In-class activity. Ashley Conklin.
Overview: This activity helps students see how genre conventions shape audience expectations—and how writers can intentionally meet or disrupt those expectations to achieve their purpose. By examining familiar genres (like recipes) and analyzing Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Mishkos Kenomagwen: The Teachings of Grass, students explore how writing choices can challenge dominant ways of knowing while still being effective.
Uses: Creates space to discuss how writers can de-center dominant perspectives and experiment while staying purposeful, and reinforces the idea that understanding genre conventions is key to effective writing. It also encourages students to see conventions as flexible guidelines rather than rigid rules.
How do I use it in class? To help prepare students for multimodal or public-facing projects where audience and purpose can be intentionally shaped. Students examine different texts to see how they are shaped by audience expectations and disciplinary values.