Audience and Genre pt.2

Whom do you want to reach?

The intended audience consists of multiple audiences. First, professor Marciniak will be the primary audience. The secondary audience would be other students in the class as well as anyone else whom could possibly come across my essay since it is posted on a blog.

What is the audiences’ background?

The primary audience’s background consists of having at least some college education.  Professor Marciniak is from Texas so she might not be too familiar with the historical context of the Falls of the Ohio or the community service that happens there.  The same could be said about students that are attending U of L that are not originally from the area as well as the secondary audience.  I am assuming that there might be some students from the area that are familiar with the topic, but since I am unsure I am writing as if the audience is oblivious about the topic.  The audience that might stumble upon my essay might have some knowledge of the topic since they would more than likely be searching about either the Falls or community service opportunities.

What are their interests?

Little is known about my audiences’ interests.  Research could be conducted to find out possible interests.

Demographic information to keep in mind?

The topic that is discussed in my essay is not specific to any demographic.

What political circumstances may affect their reading?

The topic addressed is not controversial in any setting.  Whatever their political circumstances might be should not affect how they interpret the reading.

What does the audience already know about the topic?  What needs to be told to them?   What is the best way to do so?

The audiences’ should have a minimal familiarity with the place; however they might not know the details of the community service aspects associated with the location.  A brief history of the Falls would better introduce the audiences to the place.  An explanation of the significance of the Falls to the region and community service efforts would help explain my thesis, followed by examples and recommendations of how to volunteer if they deem necessary.

What’s the relationship between the writer and audience, and how does it affect tone and language?

The relationship to my audiences is mainly on a formal level.  I don’t know anyone on a personal level so the tone and language will be formal.

What do the audiences need and expect?

Since this essay is turning into a persuasive piece, they are going to need to know the benefits of volunteering and community service at the Falls of the Ohio.

What kind of response do I want?

I want to inform the audience about the opportunities to get involved within the community.  Regardless if they choose the Falls of the Ohio or another location, the purpose that I intend to have is to get the audience aware of local history and to get out and do what they can to help preserve our area.

How can you best appeal to your audience?

The requirement is to post the essay as a blog but also to include visuals to help the audience identify with the Falls of the Ohio.

Audience and Genre

Audience and genre are connected in that you must know your audience in determining the genre to write. The article talks about three specific audiences, all of which would use a different genre in presenting information. Known audiences are those that the writer know personally and would understand what the writer was trying to present without having to go into great detail. Multiple audiences are those where the message could be presented to intended audiences as well as unknown audiences. Business memos and proposals were example given in the text. Unknown audiences are those which the writer might not know their specific knowledge of information relating to the topic discussed. In all instances, the genre of the message should match the intended audience's knowledge of subject matter.

Biodiversity

Church's topic proposal does adequately state why her audience should care about her topic because it is an argument about biodiversity loss and the ensuing effects it has on medicine. She identified one particular medicine at risk of extinction, drugs to treat breast and ovarian cancer, as a way to let her audience know biological species and their habitats contribute to helping our species.

Ch. 7 Exercise #2

After rereading my narrative from Unit II, it definitely looks like I need to find a better direction to grow it into a persuasive piece. While I was visiting the Falls of the Ohio looking for "negative" aspects, the only negative that could relate to the Falls would be the trash issue. I know that there are other environmental issues that concerns preserving the limestone but I find that issue irrelevant to my narrative. According to my narrative, it seems that I'm more interested in preserving the historical significance of the Falls to the metro area as opposed to the litter in the area. I have done preliminary and secondary research on the trash issue at the Falls and have found that there is a lot of effort going towards keeping the area clean. That's not to say that it is free of trash because that is certainly not the case. Anyone that is interested in preserving areas that are significant to our region and community service are more likely to be the audience for my narrative. Although, I could also see anyone that is interested in historic areas, and there are many in the Louisville area, as being the audience as well. 

Vote for Pedro!

