GENRES IN CONVERSATION

Reflective Writing Informative Writing Analytical Writing Evaluative Writing Problem-Solving Writing Argumentative Writing

In the post-9/11 era, stories of returning home from war are gaining attention as more and more veterans decide to speak out and share their experiences. In the documents shown here — a memoir, an interview, and a journal article — writers use three distinct genres to reflect on the lasting effects of the trauma of war, regardless of one’s life predeployment. Although all three genres focus on veterans’ experiences, they employ distinct visual forms and follow specific genre conventions.

Click on the images below to read the full text.

Memoir
This best-selling memoir, in standard paperback form, recounts the experiences of John Crawford, who joined the Florida National Guard to pay for his college education, not expecting he would be called to serve in Baghdad.
Interview
In this interview, part of the Library of Congress Veterans History Project, a veteran reflects on her experiences in boot camp and during her deployment in Afghanistan.
Journal Article
A scholarly journal article by an English professor uses literary sources to reflect on the transition from military to academic life and the links between rehabilitation and composition.

Thinking About Genre

  1. Question

    What kinds of genres seem best suited for the purpose of writing to reflect? Why? What aspects of creative genres (nonfiction essay, poetry, fiction, satire) make them work well for this purpose?

  2. Question

    These documents are all written from the first-person point of view. What makes this perspective particularly effective when writing to reflect? How does the first-person point of view help readers connect to the topic?

  3. Question

    What are some expectations readers have for reflective writing? How well does the design of each genre fit these expectations?
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