4.8 Multimodal composing, rhetorical analysis and creating a writing portfolio

I will be reading our process narratives and should have them back to you next week.

Today's class marks our move to the last unit for the course: the creation of your writing portfolios for an "imagined" future vocation.    We spent the first part of class talking about multimodality and its relevance to the composing processes you will do as you work on this portfolio, and the second part of class was devoted to the introduction of this final assignment.

What is multimodality
multimodality: the ways we communication through multiple modes

modes (as categorized by the New London Group): linguistic, visual, aural, spatial, gestural

As we discussed this classification of modes, we noted that some of the categories overlap (in some ways linguistic modes seem like they are inherently multimodal!), but we recognized that this classification does allow us to think about the different ways different modes convey meanings.  The features of a mode which allow it to convey meanings (listed under each mode in Arola et al's text) are that modes affordances.

We also pointed out that modes are different from media.  Modes are the ways we communicate, and media are what we use or the vehicles for communication.

Rhetoric and multimodality
elements for rhetoricl anlaysis (p. 21):  audience, purpose, context, author, genre (form)

elements for design choices (p. 31): emphasis, contrast, organization, alignment, and proximity

After a very brief consideration of the features of rhetorical and design analysis, you applied these approaches to three sample teaching portfolios.  As you did your anlysis, you responded to the following questions:

How does each portfolio make respond to/make use of:
the rhetorical elements?
multiple modes?
design elements?

Rank the portfolios in terms of what you see as their effectiveness + state your reasons for the ranking


Presentation on Portfolio project (see assignment sheet posted to the right)
We talked through the assignment sheet, and then you did some writing to identify - as specifically as you could - the job you would be applying for and the writing samples to include in your portfolio that would help you get that job

We then spent the rest of the class talking about resumes.

Some useful links:
Introductions + expectations for resumes: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/719/1/
Discussion of sample resumes (see links to right)

For next class:

Read:  Cover Letters (Youtube video from Purdue OWL) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSLGa2bRU-g   
Personal Statements (UNC-CH Writing Center)   http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/application-essays/
Examples of Successful Statements (Purdue OWL) https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/02/

and Personal Statements: Top Ten Risks and Pitfalls (Purdue OWL) 
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/04/

Write: identify the focus for portfolio + genres for writing samples
resumes (general, "dream" + gap statement)