Holson's angle was to show the cultural impact that the movie Napoleon Dynamite had on the townspeople of Preston, Idaho. She briefly described the movie's plot but mostly focused on the townspeople's reaction to the sudden celebrity status of their town. Instead of going into great detail about the movie, she collects first-hand accounts of the townspeople's reaction while visiting the location during a Napoleon Dynamite festival held in Preston. All of her research was done in person during her visit to the small town during the festival, evidenced by the profiles of the outsiders that visited; the tetherball girl, the Napoleon dancer, look-a-likes, and the tater tot eating contest. While she did talk to the outsiders about their thoughts about the significance of the movie, she mostly wanted to get information from locals such as the man the shot the cow in the movie and hear about how their lives have been affected by the movie.

Interviewee & Questions

What do you want to find out?

I want to find out about how involved the community is with regards to preservation the Falls of the Ohio. I want to know if the staff considers the efforts to bring forth community involvement as a success or if it needs improvement.

What is the primary goal of this oral history?

The goal is to get an in-depth look at the Center’s efforts in bringing in community involvement.

Dani Cummins, Executive Director at the Falls of the Ohio

How did you get involved with the Falls of the Ohio?

Why did you choose to the Falls of the Ohio?

What brought forth the Crossroads Campaign?

What is the overall goal for the Crossroads Campaign?

Why has the Commission wanted to keep it under tight wraps up until recently when the design was made public?

Does the success of the Crossroads Campaign determine possible other areas of the park to be looked at next?

How often does the park hold “River Sweeps”?

What has the commission looked into as far as preventing trash in the Falls?

(If commission looked into previous question?) Are there any projects in the future to assist in that?

Maus

The selection from Maus is considered an oral history because it is a living "person's" living testimony of past experiences. Vladek is retelling his experience, from memory, as a P.O.W. to Artie. The top of page 47 is a picture of interview where it appears that Artie is recording his father's story.

Unit II

As I pulled up to my destination, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect after a decade absence from the Falls. Were there going to be any changes that I would recognize? Perhaps there were improvements to the area to help prevent the public’s urge to litter the historic grounds with unnecessary rubbish? Why did I care? I do not know why these were the questions my brain was sporadically producing, but I knew the answers were coming soon.

"When they shook hands, the Lewis and Clark Expedition began."

I now had the state park’s Interpretive Center in my sights. As I leisurely made my approach, a large bronze statue of two men with pioneer-type hats came into view through my driver’s side window. It was a depiction of Lewis and Clark shaking hands before they ventured off to explore the Louisiana Purchase. Stephen E. Ambrose described the handshake that took place in 1803 as the defining moment when the Lewis and Clark Expedition began. It’s still amazes me that Clarksville is the town where that historic journey originated.

I continued cautiously around the Interpretive Center to the parking lot. The summers usually bring children to the Falls for all sorts of activities, so my anticipation for an unsupervised adolescent to zip into the road was on alert. As I came into the lot, I was amazed that it was vacant except for one beige minivan and a dark blue pickup. I was thinking either a family was running around in the fossil beds or a father was taking his eager son to fish. I have never fished at the Falls, although I have heard that this is a great catfish location.

I proceeded to steer my car thru the semi-vacant lot before finally backing my car into one of the many empty spots, failing to notice if I made it between the white lines. I eased the emergency brake on and shifted the car into park and then paused. The music was still blaring through the windows and sunroof. I turned the radio off and then paused again. Now all I hear is the idle engine quietly purring.

With the Midwest heat still flowing into the cabin, my hand reached for the keys dangling from the ignition. With a swift counter-clockwise rotation of my hand, the car shut off. Again, I paused.

Why I was just sitting there I have no idea. Scanning the area for some sense of direction, I noticed a bench upon the overlook near the Interpretive Center. I decided that it would at least provide a decent view of the Falls and fossil beds.

I removed the keys from the ignition and exited the car. I closed the car door then approached the walkway leading to the bench. Out of habit, I reached my hand into the right cargo pocket of my khaki shorts and pulled out a menthol cigarette and a red lighter I bought from a gas station the day before. When I arrived at the bench, I placed the cigarette between my lips and lit it and sucked the burning tobacco into my lungs. I took a seat on the metallic bench and propped my left foot on my right knee.

The solar waves were still radiating the metropolis, but the sun was now in the direction of the westerly Sherman Minton Bridge. A soft but swift breeze came thru just enough that I could smell the murkiness of the Ohio River. After 10 years away, I was surprised that I could still identify that smell. And then I realized, “This was it. This was home.” Clarksville, Indiana.

