Running Head: GENRE ANALYSIS

Genre Analysis
Jakob Flaggert
University of Texas El Paso
September 27, 2014

GENRE ANALYSIS

Jakob Flaggert
Research and Critical Writing
September 17, 2014
Lang

Gun Regulations
The 2nd Amendment of the U.S Constitution states that we have the right to bear
arms which means Americans are allowed to have guns to use to defend themselves.
Guns are very powerful weapons and can sometimes be used in the wrong ways by
criminals. There are now gun laws out there that many believe are strong enough to
keep this nation safe. Guns are not only used for defense in the U.S. but also as
sporting and hunting. The people who oppose more restrictive gun laws believe that
while banning certain guns is important, banning most or all guns will hurt this country.
The first genre analyzed is a political cartoon by Creators Syndicate (original
artist unknown). This political cartoon can be found on the blog of Daniel Mitchell, a
libertarian economist with strong opinions about gun regulation. Although this cartoon
originated with the company Creators Syndicate, it has since become unavailable to the
general public through their website. The second genre analyzed is an opinion piece
about the NRA and gun rights written by the president of the National Rifle Association
of America, David Keene. These genres differ in delivery of their messages about gun
regulations but are both effective.
The intended audience and discourse community for the political cartoon
includes politically minded people who may be too busy to read an article. Whereas the

GENRE ANALYSIS

opinion piece appeals to people who are more committed to politics and have time to
dedicate to read longer texts. The political cartoon persuades the reader that guns do
not kill people rather its humans that kill each other. The opinion piece informs the
audience in hopes to persuade them to agree on their stance with gun regulation. Both
genres are trying to get their audiences to agree with their positions on gun control. The
audience already knows that gun control and safety is currently an important issue. The
audience for the opinion piece want to know why the NRA is fighting for gun rights. For
the political cartoon the audience may just want to see what societys opinions are on
this subject. The time spent by the audience on the information in the political cartoon is
minimal while readers of the article spend much more time with the information
presented.
The language for the political cartoon is informal because it is intended for an
audience who seeks briefer messages. Therefore, they try to get the message of the
topic off quickly. For the opinion piece the language is much more formal. The opinion
piece is appropriate for its audience who are dedicated and politically committed.
The genres are very similar in their topics but very different on how the present
the information. The political cartoon is more visual while the article is more literary. The
political cartoon has much more of a wide audience because it is easier and much more
accessible. The opinion piece has more of a specific audience and uses more
complicated language.
The opinion piece has more credibility compared to the political cartoon because
it contains statistics and is published on a well-known news network. However neither
offer references to show credibility. The political cartoon genre helps to evoke an

GENRE ANALYSIS

emotional response from the audience by not relying on statistics like the article does.
Rather, the cartoon uses common sense and language to appeal to the audience. The
political cartoon does not provide evidence to support its claims and position on gun
control. The opinion piece relies heavily on David Keenes status as president of the
NRA for credibility. The political cartoon does not need evidence for its purpose. The
cartoon is based on opinion; therefore its lack of evidence is appropriate.
People might be bored by the opinion piece because it lacks pathos making it
difficult to connect emotionally. People might not trust the political cartoon because it
lacks credibility.
The political cartoon is shaped by the genre in that the style doesnt allow the
author to express detailed information. The opinion piece, on the other hand, gives a lot
of information which might cause a loss in readers. The political cartoon is designed to
get its message out quick. It is simple, visual, and uncomplicated. For the opinion piece,
the message are delivered in lengthy texts with little visual appeal. The political cartoon
features humorous drawings and the article features links to other articles for more
information. These added elements contribute to the message of these genres.
The similarities of the two genres is that both are for non-gun regulation. The
differences between the two genres is that one is a cartoon with humor while the other
is an opinion piece which is more serious.
In conclusion these genres differ in delivery of their messages about gun
regulations but are both effective. The political cartoon gives out a brief message while
the opinion paper uses more of a lengthy and formal message. The audience for the

GENRE ANALYSIS

political cartoon are people who are looking for a brief and succinct message. The
audience for the opinion piece might have more time to dedicate to the subject.

GENRE ANALYSIS

References:

Keene, David (2013, February 1). NRA chief: Why we fight for gun rights. Retrieved
from http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/31/opinion/keene-nra-guns/
Mitchell, D. (2013, January 10). Five Important Facts for Vice President Biden's AntiGun Task Force. Retrieved September 29, 2014, from
http://danieljmitchell.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/gun-control-cartoon-clubknife.jpg