Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Francesco Moulson
Writing 2
Cover Letter
had put into my PB1 and PB2 was vastly sufficient, having written double the Commented [MOU2]: Smart idea!
recommended amount for both and that I've mainly reorganized the main concepts
Through the use of long, sometimes complex sentences, I like to convey my thoughts
and feelings as if someone were reading a book of mine. Through the use of several
synonyms and peculiar stylistic choices, I like to give my essays a twist of exciting
originality. After all you and I understand each other, I think we've both had enough
of the overly simplistic English "concise and direct". Us Europeans, we like to sound
I simply like it better that way, as it makes me feel as if I were writing a novel.
makes for a more original reading and a more fluid sentence structure.
However, sometimes I feel as if I have introduced too many different subjects, and
that my essay might suffer from a lack of in-depth description of the individual
genres.
Had I been given more time, I think I would’ve introduced more new paragraphs, but
I am quite content with how my Writing Project came out. Regarding the introduction
of examples within the text, I chose to not analyze any particular example too deeply,
group of driven individuals come together and work as one, introducing me to various
I deeply attend your review of my work, perhaps giving me feedback on whether the
number of genres I introduced was too high, and if I should’ve instead focused on just
one. Also, do you believe my writing project was a bit too elaborate, or rather, too
confusing to read through and follow? Have I properly exposed and explained all of Commented [MOU4]: What I liked about your project is
that you were able to connect the social role of genres
with the goals of the community. However, I would like to
the concepts that I have introduced? Does my essay reflect my train of thought well, see more analysis of genre conventions when you discuss
emails and texts. Without specific examples (and I know
all the while responding to all the demands of the prompt? For the time being, I wish that you don’t like to cite – you can paraphrase), the
essay lacks some life.
meaning of “distinguished” or “remarkable”. Commented [MOU6]: Sounds good. You could have used
a footnote to explain it. I had to read until the end of the
cover letter to see what you meant
Best wishes,
Francesco Moulson
destabilizing. Having spent the previous quarter trying to meet as many people as
possible in the hopes of fitting in, I had realized the challenging consequences of
choosing quantity over quality throughout the boring hours of the trip: none of the
photographers that would reunite every Wednesday to discuss shooting locations, neat
common or shared objectives, that communicate, relate to each other and expand the
studying the functions of a camera: during my first week I was taught by other
members of the group how to regulate shutter speed to focus on moving objects and
how to take portraits setting the aperture of the lens, allowing more or less light to
filter through the optic. According to John Swales, a British linguist, one of the main
camera and shooting, I managed to bond with the other participants of the community.
community", such a group is bound to satisfy six fundamental criteria, the first of
which is a set of common goals. In the case of Gaucho Photography the two main
goals, as previously stated, are the apprehension of the uses and functions of a
camera, and the formation of a sense of community and personal bonding through the
The second fundamental criterion that Swales introduces is the systematic use of
language, usually written, by the members of the discourse community that would
Photography does not fully satisfy: the use of language is mainly oral, and, aside from
a public group chat and a small variety of articles posted on the group's Facebook
page, there isn't much written communication. However, this does not fully eliminate
over time I found myself to realize that photography itself, or rather, the act of
reciprocal teaching and apprehending the art of photography, carried out by the
much use of written language, the community retains the characteristics that Swales
the community tend to predominate discourse patterns and are the main influencers of
language use.
community according to Swales' third criterion, that of presenting the use of certain
knowledge of the group and allow access to new members by conveying the groups
generously allowed me to lend for the quarter, I couldn't have comprehended the use
of its various parts and, similarly, without some of the other members' instruction I
wouldn't have learned how to operate a camera to the fullest extent. Furthermore, a
crucial aspect of the use of these "participatory mechanisms", is their influence on the
feedback provided by the members of the group, more specifically, the enabling of a
dialogue in which those who are in the process of learning are allowed to supply a
response: often, when I was unsure of how to take a particular picture, I would
learning how to shoot, but the other members of the group were learning how to
As a fourth criterion, Swales introduces the concept of "genre". Simply put, genres
attain its goal. In the case of Gaucho Photography, it is clear that the main genre that
unites the members of the community is that of photography: the art of capturing life's
most precious moments is what brings the group together, and sharing innovative
ways to shoot drives the community forward, always in search of the perfect picture.
