step one

I introduce the definition, concept, and purpose of genre analysis in a short lecture.  

step two

Students complete an in-class, small-group genre analysis activity in which they consider four sample complaint letters using questions adapted from Bawarshi and Reiff's Genre: An Introduction to History, Theory, Research, and Pedagogy.  As a follow-up discussion, students use what they have learned about the contextual factors and features of the genre theorize their own approach to writing a complaint letter.   

step three

I divide students into groups of four or five and assign each group a sub-genre of blogs.  If time permits, I work with students to identify the sub-genres.  Students then use the questions from the in-class genre analysis activity to research example blogs and find one blog on their own that fits within their assigned sub-genre.  One of their homework assignments is to bring their notes on these blogs to class in preparation for group work.  

step four

Students share their findings with their group and come to a consensus about the most common features, content, audiences, and contexts of their assigned sub-genre.  They use this information to plan a concept for a blog of their own that mirrors these elements.   

step five

In cooperation with their groups, students create the blog in Digication and compose individual blog posts that purposefully incorporate multimedia elements.  All rhetorical choices about content, arrangement, and style belong to the students.  

step six

Students showcase their group blogs and individual blog posts and justify their rhetorical choices to the class in informal presentations.  Neither the blogs nor the presentations are graded at this time; the presentations serve as an opportunity for peer feedback and review before revising the project and presenting it as a part of the final ePortfolio.  

step seven

Students write a short analysis to outline and justify their rhetorical choices and revisions.  The analyses accompany the revised versions of the individual blog posts and blogs in their final ePortfolios.