English 1312

Genre Analysis



Genre Analysis
Eric Ismael Cruz
University of Texas at El Paso
English 1312

Genre Analysis

Imagine yourself as a parent with children, how would you feel if the country allowed
teachers to carry weapons in schools? Well many parents are having to undergo these changes in
the schools that their kids attend, whether they like it or not. Many lawmakers are concerned for
the safety of students in public schools because of recent school shootings. Kids have been the
recent target of these attacks in schools around the country, where many are killed or gravely
injured. The gunner has unknown reasons behind these attacks, as they always take their lives
but it was thought that they were bullied in school by mental health analysts. Lawmakers want
policy changes to be implemented to stop shooters by giving teachers the ability to shoot at a
potential threat. Therefore, this analysis of a YouTube video created by the ABC Network and an
online newspaper article that was found in The New York Times explains over the same topic
to conclude how ethos, logos and pathos can influence the audience. This analysis will show
effective ethos, logos, and pathos can be when used correctly to convey a message. Therefore,
gaining followers over the issue and motivate them to create an opinion in search of a better
solution or support the one in action.
The YouTube video was on the ABC Network News channel. The clip was roughly about
five minutes long about a school in Harrold, Texas allowing teachers and school staff to carry
concealed weapons. Thus, creating heated sides on defending what they believe is correct in this
situation. The news organization is always there to inform the people of current issues in the
country. Therefore, being such a powerhouse news organization, they only present the most
important events or issues. Meaning the issue at hand is a serious debate and the people of the
country need to be informed from a credible source. The ABC Network audience is mainly
people that have the time to watch television at a certain time but the issue focuses more towards
English 1312

Genre Analysis
parents with kids in public schools but also have the time to watch the broadcast. The article was
found on the The New York Times website that is published throughout the United States.
People read the articles to be informed of what is going on around their community. Many
people look towards the articles published by The New York Times for the information of the
well-being of the country. The audience of the online article would be parents but narrows its
focus to parents that know how to access the internet, mainly the younger generation of parents
who benefit from using technology. Also those who have the time to read and re-read the article
to fully understand what the message is conveying. Overall, the different genres are there to
inform their audience of the issues within the community. They target different types of people
and several different forms of technology but with the same interest in mind to inform citizens of
the issues around the city or country.
The ethos of the YouTube video can be determined by who made the video. The channel
of the YouTube video is the official ABC Network News channel. They upload segments of
previously broadcasted news on the television. The ABC Network is a credible source of
information because the organization is a news network that is supposed to bring forward the
truth for all citizens of the country. Therefore, all information presented by the author is backed
by the nationwide news organization that is ABC Network. On the ABC Network article it states,
All information is credible from first person sources. They use the information to make a
report to where the masses of people that own a television can gain their information. For this
reason, the ABC News Network has grown to what it is today and can be regarded as credible.
The article that was published by The New York Times written by James C. Mckinley Jr. which
can be noted as credible. This is because The New York Times is also a highly recognized
news organization. They would have high requirements for the authors that write in their
English 1312

Genre Analysis
newspaper. Therefore, they have a high standard of what they put into their newspaper because
they want reliable and credible information. Then, we can conclude that both pieces of
information can be considered credible because of the giant organizations that stand behind
them. The ethos for the YouTube video is valid information that is credible but can be outdated
from the time the video actually aired on the television. The articles information is also credible
but can also be outdated from the time it takes to write, edit and publish, the information may
have changed over time. Although, the YouTube video and article are credible, they may have
been cut down due to uploading limits and character limits that may restrict all the possible
information.
The YouTube video will have the most lasting impression on a persons feelings and
thoughts because of how the five senses are brought in to play. The video presented by the ABC
News Network had pictures of kids at their school trying to learn in the classroom while a voice
narrates the situation these kids face. For example, a picture of a code red drill, with a teacher
holding a fake gun in front of a threat while the children on the floor looking down to the ground.
People looking at this picture especially mothers would feel disheartened to see their child or any
other child being put in the situation depicted by the picture because of the motherly nature
women have. The voice describing the scene has a tone that plays with the emotions in showing
that classrooms need guns to be safe in an environment full of kids that intend to increase their
education level. People will feel more connected to the video because of how their emotions will
react watching a video that can include music and pictures of sadness and a nurturing instinct.
On the other hand, the online newspaper article has to bring the tone in through the writing and
also with strong quotes that can touch peoples hearts. The language used in the article can bring
out the emotion that the author wants to impose on the reader such as sadness. The language
English 1312