usually linked to the community's interests and genres. Not only has Gaucho
together with the group's use of specific abbreviations during shoots to signal
potential positions of interest to the model and shooting angles to the other
throughout a photo shoot. From the lens release, to the viewfinder and even the
simplest appliances of the camera, such as the power button and LCD screen, the
many parts of the camera constitute a large part of the vocabulary used by the
members of Gaucho Photography: it is clear that genre and lexis are strictly related
with a relatively reasonable ratio of apprentices to mentors, or, in other words, the
imposition of certain qualifications the members must satisfy to enter the group.
the community's activities as long as the new members have a desire to learn and are
passionate.
states that discoursal conventions are not singularly necessary to define a discourse
learn and grow, resulting in the group's expansion and the extension of knowledge
shared by its participants. Through the reception of feedback from its new members,
communication. Often the language used is not written, and, more simply, oral
out through orders given by the photographer to his model and, reciprocally, by
indications asked by the model. To define the genres used in the literature of
photography and in the act of photo-shooting itself, we must first analyze the
Gaucho Photography, is that of the model and the shooter. The first is generally
chosen through a written application (if they are requesting to be the main focus of a
photographer will email the model directly. Both methods of communication are
written and help establish an initial relationship between the two parties. This first
approach is usually followed by a dialogue (generally carried out via email) in which
shooting times and locations are discussed, and eventually, agreed upon. In its own
way, email can be considered a modern genre, in that it retains all of the
multiplicity of genres within, makes use of codified forms of expression, and often
To not include email as a form of literary genre, the main Internet service thanks to
which every authorized user can send and receive messages using a computer or other
that of using computers and the Internet as main mediums of communication. In other
words, email is the new epistolary genre, a direct form of dialogue that preserves
Once the initial dialogue is carried out, a new genre is introduced to the model: that of
group texting. As an informal method of writing, group texting can be more difficult
to define as a genre. Though it shares some similarities with email, such as that of
does not include multiple genres within its own. Texting in group chats generally
consists of short, concise and often very informal messages and as a form of
communication, it is much more direct than that of email, or the epistolary genre.
Through texting, a closer bond is formed and the model applicant or new member of
the community come in contact with the voices of all members of the group, allowing
aiding the goal of the discourse community, that of taking pictures, the use of the
texting genre, thus, serves the purpose of building inner connections: it aids the
attain its goal. A genre is thus not strictly literary, but rather a categorical definition of
mediums of communication. Taking this definition into account, one could define the
study, and even considering photography manuals, and all written works regarding
photography, the photographic genre assumes the traits of a linguistic genre, defined
by words that are strictly relevant to the world of photography and by the mechanical
edited and, successively, are transferred to a public one where they may be viewed by
those who follow the club's updates. Through a selection, some pictures are chosen to
spark Gaucho Photography's interest and permission to make use of the group's
messaging, a form of texting used on the platform "Instagram" (the main image
centered social network that allows users to take pictures, apply filters, and share
them on the web), or via dialogue carried out in forums, such as Reddit threads,
comprise the last genre: Gaucho Photography's online presence is always monitored
and to broadcast the community's work. What makes this "social networking genre"
so important is its influence on the members inside the group and the stable dialogue
it constructs with those who do not participate within the community: through the use
of certain hashtags, anyone can find the groups pictures in a matter of seconds.
