I would define genre as a classification of different subjects or topics. I think genre needs a broad topic because there is such a large range of things that are consider genres. There is also a lot of subunits of genres. For example, there can be the genre history, art history, American history, etc. Genres can be extremely specific or very broad. I love to read, and I think this plays a huge roll in why I think of genres as being broad. I really liked poetry when I first started really getting into reading, and then I realized there are SO MANY types of poetry. Most had to do with the context of the book, but some where even in regards to style. There’s a type of poetry called Blackout Poetry where the author will literally write a paragraph and black out majority of the text with a sharpie but leave certain words visible. When you read those words in order, it gives a 1 or 2 sentence poem. 

Bazerman defines genre as acts that are carried out in patterned, typical and intelligible forms which are related to other texts and genres that occur in related circumstances. My definition and Bazerman’s definition are similar, but I feel like his is definitely more along the lines of the context whereas I said it could be format that can change the genre classification too. Compared to the dictionary definition of genre, Bazerman’s is pretty similar. The dictionary states “genre: a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.” 

I feel like majority of the commencement speeches I’ve heard are similar in regards to delivery and content. Most of them are inspirational, admiring the graduates and wishing them the best of luck with their years to come after graduation. As far as differences, I think Collin’s commencement was very personal from him and he was very honest and real. 

I listened to Will Ferrells USC Commencement Speech in 2017 and of course, being Will Ferrell, his was a lot more lighthearted then Collin’s and he provided a lot humor to the speech. Will referenced his movies and the characters he played as. I don’t think he was staying along the lines of the conventions we discussed. 

I also listened to JK Rowlings commencement speech at Harvard University in 2011. For one, I didn’t know she had an accent! Like Will Ferrell, she started off by making a joke about how nervous she was to the point where it made her lose weight. She also referenced her books, the Harry Potter Series. I think she did adhere to the conventions we have discussed more than Will Farrell did, but not as much as Collins did. She made her speech memorable by making jokes and noting how she was going to share her knowledge and what she has learned since she graduated. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGqp8lz36c JK Rowling Speech 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfjGmBVAL-o Will Ferrell