As I took another drag from the cigarette, I reminisced to the days of my youth growing up in Clarksville. I was 14 years old when my dad moved my brother and me here from neighboring Jeffersonville. Even though they were separated by rock-throwing distance, it felt like I had moved across the country. I had to abandon my childhood friends to go to a different high school, as a freshman. I hated it! It didn’t seem fair. But I also embraced it. I thrived in it. I was the “new” kid that was the nephew of the popular senior. Nobody knew who I was, so I reinvented myself. Distanced myself from the previous 13 years to become more outgoing and spontaneous.

A smirk gradually grew upon my face as a product of the realization of why I was sitting on a bench behind the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center. This site is one of the most memorable moments of my high school career. Well, maybe a contributory site of one of the most memorable moments.

The spring of 2001 marked my first trip to the spring break mecca, Panama City. I was young, excited, and foolish. Driving southbound on Interstate 65 during “Senior Skip Day” with four carloads of a dozen or so friends, we made it to Montgomery, Alabama before the two lead cars were pulled over by state troopers. I was bringing up the rear of the group, along with an SUV packed with varsity squad cheerleaders.

Knowing what I know now, it’s fortunate we didn’t stop to check on the first two cars because they ended up spending the night in custody for possession of a “funky” substance. Only the problem was that the reservation for the guys’ room was in the name of one of the detainees. No, I guess it really wasn’t a problem now that I think about. I mean, what 17 year-old dude isn’t going to accept the head cheerleader’s offer to stay with them for the night?

The smirk on my face evolved into a smile as I started to snicker under my breath. I could only shake my head, as I took another lung capacitating inhale of menthol smoke, remembering that it wasn’t the first night from the trip that corresponds to the Falls, but the sequence of events throughout the days that followed. In particular, the seventh of the nine days we were partying there.

Leading up to that historic Thursday night, my tolerance level was at the maximum. However, that night I was as sober as a priest on Sunday. I didn’t think anything of the five cans of Bud Light in my cargo shorts’ pockets as I walked along the Panama City strip that was bumper-to-bumper with intoxicated, bare-chested coeds. But somehow, out of nowhere, red and blue lights were surrounding me like I just knocked off the community bank next to the parking lot I was standing in. It wasn’t long until I was in the backseat of a cruiser, my hands bound behind my back. Official report: possession of alcohol by a minor, sentenced to community service.

The ultraviolet rays were still beating down on my SPF-unprotected skin as I glanced to the family of five walking up from the fossil beds. It’s the same path I walked several times during my 30 hours of service collecting discarded material in a thick, black plastic trash bag. Of course I’m sure that they were there enjoying the natural history of the Falls instead of gathering litter and debris, but at least they were there. I would have to burn my dad’s house down to get my brother out from the front of his Xbox. Even then, he probably couldn’t imagine himself living in the real world where he would actually have to socialize face-to-face. But here is this family that is taking in the Falls while surviving the dreaded Ohio Valley humidity. This is the type of interaction the Falls of the Ohio deserves.

I gave a hand wave and slight head nod to the family as they proceeded by me to their waiting beige minivan. The cheerful mother joyfully ushered her three muddy sons in through the sliding side door. I felt a sense of happiness. Happiness felt not for me, but for the name-less family. Being able to enjoy time with my wife and son is what I desire every day. I guess that is why I feel happy for them.

I slowly rose from the bench, my shirt now sticking to my clammy back, and took the last drag off the cigarette before extinguishing it. I felt replenished. Replenished with that desire and happiness that only God can work into me and help me realize that I had to come home in order to get home.

Annotations

“The Story of the Lewis and Clark Statue: History Lives in Bronze.” LewisAndClarkTrail.com. LewisAndClarkTrail, (n.d.). Web. 17 Jun. 2011.

