Journal 4

Devitt made it very apparent in her piece that genre is much more then groupings of different things. Genre can be created differently by individual people depending on their background and personal experiences. I think the role of genre is of much importance because when we read a certain text, we are expecting to get something out of it based on it’s genre. If we are searching for something in particular, it is important that we search under the right genre right? By knowing the genre in advance, readers can already form some type of idea of what something is about or guess the intended message or purpose.  Genre factors into the decisions we make when we compose because you want to make sure that what we compose is appropriate. Genre does not have to be something particularly large. It can be something as small as a font you use on a website, or the spacing you use. I feel as though the audience that is receiving the intended message is the most important aspect. For example, if I am typing things down on my resume, I am definitely going to use words that are a little bit more advanced and sound more educated than I normally would use in everyday life. I want my audience to think I am knowledgeable and mature. However, if I am doing something like making a Facebook status or writing a text message, I am going to use words that sound much more casual and informal-which is how I talk on a daily basis. Many writings are circulated and chosen by their specific genre. For example, when I think of book genres the terms that come to mind are- horror, fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, mystery, etc. That being said, it is important to place something in the correct genre so the audience is able to easily access it. Putting something in the wrong genre can affect reviews and ratings or purchases. This also affects the circulation because if it is placed in the correct genre, more audience members will see it, which increases reviews, ratings, and sales, which then increases the message therefore increasing the overall circulation.