Reflection on Project 3

In this blog post I will be answering some questions found in Writing Public Lives.

1. What was specifically revised from one draft to another?

In my peer reviews they specifically mentioned that I didn't really establish an argument in my article. So, I really took it upon myself in my revision process to identify it as a con argument and provide reasons as to why I preferred printed books to audiobooks. I tried to take pro arguments for audiobooks and deconstruct them. I thought I did a pretty good job.

2. Point to global changes: how did you rethink your thesis or organization?

I thought the way I organized it in my draft was pretty good but I needed to provide more information in order to really support my argument. I also realized I needed to make my argument more clear and so my thesis changed into more of a pro-printed book and con-audiobooks.

3. What led you to these changes? A reconsideration of audience? A shift in purpose?

The changes I made mainly derived from the feedback I received during the peer review process. I rethought my purpose which both of my peer reviewers said I needed to focus on in order to improve my article.

4. How do these changes affect your credibility as an author?

I thought these improvements in my article made me seem more credible because I added more detail to my argument in terms of supporting printed books compared to audiobooks. Before it seemed like I was just evaluating the two but in my revision process I really tried to take a stance to make it more of an opinion piece.

5. How will these changes better address the audience or venue? 

I think the argument is more clear so the audience will have a better idea in the beginning of what the article about which will prompt them to think about their own opinion about the matter sooner. I think these changes will heavily benefit the reader.

6. Point to local changes: how did you reconsider sentence structure and style?

I tried to make my piece personal but at the same time professional to make myself seem credible. I tried to keep my sentences and paragraphs short in order to mimic the journalism genre I was attempting. I thought this was a perfect genre for the argument I was trying to make.

7. How will these changes assist your audience in understanding your purpose?

I think because I revised many of my sentences to become more coherent the overarching argument will become more apparent which will enable the reader to become more knowledgeable about the topic in general.

8. Did you have to reconsider the conventions of the particular genre in which you are writing?

I didn't have to revise much in terms of this because I was already pretty knowledgeable about journalistic writing because I worked on the newspaper in high school. I reread some New York Times articles in order to become familiar with how they write.

9. Finally, how does the process of reflection help you reconsider your identity as a writer?

I think it's important to reflect because it really helps you evaluate how you write and why you wrote the way you did. I had outlined in a couple of my previous blog posts how I was going to write this piece which was helpful but the actual writing process relies on one's own thinking at the moment. Looking back at what I just wrote I am glad I wrote it the way I did and spent some time revising it and making sure everything flowed together so it could really benefit the reader. I hope my argument is clear to the reader and I convinced them of my stance.

Submiter, Kinjeng. "pug-puppies." 12/26/09 via Wikipedia. Creative Commons License.

Publishing Public Argument

Here is a link to my final draft or Project 3! 

1. Mark with an "x" where you feel your target audience currently stands on the issue (before reading/watcing/hearing your argument) below:

←----------------------------------------------------X--------------------------------------------------------->

Strongly                                            Totally neutral                                                    Strongly

agree                                                                                                                          disagree

2. Now mark with an "x" where you feel your target audience should be (after they've read/watched/heard your argument) below:

←-----------------------------X-----------------------|--------------------------------------------------------->

Strongly                                            Totally neutral                                                    Strongly

agree                                                                                                                          disagree

3. Check one (and only one) of the argument types below for your public argument:

         _______ My public argument establishes an original pro position on an issue of debate.

         ___X____ My public argument establishes an original con position on an issue of debate.

         _______ My public argument clarifies the causes for a problem that is being debated.

         _______ My public argument proposes a solution for a problem that is being debated.

         _______ My public argument positively evaluate a specific solution or policy under debate (and clearly identifies the idea I'm supporting).

         _______ My public argument openly refutes a specific solution or policy under debate (and clearly identifies the idea I'm refuting).

4. Briefly explain how your public argument doesn’t simply restate information from other sources, but provides original context and insight into the situation:

When I was doing research on the topic of audiobooks for previous projects, I was generally running across the same ideology. I was a little bit tired to seeing such repetitive things so I was trying to brainstorm ways that I would be able to make mine more original. I thought the best way to do this would be to actually test out an audiobook myself and then write about my experience. I thought this was a really great way to share insight and opinion with the reader while seeming credible since I performed the task myself. I do use other sources' information but only in order to support the overarching idea of audiobooks. 

5. Identify the specific rhetorical appeals you believe you've employed in your public argument below:

Ethical or credibility-establishing appeals

                    ___X__ Telling personal stories that establish a credible point-of-view

                    __X___ Referring to credible sources (established journalism, credentialed experts, etc.)

                    __X___ Employing carefully chosen key words or phrases that demonstrate you are credible (proper terminology, strong but clear vocabulary, etc.)

