Module 2: Digital Literacy Narratives
Composition I by Tiffani Tijerina and Magnus Florini is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International
Composition I by Tiffani Tijerina and Magnus Florini is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International
Evaluate how recurring rhetorical situations shape genre conventions (e.g., tone, structure, visual layout, audio elements) and apply those conventions appropriately to a multimodal writing project.
Frame a personal literacy experience by structuring a cohesive narrative arc featuring a clear turning point, sensory details, and reflection on personal or digital growth.
Select and justify the choice of a specific digital medium (e.g., audio podcast, narrated video essay, interactive slide deck) best suited to communicate a digital literacy narrative to a targeted audience.
Demonstrate grammatical control in narrative drafting by maintaining consistent verb tenses and using modifying phrases and adverbs precisely to enhance descriptive writing.
*Explainer generated with Notebook LM, using Writing Guide with Handbook, Ch 3 & 4 as the source content.
Did you know that switching dialects, slang, or languages between group chats, family dinners, and professional emails is composition? That's right! We are naturally multilingual or multi-dialectical rhetoricians. Code-meshing shows that "good writing" isn't about rigid correctness, but knowing how to blend different linguistic tools to connect authentically with an audience.
This week, we are diving into the concept of genre (how expectations, conventions, and media forms shape how we tell stories. As you continue drafting your digital literacy narrative, this board will serve as a sandbox to test out genre choices, media formats, and narrative strategies with your classmates before finalizing your project outline.
Craft a response (around 250-300 words) with the following in mind:
Genre in the Wild: In "Navigating Genres," Kerry Dirk argues that genres are not rigid sets of rules, but flexible "responses to recurring situations." Identify one specific genre you encounter daily (e.g., a video essay, a meme format, a podcast episode, an infographic, a thread, or a gaming tutorial). What are 2-3 key conventions (structure, tone, visual style, sound) that make this genre recognizable and effective?
Drafting Your Narrative Arc: WGWH highlights how literacy narratives rely on key elements: a clear narrative arc (conflict/turning point), vivid sensory/digital detail, and reflection on personal growth. Briefly outline the turning point or central conflict of your literacy narrative (e.g., a moment of frustration, realization, or transformation with a digital tool or community).
Media Format Pitch & Question: What multimodal genre or format are you leaning toward using for your final project delivery (e.g., an audio podcast, a narrated slideshow, a video essay, an interactive slide deck, or a digital journal)? Ask your classmates one specific technical or creative question about using this format.
To help each other refine project formats and narrative arcs, reply to at least two classmates considering the following:
Genre Feedback: React to the genre conventions they identified in their post. Have you seen these conventions used effectively elsewhere? Is there another convention they didn't mention that you think is crucial for that genre?
Storyboard Reality-Check: Reflect on their narrative turning point. Does their story arc sound clear? What is one specific detail or scene you hope they expand on in their final draft to make the story feel more immersive?
Answer Their Media Question: Direct-reply to the specific creative or technical question they asked. Offer a tool recomendation, a design tip, or a potential hurdle they should keep in mind for that media format.