Blah, blah, blah.

1. What was different about your process (think about your approach to completing it, and/or what you did) in completing this assignment than the previous assignments?

-Working as a group.

2. If you could do this assignment over, what would you do differently?

-I would have redone the interviews with less background noise, and a mic.

3. Why do you think you compose a video in a Rhetoric & Writing Studies class?

-So that we can learn to convey thoughts and ideas via different modes of expression. The popularity of YouTube, Vimeo, and other online media oulets means that this is an increasingly important means of communicating with the public.   

Genetically Modified Organisms

1. What is the advocacy for the film documentary?

The film appears to be advocating that GMOs are unhealthy, or unsound. 

2. Who is the audience for the film documentary? Evaluate how the film documentary is attempting to connect with the audience using design, graphics, and in their argument.

The audience for the film was their class. I suppose the audience could also be anyone who consumes FOOD. Yum. The documentary relies mostly upon Pathos to connect with the audience, and also for their argument. They make use of many photographs and pictures from various campaigns against GMO products and Monsanto. They also include some video.

  3. What types of design features set the tone for the film documentary?

I gather that the tone was meant to be one of shock, and possibly outrage at the prominent use of Genetically Modified Organisms.  However, several things left me feeling distracted and stressed.  The audio during the surveys conducted in various grocery stores was distracting. The music from the stores was loud. The use of SO MANY “shock value” type images felt distracting and stressful. 

4. How does the film documentary use design features to establish their credibility on the topic? Or does it only use text to establish credibility?

The survey that the creators conducted does establish a certain degree of credibility because you can see first hand that they did indeed find out that many people are not familiar with GMOs. However, beyond that there is little credibility established. 

5. Examine how the argument is supported using design features. Focus on the specific claims in the film documentary and assess their credibility and relevance.

There are a great many things to be said about Genetically Modified Organisms, however very few facts or claims were actually asserted in this video.  One person participating in the survey states in an unsure tone “it causes cancer,” and some information is presented via a few of the images. The images containing actual information were too grainy or cropped to read sufficiently though.

6. What design features and graphics are used to achieve their purpose? Discuss whether it’s effective or not.

The first minute or so of the video was silent, followed by a video montage of the survey and subsequently a song playing over a procession of “shock value” type images. I did not feel this was effective. Understanding of the controversy surrounding GMOs requires at least a cursory knowledge of WHAT a GMO is, HOW it is being used, and HOW it is impacting the lives of both consumers and farmers. This video does not  adequately provide that information, but instead relies upon Pathos to an extreme degree. The images are shocking, the song is melodramatic, and the speed of the video feels rushed.  

-Jessica

-Jessica

-Gina

I hope that writing aboutgenres will help me communicate effectively with a broad range ofaudiences.  

Do you see any value in learning about genres? (Be honest)

I believe that there is a broader value in learning about genres. The idea of learning about a particular audience and figuring out how to most effectively communicate with that audience also requires that we understand their perspective and their needs, as well as our own. It’s my personal belief that most of us could benefit from learning that skill, and that it can be transferred to other aspects of life.  

I do feel that the manner in which the assignments are presented feels too sanitized.  The rubric, and the format for writing the paper do make it easier to know exactly what UTEP wants us to accomplish in this class, but it does remind me a little bit of a steak with all the fat cut off. Sometimes you want a tasty bit of fat on your steak.  I guess it’s give and take.

What did you learn about genres?

Writing about genres helped me better understand how to tailor my writing when I need to direct it towards a specific audience.  It has taught me that it’s always important to consider the audience and not to assume that the way you articulate yourself makes sense or is appropriate for all audiences.