, learning from the primary details of direct accounts, interviews, and immersive images shown in the information in a profile.
Planning
In my profile, I plan to use primary research derived from both interviews and direct observations as well as photos and potentially videos. I will be using descriptive language, drawing on my experiences when visiting the primary location of the organization. This will allow my audience to feel as though they are at the wildlife rehab having a first-hand experience through the eyes of myself, a volunteer. I will provide them a detailed description of WRR’s facilities as well as descriptions of the ways they provide care for the wildlife. I will be interviewing workers at WRR- those who coordinate volunteer opportunities and who work directly with the wildlife. The reader will be given multiple perspectives of the organization and after reading the profile, will have a well-rounded view of the organization’s values and impacts. I will be providing images as well. I am unsure of whether I will be providing images of WRR’s locations. This is due to their views on photographing the animals in their care. WRR’s focus is on the wants and needs of the animals. This includes being respectful of them and not photographing them because they are not on display for humans. They also do not wish for their locations to be viewed for entertainment. Their locations are only open for volunteers, workers, and those bringing in wildlife. Due to this, I am leaning towards keeping photos of the locations private and only using images they themselves provide in my profile. My concern in composing in the profile genre is getting enough diverse perspectives from this organization. I would like to be able to get into contact with the director of WRR and being able to hear her direct observations of the ways in which WRR has impacted the community- both for the wildlife and humans. I am unsure as of now whether I will be able to contact her, however, I should be able to gather the needed information from the workers who have agreed to be interviewed. I also want to make sure that I am providing enough information regarding human-wildlife conflicts and the ways that WRR advocates for animals. I want this information to inspire my readers and provide a perspective that they might not have once had regarding this issue. Overall, I am feeling very excited and eager to work on my profile more!