It can be easy to overlook the significant impact that a simple handshake between two men brought forth for our region over 200 years ago.  This article not only acknowledges the impact that Lewis and Clark’s meeting at the Falls of the Ohio had on the area, but it also explains the journey that two, more recent strangers had in trying to commemorate the legendary meeting that took place in 1803.  Stephen E. Ambrose inspired two visionaries to take action when he declared, “When they shook hands, the Lewis and Clark Expedition began” in his book, Undaunted Courage.  Ambrose’s recalling of the 1803 event at the Falls inspired Elmer Hoehn and Phyllis Yeager to bring Ambrose’s statement to life.  A project was created by the two to design a statue that would commemorate Lewis and Clark’s historic meeting at the Falls.  This article supports my theory that community involvement at the Falls has the potential to help raise awareness of the importance and historical significance that the Falls has on our region.  An example of this magnitude can seem impossible for most, but there are other opportunities that can be explored as well.  A further discussion of other opportunities and how to contribute can possibly influence others to take an active role within their community.  This is appropriate considering the lack of public visibility and recognition that the Falls receives within our area.

Cummins, Dani. “The Falls of the Ohio Foundation Announces a Media Sneak Peek of its Flame Run Hotshop and Gallery Commission: The Crossroads Campaign Final Design Unveiling.” News Desk: Copies of Our Media Releases. (2011). Web. 18 Jun. 2011.

In order for an announcement to raise public awareness for the Falls of the Ohio, a design to improve exhibits and strengthen the connection between the Interpretive Center and the outside fossil beds had to be finalized. The Falls of the Ohio Foundation has kept a tight lid on the project that is designed to replace exhibits with “state-of-the-art immersive experiences emphasizing four key themes of the region’s scientific, cultural, and natural history.” As a crossroads of water, land, time, and life, the Falls is definitely an educational type of facility dedicated “to promote educational initiatives for a better understanding of this unique natural resource.” Many children in the region visit the state park on field trips as well as attending interactive summer camps. This article supports my theory of upgrading and beautifying the Falls of the Ohio park to attract the public to provide educational and historic information. What needs to be further discussed are the possibilities for researching a better way to clear trash and debris from the fossil beds. It collects a ton of driftwood, which can be expected, but trash continues to be an issue, although it has gotten better over time. This is relevant considering the awareness of the Falls of the Ohio to the public needs to continue concerning its historic, scientific, and cultural significance to the region.

What up with the sources?

The sources that I have acquired so far for my narrative consists mainly of the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and how their meeting at the Falls transpired. I feel that this information could have certain significance to my narrative by elaborating further into the history of the Falls. I am possibly going to start searching for sources relating to the volunteer work and community service opportunities available at the Falls. It always seems that I am unsure exactly how I want to take a narrative that I write until I actually start writing it.

Black Me In Public Spaces Analysis

Staples quoted from a 1963 essay from Norman Podhoretz entitled "My Negro Problem-And Ours"to express the firm place in New York mugging literature. Staples integrated Podhoretz's quote that black males "were tougher than we were, more ruthless" to add validity to his claimed experiences from walking the streets in central Manhattan. This quote also elaborates on the feelings and tensions that New Yorkers tend to have towards encountering black males one-on-one in the streets. Based on my reading of the Art of Quotation, I felt that Staples' use of quoting from Podhoretz was pretty good. He used the quote in a way to help his claim of racial prejudices by some New Yorkers that were intimidated and feared him on the street.

Unit II Brainstorm

The Lewis and Clark Expedition and the connection to the Falls of the Ohio is one topic that I find interesting enough to research further. For me, the Lewis and Clark Expedition is such a significant part of our city's history. Their partnership, plans, and local connection that both men had to the area are some points that I could research. I could even take all these things into consideration and research the commemorative statue of the two men located at the Falls of the Ohio State Park.

http://www.in.gov/dnr/lewis-clark/falls/

http://www.fallsoftheohio.org/lewis_and_clark.html

Unit I

As I pulled up to my destination, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect after a decade absence from the Falls. What has changed or improved? I cautiously maneuvered my silver Acura around the Interpretive Center and entered the parking lot. It was bare except for one beige minivan and a dark blue pickup. I was thinking either a family was running around in the fossil beds or a father was taking his eager son to fish near the 300 million year old site and starting point for the Lewis and Clark expedition.

I proceeded to steer my car thru the semi-vacant lot before finally backing my car into one of the many empty spots, failing to notice if I made it between the white lines. I eased the emergency brake on and shifted the car into park and then paused. The music was still blaring through the windows and sunroof. I turned the radio off and then paused again. Now all I hear is the idle engine quietly purring.