Genre Analysis
must also be at a certain level that regular people can understand reading thoroughly once, while
still trying to show the emotions the kids face in a situation through the writing. Overall, the
connection will be stronger through the YouTube video than the article written online because of
the use of pathos. The use of pictures and audio allows the one watching to create a bigger
picture in their minds rather than the article because of the sense of seeing. The article will bring
less interest because people would watch a video with pictures and music, rather than read an
article due to their five senses being more interactive throughout the video than the article. A
study has shown that brain function is more active while looking at pictures and hearing
audio.(2012, Paul) Thus, emotions can flow better through a video than writing.
The YouTube video explained their ideas using pictures and video clips to give the one
watching a mental picture of the lives of those affected. The ethos of the video specifically used
the pictures that directly correlated with narrator or speaker explaining the scene. The video clips
presented also showed ethos by showing the impact of the decision put into place in schools to
protect the students. These videos and pictures gave consistency to the news report to inform the
masses of the issue that parents are facing. The pictures in the video provided examples to show
that many are against or support the solution put forth by legislature of Texas. The article used
the examples of quotes to provide the reasons why many are against or support the solution to
the problem. For example, the reason many people are against the weapons is because their
afraid a child may be caught in the gunfire. On the other hand, those for believe that only a gun
can take out a person with a gun. The logic for both examples give valid ideas of the pros and
cons of the situation. Therefore, the ethos in the genres are both very effective yet they use
different forms of examples to explain what they trying to put across.
English 1312

Genre Analysis
The structure in the YouTube video was made into a segment that was cut into different
parts. For example, the beginning was a reporter speaking giving background info. Then, the
narrator gave the issue while the pictures were in a slideshow playing through the background.
Finally, the final part were the interviews that were given by those affected such as parents,
teachers and also kids. This information was put altogether into a five minute video that had
color and audio to bring out the five senses of the person watching. Finally, being put onto
YouTube to attract those (audience) who have a computer and care about that segment of the live
newscast. The article was structured into paragraphs with writing that had an introduction, body
and conclusion. The introduction provided the background information and the location being
affected. The body provided the examples of both sides of the controversy with explanations as
to why they believe their opinion is true. The font was easily readable but the text size was rather
small for the reader to stay interested. The blandness of the article and having to read the
authors message makes it more difficult for the reader to stay interested. Therefore, the video
was stronger in the use of structure and delivery because of how much easier and visually
appealing rather than the article. The five senses were more engaged throughout the video rather
than the article.
Analyzing the two different genres provided how effective the ethos, pathos and logos
can be to inform their audience. Overall the YouTube video was more effective in giving the
purpose through ethos, pathos and logos. This is because the video utilized the tools more
effectively to bring out the logic, credibility and emotion. The five senses were more involved
than compared to the article because the article is something you read and create a mental picture
for yourself. Whereas the video created the imagery and emotion through the pictures, videos,
music and tone of voice through the interviews. Therefore, the video was more successful to
English 1312

Genre Analysis
inform the masses and explain their purpose by just watching, while the article you have to exert
yourself to understand the message over the same issue.
















English 1312

Genre Analysis

Reference Page
Article:
McKinley, James. "In Texas School, Teachers Carry Books and Guns." <i></i>. N.p., 28 Aug.
2008. Web. 11 May 2014.
&lt;http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/29/us/29texas.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0&gt;.

YouTube video:
Waldron, Ben. "Texas School District to Arm Teachers." <i>ABC News</i>. ABC News
Network, 27 Mar. 2013. Web. 11 May 2014. &lt;http://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-school-
district-arm-teachers/story?id=18823381&gt;.

Evidience:
Paul, Annie. "The Neuroscience of Your Brain on Fiction." <i>The New York Times</i>. The
New York Times, 17 Mar. 2012. Web. 11 May 2014.
&lt;http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-neuroscience-of-your-brain-on-
fiction.html?pagewanted=all&gt;.