The use of all of these genres altogether, in combination with the diversity of
The models are subjects of the image, the photographers take the pictures and apply
their expertise in choosing the right angles and locations, the set-makers help create
Without the use of most of these genres, the individual work of each person would not
benefit from the input that each and every member contributes to, but perhaps the
most important feature of the use of genres is how such fundamental communicative
patterns help everyone cooperate in the setting of a photo shoot, help build a strong
sense of identity within the community and maintain the constant coordination and
Writing Draft 1
Jumping right into winter quarter after a 13-hour flight from Rome was quite
destabilizing. Having spent the previous quarter trying to meet as many people as
possible in the hopes of fitting in, I had realized the challenging consequences of
choosing quantity over quality throughout the boring hours of the trip: none of the
photographers that would reunite every Wednesday to discuss shooting locations, neat
common or shared objectives, that communicate, relate to each other and expand the
studying the functions of a camera: during my first week I was taught by other
members of the group how to regulate shutter speed to focus on moving objects and
how to take portraits setting the aperture of the lens, allowing more or less light to
filter through the optic. Through oral communication and the physical practice of
operating a camera and shooting, I managed to bond with the other participants of the
community.
communication. Often the language used is not written, and, more simply, oral
out through orders given by the photographer to his model and, reciprocally, by
indications asked by the model. To define the genres used in the literature of
photography and in the act of photo-shooting itself, we must first analyze the
The main relationship that is formed inside of the discourse community that is
Gaucho Photography, is that of the model and the shooter. A first approach is usually
followed by a dialogue (generally carried out via email) in which shooting times and
locations are discussed, and eventually, agreed upon. In its own way, email can be
considered a modern genre, in that it retains all of the characteristics of the more
within, makes use of codified forms of expression, and often utilizes a lexicon related
to the internet and its innovation. To not include email as a form of literary genre, is
is the new epistolary genre, a direct form of dialogue that preserves formality
Once the initial dialogue is carried out, a new genre is introduced to the model: that of
group texting. As an informal method of writing, group texting can be more difficult
to define as a genre. Though it shares some similarities with email, such as that of
does not include multiple genres within its own. Texting in group chats generally
consists of short, concise and often very informal messages and as a form of
communication, it is much more direct than that of email, or the epistolary genre.
Through texting, a closer bond is formed and the model applicant or new member of
the community comes in contact with the voices of all members of the group,
communication aiding the goal of the discourse community, that of taking pictures,
the use of the texting genre, thus, serves the purpose of building inner connections: it
Analytically speaking, in the faculty of genre analysis, genres can be defined as the
genre is thus not strictly literary, but rather a categorical definition of mediums of
communication. Taking this definition into account, one could define the art of
photography as a whole as a form of dialogue, and thus, as a genre. Even though the
use of language is mainly oral, and, aside from a public group chat and a small variety
of articles posted on the group's Facebook page, there isn't much written
communication, this does not fully eliminate the community from the definition of a
photography itself, or rather, the act of reciprocal teaching and apprehending the art of
photography, carried out by the members of Gaucho Photography, is, in fact, a form
of communication.
It is this precise teaching-learning bond that helped me fit into and feel welcomed
inside the group. Without access to a camera, which Gaucho Photography generously
allowed me to lend for the quarter, I couldn't have comprehended the use of its
various parts and, similarly, without some of the other members' instruction I wouldn't
have learned how to operate a camera to the fullest extent. Furthermore, a crucial
aspect of the use of these participatory mechanisms is their influence on the feedback
provided by the members of the group, more specifically, the enabling of a dialogue
in which those who are in the process of learning are allowed to supply a response.
only was I learning how to shoot, but the other members of the group were learning
Not only has Gaucho Photography taught me the vast terminology of the world of
picture-taking, but, together with the group's use of specific abbreviations during
shoots to signal potential positions of interest to the model and shooting angles to the
even the simplest appliances of the camera, such as the power button and LCD screen,
the many parts of the camera constitute a large part of the vocabulary used by the
members of Gaucho Photography. This use of a specific lexis, bound to the activities
of the club and their goal, further explains how photography itself can be viewed as a
genre.