With the Midwest heat still flowing into the cabin, my hand reached for the keys dangling from the ignition. With a swift counter-clockwise rotation of my hand, the car shut off. Again, I paused. Why I was just sitting there I have no idea. Scanning the area, I noticed an empty park bench on the overlook behind the Interpretive Center would provide a stunning view overlooking the Falls and fossil beds. “Why not go there and sit?” I thought.

I removed the keys from the ignition and exited the car. I closed the car door then approached the walkway leading to the overlook. Out of habit, I reached my hand into the right cargo pocket of my khaki shorts and pulled out a menthol cigarette and a red lighter I bought from a gas station the day before. When I arrived at the bench, I placed the cigarette between my lips and lit it and sucked the burning tobacco into my lungs. I took a seat on the metallic bench and propped my left foot on my right knee.

The solar waves were still radiating the metropolis, but the sun was now in the direction of the westerly Sherman Minton Bridge. A soft but swift breeze came thru just enough that I could smell the murkiness of the Ohio River. After 10 years away, I was surprised that I could still identify that smell. And then I realized, “This was it. This was home.” Clarksville, Indiana.

As I took another drag from the cigarette, I reminisced to the days of my youth growing up in Clarksville. I was 14 years old when my dad moved my brother and me here from neighboring Jeffersonville. Even though they were separated by rock-throwing distance, I might as well have moved across the country. I had to unwillingly abandon my childhood friends to go to a different high school, as a freshman. I hated it! It didn’t seem fair. But I also embraced it. I thrived in it. I was the “new” kid that was the nephew of a well-established senior. Nobody knew who I was, so I reinvented myself. Distancing myself from the previous 13 years, I started to become more outgoing and spontaneous.

A smirk gradually grew upon my face as a product of the realization of why I was sitting on a bench behind the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center. This site is one of the most memorable moments of my high school career. Well, maybe a contributory site to one of the most memorable moments.

The spring of 2001 marked my first trip to the spring break Mecca, Panama City. I was young, excited, and foolish. Driving southbound on Interstate 65 during “Senior Skip Day” with four carloads of a dozen or so friends, we made it to Montgomery, Alabama before the two lead cars were pulled over by state troopers. I was bringing up the rear of the group, along with an SUV packed with varsity squad cheerleaders.

Knowing what I know now, it’s fortunate we didn’t stop to check on the first two cars because they ended up spending the night in custody for possession of a “funky” substance. Only the problem was that the reservation for the guys’ room was in the name of one of the detainees. No, I guess it really wasn’t a problem now that I think about. I mean, what 17 year-old dude isn’t going to accept the head cheerleader’s offer to stay with them for the night?

The smirk on my face evolved into a smile as I started to snicker under my breath. I could only shake my head, as I took another lung capacitating inhale of menthol smoke, remembering that it wasn’t the first night from the trip that corresponds to the Falls, but the sequence of events throughout the days that followed. In particular, the seventh of the nine days we were partying there.

Leading up to that historic Thursday night, my tolerance level was at the maximum. However, that night I was as sober as a priest on Sunday. I didn’t think anything of the five cans of Bud Light in my cargo shorts’ pockets as I walked along the Panama City strip that was bumper-to-bumper with intoxicated, bare-chested coeds. But somehow, out of nowhere, red and blue lights were surrounding me as if I was a “Goodfella” and just knocked off the community bank next to the parking lot I was standing in. It wasn’t long until I was in the backseat of a cruiser, my hands tightly bounded by steel cuffs behind my back. Official report: possession of alcohol by a minor, sentenced to community service.

The ultraviolet rays were still beating down on my SPF-unprotected skin as I glanced to the family of five walking up from the fossil beds. It’s the same path I walked several times during my 30 hours of service collecting discarded material in a thick, black plastic trash bag. I gave a hand wave and slight head nod to the family as they proceeded by me to their waiting beige minivan. The cheerful mother joyfully ushered her three muddy sons in through the sliding side door. I felt a sense of happiness. Happiness felt not for me, but for the name-less family. Being able to enjoy time with my wife and son is what I desire every day. I guess that is why I feel happy for them.

I slowly rose from the bench, my shirt now sticking to my clammy back, and took the last drag off the cigarette before extinguishing it. I sensed replenishment. A desire and happiness so miraculously instilled in my heart that it could’ve only been a working of God. It was a faithful understanding that helped me realize that I had to come home in order to get home.