Chapter 1 Response

Due to the world changing, genres have evolved over the years.  This is something we can all appreciate because it has never been so easy to publish your own words.  Sending out a tweet, for example.  In a matter of seconds, your words have traveled across the world and are being viewed instantaneously by millions.  Before reading this chapter, I had not considered that there are so many different platforms of genres out there.  We may only be using a finite amount when there is an infinite number of genres available to us.  For example, this chapter points out that a handwritten poster or music video would both be considered genres.  Before this, I only knew of genres to be categories of books.

            I found the purpose of “the gutter” in comic strips very interesting.  It makes sense, now that I remember the comics I used to read.  A lot can happen in that little space between panels.  Because of the things that happen in the panels before and after, the reader is able to infer enough to know what happened in the gap.  I like how the author of the comic does not have to explicitly say what happens but just place the word, “EEYAA!!,” in the next panel and our imaginations take over.  I think this can be applied to writing as well.  An author could keep things interesting by ending a chapter without being straightforward about exactly what the character does, and then begin the next chapter with just enough information for the audience to know what the character did.

            I appreciated the comparison between the two arch articles.  I can see how the press release is primarily providing information.  It establishes strong ethos appeals with the audience because the author is part of the official park management.  Also, this article steers clear of pathos appeals because that would not be credible or reassuring to audiences who are looking for concrete facts.  In contrast, the blog post uses primarily pathos appeals.  As a writer, I can relate more to this article.  I appreciate the personal touch; I like that the reader can take away more than just factual information.  I feel that the use of pathos in this article draws readers in and makes them feel more inclined to do something about the issue at hand.