After a shoot, some pictures are chosen to then be featured in articles or magazines,
forum users or website curators will spark Gaucho Photography's interest and
permission to make use of the group's pictures is granted. These forms of online
platform "Instagram" (an image centered social network), or via dialogue carried out
in forums, such as Reddit threads, comprise the last genre: Gaucho Photography's
stable dialogue it builds with those who do not participate within the community:
through the use of certain hashtags, anyone can find the groups pictures in a matter of
seconds.
The use of these genres altogether, in combination with everyone's commitment make
individual performance. The models are subjects of the image, the photographers take
the pictures and apply their expertise in choosing the right angles and locations, the
set-makers help create the backgrounds and the publicizing team divulges everyone's
work.
To aid everyone in their task, each genre is chosen and employed specifically by the
Without the use of most of these genres, the individual work of each person would not
benefit from the input that each and every member contributes to, but perhaps the
most important feature of the use of genres is how such fundamental communicative
patterns help everyone cooperate in the setting of a photo shoot, help build a strong
sense of identity within the community and maintain the constant coordination and
focus that leads the group to success. What makes Gaucho Photography a complete
discourse community are the patterns of communication it provides for its members to
learn and grow, resulting in the group's expansion and the extension of knowledge
shared by its participants. Through the reception of feedback from its new members,
Jumping right into winter quarter after a 13-hour flight from Rome was quite Commented [MOU7]: Formatting. In the United States,
the correct formatting of the text is 1 inch margins. You
will get marked off for using 1.25 inches in college essays.
destabilizing. Having spent the previous quarter trying to meet as many people as
possible in the hopes of fitting in, I had realized the challenging consequences of
choosing quantity over quality throughout the boring hours of the trip: none of the
photographers that would reunite every Wednesday to discuss shooting locations, neat
Gaucho Photography is an emblematic example of a discourse community: simply Commented [MOU8]: I think that this sentence can be
divided. The first half of the sentence will serve as a nice
break between long sentences.
put, a discourse community can be defined as a group or body of people, driven by
common or shared objectives, that communicate, relate to each other and expand the
group's knowledge through a form of communication, usually written. Gaucho Commented [MOU9]: Because it’s not your definition,
you need to cite John Swales here.
Photography's participants' main objective is that of learning how to take pictures by
studying the functions of a camera: during my first week I was taught by other
members of the group how to regulate shutter speed to focus on moving objects and
how to take portraits setting the aperture of the lens, allowing more or less light to
filter through the optic. Through oral communication and the physical practice of
operating a camera and shooting, I managed to bond with the other participants of the
community.
communication. Often the language used is not written, and, more simply, oral
dialogue is used. In the world of photography, in fact, most communication is carried
out through orders given by the photographer to his model and, reciprocally, by
indications asked by the model. To define the genres used in the literature of
photography and in the act of photo-shooting itself, we must first analyze the
The main relationship that is formed inside of the discourse community that is
Gaucho Photography, is that of the model and the shooter. The first approach is Commented [MOU10]: Word choice? I understand what
you mean but it can be said in a different way that is
easier to comprehend.
usually followed by a dialogue (generally carried out via email) in which shooting
times and locations are discussed, and eventually, agreed upon. To give an instance,
usually the model will apply for a photo shoot by sending their height, age, and other
personal information via email, after which the group will promptly ask
model has had any previous experience in the art of photo shooting and posing. Other
times the photographer will email the model directly. In its own way, email can be Commented [MOU11]: Here you’re jumping from one
thought to another without a transition. Will it be better
to move the general discussion of emails to the beginning
considered a modern genre, in that it retains all of the characteristics of the more of this paragraph?
within, makes use of codified forms of expression, and often utilizes a lexicon related Commented [MOU12]: I’m not sure what you mean. Do
you mean genre conventions?
to the Internet and its innovation. To not include email as a form of literary genre is to
ignore the contemporary shift from "typewriter literature" to that of using computers
and the Internet as main mediums media of communication. In other words, email is
the new epistolary genre, a direct form of dialogue that preserves formality (contrary
group texting. As an informal method of writing, group texting can be more difficult
to define as a genre. Though it shares some similarities with email, such as that of Commented [MOU13]: You like this phrase Try not to
overuse it.
including codified forms of expression, usually those of abbreviations, acronyms or
does not include multiple genres within its own. Texting in group chats generally
consists of short, concise and often very informal messages and as a form of
communication, it is much more direct than that of email, or the epistolary genre.
