Genre in a Changing World

Reviewed by Sarah Jacobson, Instructor, Northern Virginia Community College on 6/20/17

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

As a reader, this text is a strong collection of scholarship on genre studies. I have come across many of the authors in my graduate work and this contains many important readings on the topic (ie Devitt, Bazerman, and Swales).

I did not find an index or glossary, but this is a scholarly reader on a topic, so I did not expect it.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

As a reader, this text is a compilation of a wide range of perspectives on the topic of genre.

Its purpose is to provide a large view of perspectives on genre, which it does.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Genre studies is a relatively new and growing field and, as a large collection of scholarship on the field, I do see this is incredibly relevant. It will be an important reader for anyone looking to understand major topics in genre in the coming years.

Clarity rating: 4

Although there is no language or jargon, this text is not appropriate for most undergraduate level courses. Understanding genre requires some theoretical background in composition and rhetoric. Students at the graduate level would be comfortable. Upper level undergraduate students in comp/rhet may be challenged.

Consistency rating: 4

Since chapters are readings by various authors, it's difficult to answer this question.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is divided into five parts: Advances in Genre Theories, Genre and Professions, Genre and Media, Genre in Teaching and Learning, and Genre in Writing Across the Curriculum. While the first three parts will help upper level students in composition and rhetoric, the last two really are more for faculty (or aspiring faculty) in the field. In particular, the emphasis on WAC is more relevant to administrative faculty making programmatic decisions.

Each part contains four to six readings. Faculty will likely select some readings rather than assign the entirety of the text, which is appropriate with this type of text.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

A strong introduction by the editors places the textin context and sets up the five parts of the book. Most of the work in this field of has developed over the last 20 years. Authors provide a very strong background to set up the readings and mention the seminal writings and texts in the field, such as Carolyn Miller's Genre as Social Action.

Interface rating: 5

The PDF format functions exactly like a print copy of a scholarly book. I did not notice any distortions and navigated by scrolling through. It was simple to search the book for key terms. I was not able to open the epub version.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

N/A

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Authors come from a wide number of countries. The text is not insensitive or offensive.

Comments

This is a fantastic reader for those new to Genre, particularly for graduate students and researchers in the field of Composition and Rhetoric.

Part 3: Genre and Media is particularly interesting.

Emphasis on Writing Across the Curriculum will be relevant to scholars in the field looking to grow or inform administrative decisions about WAC.

This text is not appropriate for introductory writing courses.

Reviewed by Emily Hall, Lecturer, University of North Carolina at Greensboro on 12/5/16

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The textbook covers genre from multiple angles. The book could be easily adapted for a range of graduated level courses. I can see this book especially being used for Rhetoric courses in English departments or for Education courses, as the collection attends to the ways in which genre shapes discourse and learning. I would say that, because of the complex approach to genre that this would not be appropriate outside of graduate level courses. I don't see this being useful for undergraduates.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The essays appear objective and accurate. The scholars are convincingly knowledgeable about genre and the essays are well-researched. Most of the essayists are responding to recognizable theorists and clearly outline accurate understanding of these theorists' work while presenting new, and interesting, arguments.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

As the book was published in 2009, I'm sure that there are new discussions on the material. However, the editors could easily go in and add new essays to each section and could simply add an additional preface that explained new material and the need for the additions.

Clarity rating: 5

Most of the essays are quite clear, and a few actually bold their terms and define them. Most are discipline-specific, so there are technical terms, but with the right context (meaning, for instance, for graduate students learning about the discipline), the terms are appropriate and understandable.

Consistency rating: 5

The textbook covers genre from various angles, so the terminology and use varies by discipline, but this is appropriate given the book is meant to be useful for several fields.

Modularity rating: 5

The work is divded into five larger sections: Advances in Genre Theories, Genre in the Professions, Genre and Media, Genre in Teaching and Learning and Genre in Writing Across the Curriculum. Within each larger section, there are roughly 3-5 essays that stand alone. Thus, the textbook could be used in many ways: professors could assign a large section of essays and explore that topic in depth, or for more basic classes, individual essays could be assigned.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The collection is well-organized, especially for the wide range of topics discussed. The arrangement of the essays is clear and their connection to one another is obvious. Most of the essays include sub-headings, which would make them even easier to assign, as professors could assign "chunks" of the essays for their students. Furthermore, the notes and bibliography are listed at the end of each essay, which again, makes it easy for professors to assign single essays.

Interface rating: 2

The margins differ, at times, between various pages. If this were printed, the effect would not be so noticeable (especially if it were bound), but when uploaded through PDF, it is a little distracting. Additionally, some of the images are blurry.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The essays are well-edited and contain few errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The textbook is very inclusive. It uses authors' work from all over the world, suggests that our understanding of genre needs to shift in a globalized world, and is very respectful of other cultures.