Johnny Pham

Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:38 AM

Comment [1]: Johnny, I normally caution
students against using "free-floating
quotes," but I think it's appropriate here
because it's a unique "opening hook"
move. Just wanted to let you know.

Writing 2

Genres Are Fun!

Knowing what a genre is used for can help people to accomplish goals (Dirk 253).
There are many forms of genre used in everyday life, and to fully understand the meaning it is
important to know its conventions and rhetorical features. One such are online sports articles,
geared towards fans of sports. The best way for a sports fan to stay updated is to read pieces of
online sports journalism, as the genre delivers easy to read content that is both fact-driven and
opinion-based.
I have pulled out three online sports articles, all regarding the hopeless 2015-2016 season
of the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA. The articles are from three different websites:
RantSports is a website in which sportswriters write their opinions on various topics. LA Times
is the Los Angeles daily newspaper website and is based in the Los Angeles area, the same
location as the Lakers. Silver Screen and Roll is a Lakers-fan base website, designated for
Lakers themed articles. Several sides can be taken regarding this topic rooting for the team to
lose as many games as possible to get a high draft pick (tanking), or keeping a winning attitude
to further develop the young players and to keep a high morale. In the NBA draft, the top
college basketball prospects are chosen to play in the association, and the worst teams choose
first. Reading the content about the Lakers tanking is helpful in understanding the genre I am
focusing on online sports articles. Written by journalists, the articles contain analysis on
trending news topics regarding sports.
There are usually facts and statistics to back up the writers claims of sports journalism,
providing proof to create a strong argument. The topic of the Lakers tanking this season has

Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:40 AM

Comment [2]: I'm wondering what
specific conventions you're going to be
analyzing here -- just facts and opinions?
The more I know from the get-go, the
better I'll be able to anticipate what's
coming up as I'm reading.
Also, I'm wondering: what sources are you
going to be using? And more broadly,
what sport/topic?

Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:40 AM

Comment [3]: Ha! Yessir, they're
atrocious.
Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:41 AM
Comment [4]: I'd like you to give this
resource on colons a thorough lookthrough:
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/semi
-colons-colons-and-dashes/
Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:43 AM
Comment [5]: My (Philadelphia's)
counterpart is Libertyballers. I know all
about this.
Back to a teaching/learning writing q: does
the differences across these 3 sources
have anything to do with audience -- the
readership for these three sources? If so,
what implications does that have for
genre/rhetoric?
(Huge ones, and I hope you get into
them.) :)

Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:44 AM

Comment [6]: OK, I wasn't certain why
you were telling me about tanking all of a
sudden, but now I think I know: this is a
part of your central argument/angle. If I'm
right in thinking that, I think you'll want to
"promote" this sentence/thought to your
thesis statement; otherwise, I'm left
wondering -- why's he telling me about
tanking all of a sudden?
Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:45 AM
Comment [7]: The fan site isn't
necessarily by journalists exclusively -they've got a Fanposts section.
Worth addressing that? Could that help
layer your argument in any meaningful
way(s)?

been explored in the three sources I have chosen. The piece from Silver Screen and Roll is
against the idea of tanking. The LA Times article is saying that the Lakers are winning too many
games, while the article from Rant Sports is advocating for the team to lose more games. They
may be arguing on different sides, but the features written about this topic are similar. The
Lakers just arent very good. The roster is filled with ball-dominant guards who are more
concerned with their image than playing defense (Lovi). All three sources mention that the
current team isnt that good, so it would be difficult for the Lakers to improve on their winning
percentage. Based on the current standings and the low-ranked players on the team, it is easy for
the writers to assess the poor state of the team. The risk is also stated In 29th place, the
Lakers currently have a 55.8% chance of a top-three selection in next June's draft, with 19.9%
odds at the top pick, 18.8% for second and 17.1% for third. (Pincus) Even if they get the pick
and add the asset to their team, intentionally losing will risk developing their current players and

Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:50 AM

Comment [8]: Already told me this.
Keep the train rolling.
Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:51 AM
Comment [9]: Alright, it looks like you're
telling me each source's stance on tanking
-- that's great/essential to know, but I think
you should lay that out in your topic
sentence.
Use your topic sentences to preview
what's coming up in the paragraph -- it's a
way to guide your reader through your
thought process, one idea at a time.

Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:52 AM

Comment [10]: This is what I meant
earlier on in your 1st sentence.
Id advise you to refrain from using freefloating quotes (ie, sentences that start
and end with a quote). The reader is
probably going to be left wondering, Who
is saying/citing this, and how/why is it
relevant? Wheres it coming from? Try
to introduce the quote and give it context.

record. The general manager or any Laker representative is very unlikely to read these online

Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:52 AM

Comment [11]: I feel like you might be
jumping around a bit. This paragraph
started with something about stats, then
moved to the outlook on tanking, and now
it's moving back to stats.

sources, and even if they do these opinions wont affect any of their decisions on the team.

Try to build in consistency and momentum

to get extra flow going.

damage their winning reputation. Whatever is said, though, will have no impact on the teams

These are meant for another type of audience.

Sports articles --written as opinions or observations of current events --are usually read
by a sports fan. To be more specific, an article written about a team or player will generally be

Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:53 AM

Comment [12]: Such as? And why?
Tell me more. This thought is a bit too
open-ended for me.

read by a fan of that team or player. Audience can determine the type of language used, the
formality of the discourse (Carroll 49). These types of writing are meant for a typical fan of
sports, as their curiosity is sparked as they come across an interesting topic. Sports articles are
straightforward, and the use of elaborate wording is unnecessary in describing the main point. It
is written so we can come across a new opinion and take a stand on their viewpoint. The topic

Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:54 AM

Comment [13]: Hmmm... I feel like this
might've made more sense earlier on in
your paper. This is the sort of background
information about t he genre, don't you
think?

on whether the Lakers should try to win or lose on purpose is debated among fans of basketball,
especially among the Laker fans. The writer from the Silver Screen & Roll source believes that
The organization cannot keep up a losing tradition when the lure of a lottery pick is far from a
lock, (TheGreatMambino) while the journalists who wrote from the other two sources think the
opposite. These websites make it easier for the casual basketball fan to access articles and
information about their favorite team, and the writers post their unique opinions to get the fans
closer to the game. Reading the content online is the most efficient way to stay updated because
current news is posted right away and is able to spread rapidly. Also, upon analyzing the

Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:57 AM

Comment [14]: Textual
evidence/support?
And how does this relate back to your
larger argument? Why are you bringing
this piece of information into the
discussion?

opinions of the sportswriter, the audience is able to either comply with the written work or
disagree with the content. This allows for even more debate regarding the subject, sparking new
thoughts and viewpoints from many sports fans. Through conversation, blogs, or any other form
of media, more opinions are spread.
The easy to read and interesting content makes this specific genre a must read for sports
fans. Upon reading these sources, I have developed a better sense of what makes up the genre.
They all were straightforward the font was legible, the font size was not too small, and each
paragraph was short and simple. There were titles that gave a glimpse at what the article was
going to be about, and the sources had pictures toward the beginning of the writings. These
pictures set the tone of the articles. A photo of Julius Randle, a second-year player on the
Lakers, and also a picture of the 2015 draft board represents the youth movement involved with
the Lakers tanking. From the third source, a picture of a disappointed Kobe Bryant represents
the struggle associated with losing so many games. Pictures will often show how the writer is
feeling toward the topic he or she is writing about, or sometimes represents the state of the

Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:57 AM

Comment [15]: That's it?

situation that is being analyzed. An enlarged and bolded title and an interesting picture often
grab the attention of the reader, enticing him or her to continue on reading.
The layout of these online sports articles allow fans to read interesting articles while also
being able to share their ideas, allowing them to stay updated while increasing fan interaction.
Again, using the three sources as a backbone for illustrating the online sports article genre, I
would like to point out several conventions that help characterize it. On the side of each article,
there are links (with pictures) of other editorials related to the topic. This definitely relates to the
audience. The audience, mostly sports fans, is able to discover even more team related content
that they are already interested in. A section for comments on the article is often posted at the
end. Many like to share their opinion on the topic, or say why they disagree or agree. People not
familiar with this genre may ask, What is the purpose in creating these online opinion-based
sports articles? Well, sports fans get more informed about the situation being written about.
These articles are a source of information that can be discussed and as a form of entertainment.
The audience, who reads sports articles as a fan of the sport, processes the information and forms
even more thoughts. These thoughts generate more debate, which is typed by many in the
comments section of each sports article. Also, analysis that people find really interesting is often
spread. The addition of social media links allows the reader to share the article to social media
outlets such as Twitter or Facebook. More people will be able to form their own opinions, and
even more articles will be written. Based off of current events, opinions are created and shared
through sports opinion-pieces. Thus, it is a great way for sports fans to be up-to-date with
whatever they wish to follow.
The online sports article genre remains the top option for sports fans because the writers
are able to master the conventions and they do not stray to far away from the context usually