Through texting, a closer bond is formed and the model applicant or new member of
the community comes in contact with the voices of all members of the group,
communication aiding the goal of the discourse community, that of taking pictures,
the use of the texting genre, thus, serves the purpose of building inner connections: it
Analytically speaking, in the faculty of genre analysis, genres can be defined as the Commented [MOU14]: I’m not sure if it’s an effective
transition. I like your definition of genres but the phrase
“analytically speaking” does not work for me.
multiplicity of discoursal elements debated by the community to attain its goal. A
genre is thus not strictly literary, but rather a categorical definition of mediums media
of communication. Taking this definition into account, one could define the art of
photography as a whole as a form of dialogue, and thus, as a genre. Even though the
use of language is mainly oral, and, aside from a public group chat and a small variety
of articles posted on the group's Facebook page, there isn't is not much written Commented [MOU15]: Avoid using contractions in
college writing.
communication, this does not fully eliminate the community from the definition of a
discourse community, as participating in it over time I found myself to realize that Commented [MOU16]: Realized (it’s more effective and
easier to understand)
photography itself, or rather, the act of reciprocal teaching and apprehending the art of
photography, carried out by the members of Gaucho Photography, is, in fact, a form
It is this precise teaching-learning bond that helped me fit into and feel welcomed
inside the group. Without access to a camera, which Gaucho Photography generously
allowed me to lend for the quarter, I couldn't have comprehended the use of its
various parts and, similarly, without some of the other members' instruction I wouldn't
have learned how to operate a camera to the fullest extent. Furthermore, a crucial
aspect of the use of these participatory mechanisms is their influence on the feedback Commented [MOU18]: Rephrase. I’m not sure what you
mean.
provided by the members of the group, more specifically, the enabling of a dialogue
in which those who are in the process of learning are allowed to supply a response.
only was I learning how to shoot, but the other members of the group were learning
Not only has Gaucho Photography taught me the vast terminology of the world of
picture-taking, but, together with the group's use of specific abbreviations during
shoots to signal potential positions of interest to the model and shooting angles to the
communicate throughout a photo shoot. From the lens release, to the viewfinder and
even the simplest appliances of the camera, such as the power button and LCD screen,
the many parts of the camera constitute a large part of the vocabulary used by the
members of Gaucho Photography. This use of a specific lexis, bound to the activities
of the club and their goal, further explains how photography itself can be viewed as a
genre.
After a shoot, some pictures are chosen to then be featured in articles or magazines,
forum users or website curators will spark Gaucho Photography's interest and
permission to make use of the group's pictures is granted. These forms of online
platform "Instagram" (an image centered social network), or via dialogue carried out
in forums, such as Reddit threads, comprise the last genre: Gaucho Photography's
stable dialogue it builds with those who do not participate within the community:
through the use of certain hashtags, anyone can find the groups pictures in a matter of
seconds.
The use of these genres altogether, in combination with everyone's commitment make
individual performance. The models are subjects of the image, the photographers take
the pictures and apply their expertise in choosing the right angles and locations, the
set-makers help create the backgrounds and the publicizing team divulges everyone's
work.
To aid everyone in their task, each genre is chosen and employed specifically by the
benefit from the input that each and every member contributes to, but perhaps the
most important feature of the use of genres is how such fundamental communicative
patterns help everyone cooperate in the setting of a photo shoot, help build a strong
sense of identity within the community and maintain the constant coordination and
focus that leads the group to success. What makes Gaucho Photography a complete
discourse community are the patterns of communication it provides for its members to
learn and grow, resulting in the group's expansion and the extension of knowledge
shared by its participants. Through the reception of feedback from its new members,