Herman Cai

Writing 2 De Piero
Wednesday 3:00PM-4:50PM
Through the course of life, from school to work to everyday life, writing has been and
will remain a persistent norm, permeating each aspect of society. Without writing, no one would
get any ideas across. Thoughts and stories fade away if it were not for the existence of the pen
and paper. Genre - the categorizing term for any piece of writing - can be seen in every corner of
a developed world. From ads to manuals, each serves a purpose, whether to inform or entertain.
As technological advances continue, the creation of the internet has created a worldwide
connection. Now, people can post and spread any idea by sitting behind a desk and typing away.
Aside from passing on important information such as research papers or the newest scientific
discoveries, the internet offers the opportunity for people to simply write about themselves. A
popular format for this electronic personal journal of sorts is the blog. Websites dedicated to
these blogs serve as publishers to any user who desires to write. A blurb or introduction is
usually provided to establish an identity behind a computer screen. Anyone can write, but their
effectiveness and successfulness heavily depends on their knowledge of rhetoric, the art of
persuasion. Those especially adept at manipulating their words have the power to convince and
shift the beliefs of the reader. The learned writer should know how to meet the expectations of
the reader, based on factors including context, location, and purpose. When written with the
intended audience in mind, a piece of writing can become so much more effective for
anyone. Genres should definitely be studied, especially by the aspiring college writer, when
knowing how to tailor a paper has such a huge impact on setting the proper tone for the occasion
and appealing to the reader.

At the stage of introducing the content, visuals and format placement play an important
role in setting the tone and perhaps hinting the style of the blurb content. At first glance at the
screen of a blog page, the reader has already subconsciously collected a multitude of
information. The formatting of the blog itself contains conventions of the genre, using context
and visuals. Our saturation in media and its images is one of the reasons why learning to do
rhetorical analysis is so important. The more we know about how to analyze situations and draw
informed conclusions, the better we can become about making savvy judgments about the
people, situations and media we encounter (Carroll, 46). Writers ask themselves the question of
how they want their piece to appear when trying to establish a tone and mood. A serious paper
should use appropriate language and refrain from going off topic, whereas a personal blog can
have comical pictures and verbiage depending on the individual. The blogger has options to
choose what a visitor immediately sees upon opening the site. They may pick a special
background to decorate the page. The scenery appeals to the eye while it does not distract from
the actual reading. Soft colors help give off a light non-serious tone. Blank backgrounds might
give off the feeling that the writing is a bit dull, as many people associate plain text with long
assigned readings that tire the eyes. Some bloggers add various pictures along with the blurb.
The pictures may be of the writers themselves. Showing a face helps solidify the identity of the
writer, which is usually not provided due to the nature of interactions online. Faces can even
create a sense of relatability and give the writing more meaning, as the writer is no longer simply
a mysterious figure that no one can picture. Bloggers also add photos of their possessions or
achievements, such as their pet dog or a proud moment after climbing a mountain. These pictures
show the individuals own life, setting them apart from everyone else and creating a sense of

uniqueness. Visuals make a piece of writing much more interesting and can provide a thousand
words when a writer finds difficulty making a description.
As for the actual content of the blurb, the writers have the chance to talk about
themselves and appeal to the reader by giving interesting facts or stories. What features, I asked
myself, should go into this essay? How personal could I get? What rhetorical moves might I use,
effectively or ineffectively? (Dirk, 250). The answers to these questions can determine how well
the writer can fulfill the purpose of the writing. As a blurb for a social introduction, the writer
would want to seem friendly and approachable. Thus, the tone of the blog can already be seen in
the first few sentences the greeting. Hello! My name is Jennie Pau and I am from San
Francisco, home of the San Francisco GIANTS! (Pau, para 1). An enthusiastic hello with an
exclamation point sets a conversational tone to help the reader realize the rest of the blurb will be
similarly written. From here on out, the audience begins creating an impression of the blogger. A
serious or overly formal greeting might show that the writer means business or does not have
intentions of making an appealing introduction. Meanwhile, a more boisterous statement reveals
a more social or lively personality. Random tidbits of personal information usually follow. The
writer may talk about where they are from, the things they have done in the past, or their
favorites. Last year I was involved in a program at UCSB called Scitrek, and it was a really
exciting teaching program that allowed UCSB students to travel to elementary schools in the area
and teach them about science (Leong, para 2). The blogger here brings up a particular program
she may have been proud of. Of course not everyone can say they have participated in such a
program, so this sets her apart from other students. Hobbies and career aspirations are also listed.
Im a DJ and ran a very successful business throughout NorCal while in HS (Mery, para 2). He
mentions his pastimes and favorite activities. These facts help the reader further build on the

impression and background of the writer. The audience can always relate to hobbies and past
experiences, which connects the writer and reader even more.
Blog blurbs act as an ice-breaker online, when face-to-face social interaction is
inefficient. In order for people to come off as welcoming and friendly, they use rhetoric
techniques to set a light and nonthreatening tone. Despite being behind screens, students still
have the incentive to make a good impression and list off facts that set them apart and possibly
impress the reader. People have done this so often in their writing that rhetoric is almost used
subconsciously. For some, it has been ingrained in the thought process when figuring out how to
tailor a paper. Of course, not every piece of writing requires deep thought on how to effectively
use rhetoric. However, studying genre is never a bad idea as knowing how to meet the
expectations of the audience can perhaps help the writer make a new friend.

Bibliography
Pau, Jennie Blurb Blogger, http://w2jenniep.blogspot.com/ January 15, 2015 Web. January 25,
2015

Mery, Oren About Me Blogger, http://orenmerry.blogspot.com/ January 5, 2015 Web.

January 25, 2015

Leong, Sabrina Blog Blurb: About Me Blogger, http://w2sabrina.blogspot.com/ January 6,

2015 Web. January 25, 2015

Dirk, Kerry Navigating Genres Writing Spaces: Readings on Writing Volume 1 2010 Print.

Carroll, Laura Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis Writing Spaces:
Readings on Writing Volume 1 2010 Print.