FLEMING COLLEGE COMMUNICATIONS I (COMM 201) Week 9 Seminar

Transcription

1 FLEMING COLLEGE COMMUNICATIONS I (COMM 201) Week 9 Seminar

2 Week 9 Seminar Agenda TIB Debrief Profile Assignment: Looking at sample profiles Conventions of the genre Finding the conventions in sample profiles

3 Dirty Jobs Watch Dirty Jobs Take notes: How does the host engage the audience? Reference Discovery Channel. (2008, July 23). Hoof Trimmer. [Video File]. Retrieved from

4 Discussion 1. Why do you think Mike Rowe chose this topic? 2. What role does humour, shock, or surprise play? 3. How does the program both entertain and inform? 4. How is an unusual subject given broad appeal? 5. Can you identify Mike Rowe s perspective on the subject? How? 6. Is Mike Rowe a participant or an observer in his presentation? 7. Is there evidence that he has conducted research?

5 Conventions of the genre Authentic voice What makes Rowe s voice authentic? His research? His participation? Anything else?

6 Conventions of the genre Narrative coherence How is this coherence achieved? How does Rowe organize the details of the dirty job? We only watched an excerpt, each episode follows a similar organizational pattern.

7 Conventions of the genre Community relevance (= audience!) How does Rowe build a connection with his viewer? How does he generate interest in something that is unusual or even disgusting?

8 Conventions of Profile Genre A focused perspective conveys main idea / cultural significance Profiles create a strong impression through description and stories. But they also analyze / interpret the subject Profiles show writer s perspective 1) Directly through commentary 2) Indirectly through tone (e.g. such as irony)

9 Conventions of the Profile Genre Writer = detached observer OR participant observer Detached observer: an outsider looking in (like reader) Like the writer of Last Stop Participant observer: gets insider knowledge by participating in activity (Mike Rowe in Dirty Jobs )

10 Conventions of the Profile Genre Evidence of field research = detailed first-hand information about subject Conduct field research interviews and observations to collect detailed, firsthand information about your subject.

11 Reading Discussion What are the similarities and/or differences between The Last Stop and the Dirty Jobs segment? Is one kind of profile more or less effective? Is Wikipedians do it for love a profile? Why?

12 Discussion: Reflecting on the profile genre Out of all of the profiles that you have read (assigned readings or from fellow students) which were most engaging for you? If you were to give advice to a fellow student who was about to write a profile, what three pieces of advice would you give them? What, if any, are the connections between your profile writing assignment and your program of study?

13 Group Activity Find evidence of these conventions in one of the profile readings so far: 1. A focused perspective 2. Evidence of field research 3. Writer as detached observer OR participant observer

14 What is your approach? Do I explore a new experience by 1) profiling an unusual subject or 2) presenting an everyday subject from a new perspective? After making a tentative choice, ask yourself Do I feel curious about the subject? Can I make the subject interesting for my readers? Can I research this subject sufficiently in the time I have?

15 Your Profile Draft #1 is due before our Thursday lab this week! Your profile should be of a person, a place, or an event that sparks your interest or curiosity that your readers will find interesting and informative At this point, you should already have conducted an in-depth interview observed in detail with specific questions in mind (purposeful) Complete your first draft in order to participate in Thursday s Peer Review assessment