                    __X___ Adopting a tone that is inviting and trustworthy rather than distancing or alienating

                    ___X__ Arranging visual elements properly (not employing watermarked images, cropping images carefully, avoiding sloppy presentation)

                    _____ Establishing your own public image in an inviting way (using an appropriate images of yourself, if you appear on camera dressing in a warm or friendly or professional manner, appearing against a background that’s welcoming or credibility-establishing)

                    ___X__ Sharing any personal expertise you may possess about the subject (your identity as a student in your discipline affords you some authority here)

                    __X___ Openly acknowledging counterarguments and refuting them intelligently

                    ___X__ Appealing openly to the values and beliefs shared by the audience (remember that the website/platform/YouTube channel your argument is designed for helps determine the kind of audience who will encounter your piece)

                    _____ Other: 

Emotional appeals

                    __X___ Telling personal stories that create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    _____ Telling emotionally compelling narratives drawn from history and/or the current culture

                    ___X__ Employing the repetition of key words or phrases that create an appropriate emotional impact

                    ___X__ Employing an appropriate level of formality for the subject matter (through appearance, formatting, style of language, etc.)

                    ___X__ Appropriate use of humor for subject matter, platform/website, audience

                    _____ Use of “shocking” statistics in order to underline a specific point

                    ___X__ Use of imagery to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    ___X__ Employing an attractive color palette that sets an appropriate emotional tone (no clashing or ‘ugly’ colors, no overuse of too many variant colors, etc.)

                    _____ Use of music to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    _____ Use of sound effects to create an appropriate emotional impact for the debate

                    __X__ Employing an engaging and appropriate tone of voice for the debate

                    _____ Other: 

Logical or rational appeals

                    _____ Using historical records from credible sources in order to establish precedents, trends, or patterns

                    ___X__ Using statistics from credible sources in order to establish precedents, trends, or patterns

                    _____ Using interviews from stakeholders that help affirm your stance or position

                    _____ Using expert opinions that help affirm your stance or position

                    __X___ Effective organization of elements, images, text, etc.

                    ____X_ Clear transitions between different sections of the argument (by using title cards, interstitial music, voiceover, etc.)

                    __X___ Crafted sequencing of images/text/content in order to make linear arguments

                    ___X__ Intentional emphasis on specific images/text/content in order to strengthen argument

                    ___X__ Careful design of size/color relationships between objects to effectively direct the viewer’s attention/gaze (for visual arguments)

                    _____ Other: 

6. Below, provide us with working hyperlinks to THREE good examples of the genre you've chosen to write in. These examples can come from Blog Post 11.3 or they can be new examples. But they should all come from the same specific website/platformand should demonstrate the conventions for your piece:

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

sheilapic76. "Atlantic Spotted Dolphin." 03/04/06 via Wikipedia. Creative Commons License.

Reflection on Project 3 Draft

For the peer review process, I reviewed Chelsea's and Samantha's Drafts.

Who reviewed your Project 3 rough draft?
Issac reviewed my rough draft. You can access it by clicking here.

What did you think and/or feel about the feedback you received? Be explicit and clear. Tell me what helped or what confused you about the feedback you got.
I was a little surprised by the feedback I got but I think over all it will only help me to strengthen my draft and turn it into a final draft. I liked how the peer review document was split into four different sections which made it easier to understand instead of just random comments on a document. I'm glad someone read over it because they brought up stuff I didn't realize while I was writing it, like the type of argument I am using and whether that is actually the best one to use.

What aspects of Project 3 need to most work going forward [Audience, Purpose, Argumentation, or Genre]? How do you plan on addressing these areas?
I think the one that needs the most work is purpose. I essentially describe me listening to an audiobook and what I liked and disliked about it. I think I could relate that back to a broader argument about why I like printed books better and what are the pros of that and some of the cons of audiobooks. I think I could be a little more specific by adding some more information.

How are you feeling overall about the direction of your project after peer review and/or instructor conferences this week?
I'm feeling a lot better because I actually have some feedback to go off of that will help me greatly in improving my rough draft in order to turn it into a final draft. I think there's a good amount of work I still need to do but I do think it's manageable.

BrokenSphere. "Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts." 1/30/10 via Wikipedia. Creative Commons License.

Draft of Public Argument

I finished my Project 3 draft. You can access it by clicking here

I didn't end up using as many images or graphs as I had originally planned. Instead, I used more subheadings and first person writing. I used some scientific research in order to sound more credible as otherwise it would not sound as professional since I am writing it as a news article. In the end it ended up being more of an opinion news mixed with a blog post for a news magazine. I think the way I wrote it is the best way and the visual elements I use enhance the article overall.

Parsons, Dan. "Apple pie." 11/14/2004 via Wikipedia. Creative Commons License.

Considering Visual Elements

In this blog post I will be answering the questions found on pgs. 396-402 of Writing Public Lives.

1. If my project uses headings for different sections of my argument, do these headings stand out and break up the text clearly? Should another font or font color be used to make the more distinct?
A lot of New York Times article have subheadings that are used to break up the article. I think I would use that in my article and maybe use color if I am aiming for more of a magazine style. A block quote might be useful in breaking up the text as well.

2. Is the theme or association that the image produces relevant to the theme of my argument?
I am planning on using different images of audiobooks or pictures of statistics from scientific journals. There are not that many interesting pictures of audiobooks so I will have to limit which ones I choose and make sure they are diverse enough in order to keep the reader entertained. Images should also be used to enhance the article, not to detract away from the main content. I feel like if there are too many images it is more of a distraction than anything.