Zack De Piero 1/30/2016 10:58 AM

Comment [16]: This is pretty huge.
What implications does this have for
writers, readers, and people -- like us -studying writing?
Can you make this a more central part of
your argument?? I bet it'd be suuuuuper
interesting.

associated with sports articles. It is important to understand genre and the components that make
up each one. When attempting to write a form of textual genre, one should know the
conventions in order to effectively write the piece and connect with the targeted audience.
Genres also help us make more efficient decisions when writing, as we can see how people
have approached similar situations (Dirk 27). Knowing the genre would help the writer form an
effective message that the audience would appreciate. In the case of sports articles, they
comprise of easy-to-read paragraphs, photos that is relatable, and an open space for comments at
the end. Using similar conventions would help both the writer and the audience in that particular
genre. The writer will know the ins and outs of the piece, being able to generate more creative
articles of similar style. The audience, already familiar with the interesting genre, will want to
keep on reading.
Online sports articles show a writers analysis on an event or topic in the sports world.
They are easy to read, and they also generate more fan involvement in sports. As an efficient
and great way to stay updated with professional sports, it is a unique genre that is written for any
sports fanatic like me.

Works Cited
Carroll, Laura. Backpacks vs. Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis. Parlor Press. 2010.
Dirk, Kerry. Navigating Genres. Parlor Press. 2010.
Lovi, Dan. Los Angeles Lakers Should Start Tanking Now. Rant Sports. Web. Nov 2015.
Pincus, Eric. Lakers may be winning too many games for their own good. LA Times. Web. 14
Jan 2016.
TheGreatMambino. The Lakers cant actively tank this season. Silver Screen and Roll. Web.
10 Nov 2015.

Writing 2 Feedback Matrix for WP1

Table of Textual Features

Did Not Meet
Expectations

Met Expectations

Thesis Statement

X-

Use of Textual Evidence

from Genres

X/X-

Use of Course Readings

X/X-

Analysis

Organization/Structure

Exceeded
Expectations

Attention to
Genre/Conventions and
Rhetorical Factors

X/X-

Sentence-level Clarity,
Mechanics, Flow

Johnny,
Other Comments

Im a huge fan of bball, and I also really like watching the

Lakers suffer, so this was a super-cool paper for me to read.
:)

Please read through my comments on some ways to help get

this paper to the next level. On top of some of my other
suggestions, Id like you to become better friends with
paragraphs -- I want you to use them (as the writer) to help
guide your reader along. Sometimes I felt a little
overwhelmed within the longer paragraphs and lost sight, at

bit, of what the main point/goal of each paragraph was.

Each paragraph should enhance your argument in a
meaningful and specific way -- if you can do that with
shorter paragraphs, I think that your overall paper would
improve (at least from my perspective).

Id also like you to think about the structure and

organization of this piece. I want you to have a reason for
ordering the paragraphs, idea by idea, in the way that you
have. You may have had a good one, but it didnt quite
come across to me -- I could anticipate where you were
going next, or why I was necessarily reading what I was in a
given paragraph. I think that working on a reverse outline
and giving a hard look at what you see after poemifying
this paper could really help you to get a great birds eye
view of your own paper to see how the pieces of your paper
could best fit together.

One last suggestion: by pinpointing down pat what your

argument is, I think that youll have a much easier time
thinking about structure/organziation and how the parts fit
together. It all comes down to your main argument -- the
rest is a matter of getting your reader to understand it, one

piece at a time.

Z
8/10

(I had to knock off - .5 because you didnt include this

feedback matrix.)