Blog Rhetoric Reflection

Blogging is a diverse form of writing.  While genres such as academic writing, mystery novels, and biography all follow more or less specific genre conventions, the blog genre follows considerably less so.  For example, blog audiences are determined more by subject matter than any other factor.  This means that a blog can be casual, semi-formal, or formal (even academic) in its content.  In addition, it can be supported by copious amounts of evidence or no evidence at all.  In addition, bloggers can incorporate as much or as less multimedia as they desire.  And here's the kicker: all of the above are allowed in a blog.  It is no wonder why when students are required to write a blog for a class that there are always numerous questions about blog content, style, and expectations.  "Did I do this right?"  "Is this what you're looking for?"  It is a genre with such a wide range of possibilities that students need boundaries to help focus their writing.  With more freedom comes more frustration, and in that way, the blogging genre mirrors the human condition: the more choices we have, the less satisfied we are in our actions.