Kerry Dirk
and Laura Bolin Carroll both have different “moves” that distinguish themselves
from other writers. Moves are the elements in a writing that the author uses to
get from point A to point B. Moves can be gestures or phrases that can
characterize a person. They are distinctive traits about that person. Carroll
and Dirk both display rhetoric moves, some of them are even the same.
In Navigating Genres, Dirk maintains a
casual tone throughout her writing. She addresses her audience personally, referring
to the reader as “you.” Dirk often uses bullet points when giving examples of a
point she has made. One example of this is when she is describing the
attributes that make a country song. This helps to separate specific points and
makes it easier for the reader to comprehend the point she’s trying to get
across. She adds a lot of person experience
that can be relatable to the audience. For instance, she reveals that it was
challenging for her to write her essay at first. This is common for anyone who
has ever had to write a paper, usually we have a hard time finding where to
start. She also adds in a lot of outside sources as supporting evidence. Most
of the quotes are long, therefore need to be formatted in block text. There are
several cases of this throughout her essay. Because Dirk knows she is writing
to a younger generation, she tries to reference common media sources that we
are familiar with. I think this move is successful because it makes her writing
less stressful. Her tone eases the intimidation that could result from having
to write an essay.
Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps
toward Rhetorical Analysis is written by Carroll. She starts off with a hypothetical situation
involving the first day of school. A casual tone is also used to create a formal
relationship between the writer and reader. Carroll separates her ideas by
titling each new section before going into elaborate detail. She also uses
bullet points and numbering when listing several examples of a particular point.
I think these moves are effective because it helps us identify rhetoric in
everyday life. Especially when
understanding that the purpose of advertisements is to persuade us. Her
examples help the audience to see this in the common ads we are familiar with.
Both Dirk
and Carroll use some of the same moves in their writing. As I’ve already
mentioned, they both use bullet points when stating examples. This allows the
reader to see the main points and easier to read rather than being listed one
by one in a sentence separated by commas. Both of their works are aimed toward
the younger crowd, students of course, so they both have a conversational tone.
I liked this because their writings didn’t bore me. Additionally, the authors
incorporated outside references that are familiar to us. They create
conversational essays that address us personally as if they know us already. I
think pieces like these are more enjoyable to read because I don’t feel like I’m
reading a dull rhetoric paper, but rather a paper from a peer or friend.
Individually,
Dirk and Carroll’s moves make their writing styles different from each other.
Although they may use some of the same moves, they still sound different and
unique from one another. Each of their moves it was makes them unique writers.