3. If the image is a graph or chart, does it clearly support a major point of my argument?
I plan to use statistics in order to show the differences between auditory and visual learning in order to provide more information to my reader. I will need to make sure these are in line with what I am saying in the paragraph and are not randomly placed wherever in the article.

4. Do your eyes move easily from section to section in the order that you intended?
I will organize my article in such a way that it naturally flows from one idea to the next without interruption. Often times I struggle with making sure there is a logical flow between each paragraph and idea but it will be important in this article because there will be so much information.

5. Is the background and font color complementary to the visual images being used in the project? Do they clash?
I would like to use a white background with pops of color in order to enhance the article. Any other color besides white for the background is too distracting and is hard on the eyes for reading.

6. Do the different visual and textual elements come together persuasively as a whole, or are there elements that seem disconnected or out of place?
All of the visuals I intend to use will come together cohesively and will strengthen the article overall,  not detract from it.

G.Goodwin Jr. and Snark. "Smiling Tan Pomeranian." 11/04/07 via Wikipedia. Public Domain License.

Project 3 Outline

I will use this post in order to create an outline for Project 3 based on questions found on pg. 415 of Writing Public Lives.

It became kind of long so  I made a google doc that answered all of the questions.

You can access it by clicking here.

Thai, Tom. "Scottish Fold." 02/17/09 via Flickr. Creative Commons License.

EDIT:

For this reflection I read Hallye and Alex's Considering Visual Elements posts. It was interesting to compare Hallye's project to my own because it seems like we are going in a similar direction. We are both going for a more simple style and organization in order to make our content easy to read. Both of our projects will be more text based. Alex, on the other hand, is using Prezi in order to create his project so his is more visual based. The visual content like color scheme and pictures are much more important for him because it determines how accessible and understandable the text will be. 

Analyzing My Genre

In this post I will be answering a couple questions that are found on page 342 of Writing Public Lives.

Here are five examples of my genre:
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5

Social Context

• Where is the genre typically set?

The genre, since it is a news-magazine piece, is generally published in a newspaper or in a magazine. Most, if not all of them, can be found by searching on the internet as well.

• What is the subject of the genre?

The subject of my genre is comparing listening to an audiobook vs. reading the book.

• Who uses the genre?

Almost everyone - since everyone reads. However,  not everybody listens to audiobooks and it is more consumer driven than anything.

• When and why is the genre being used? What purpose does the genre serve for the people who use it?

The genre is being used in order to inform people about something in a professional manner while also being interesting. People who read newspapers or magazines generally want to glean new information or learn more about a subject they are already interested in.

Rhetorical Patterns of the Genre

• What type of content is usually included and excluded?

It is critical for journalism and magazine articles to include sources and interviews in order to make the article newsworthy and credible. The five W's are usually a good idea to follow by: who, what, when, where, why and how.

• What rhetorical appeals are used most often? Do you notice any patterns in the appeals to logos, pathos or ethos?

If news articles are written in the first person they are generally trying to appeal through character and emotion because they are speaking directly to the reader. Almost all news articles try to appeal to logic because they are presenting factual information as well as credible sources.

• How are the texts organized? Do they generally open in similar ways? Conclude in similar ways? What common parts do the samples share?

News articles are usually organized with the most important information in the beginning and the less important information towards the end. It is set up that way because people only usually read the first couple sentences and then will move on. If they are interested, they will keep reading. The examples share this quality because they are all published in The New York Times, a popular and established newspaper.

• Do sentences in the genre share a certain style? Are they mostly active, passive, simple or complex? Is there an abundance or lack of questions, exclamation points, or semi colons?

News articles are usually written in past tense and the sentences are not too lengthy. In addition, not very long or complex words are used in order to not make the sentences too long. There is not much question marks, exclamation points or semi colons.

• What type of word choice is used? Do many of the words fit in a particular category of jargon or slang? Is the overall effect of the word choice formal, informal, humorous, or academic?

Most news articles are written in a formal tone because they are professional. Even when the writer is writing in first person he or she still retains a professional tone. 

Analyze What those Patterns Reveal about the Social Context of the Genre

• Who does the genre include and who does it exclude?

The genre includes almost anyone that has an interest in audiobooks. It does not really exclude anyone.

• What roles for writers and readers does the genre encourage?

It encourages diversity of thought because writers are most often times trying to incite a reaction from their readers. 

• What values and beliefs are assumed about or encouraged from users of the genre?

The reader of this genre is prompted to either side with the author or form their own opinion based off of the information presented by the author.

• What content does the genre treat as most valuable? Lease valuable?

The news genre treats the most crucial information pertinent to the story as the most valuable. Small details or opinion may not be as important unless it is an opinion piece.

"Hibiscus flowers and leaves." 01/02/2010 via Wikipedia. Creative Commons License.

EDIT:

For this reflection I read Casey and Andrea's blogs. It was interesting read theirs and comparing it to my own because they both are writing in news genres. Andrea however is writing in a scientific news genre but it turns out it is pretty similar to writing a regular news genre. Casey and I pretty much said all the same thing considering the way the news genre is written and formatted.