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“Genre generator” websites create random examples of genres using numerous conventions and patterns that are apparent in each piece. While the topic and idea may differ, a number of fixed conventions remain constant, which will become evident as the categories are more closely examined. Hopefully, in exploring each of the conventions, one may better understand genre.

SCIgen is an example of a genre generator that specifies in the realm of computer science research papers. The website allows the user to input numerous authors of his or her choice to then create a research paper by those authors. Each time a new genre is generated, although the authors and topic change, some conventions remain relevant. For instance, the structure of a science research paper often remains fixed. They usually start with a title at the top that is followed by the author(s). Next, they have subtitles and headings such as Observations and Experimentation. Likewise, the SCIgen generated genres each contain a title, the author(s), and the subtitles and headings Abstract, Table of Contents, Introduction, Related Work, Conclusion, and References. While some papers contain titles such as Methodology and Permutable Algorithms, the concept of the headings remain the same. In addition to the titles, SCIgen genres each contain graphs and diagrams to convey ideas of the paper. Finally, the last aspect of the papers that I personally observed is that I couldn't understand not even one sentence of the actual context. These science papers each use complicated, scientific jargon that can’t be comprehended without prior knowledge of the ideas.

Another example of a genre generator is Pandyland. This generator creates a comic strip by combining three pictures of different interactions between two characters aimed to stimulate laughter from the reader. Similarly to the SCIgen example, the actual context is different, but the “big picture” is practically the same. For instance, the intent of the bright colors of each comic is to provoke someone to read the short blurb. Furthermore, the dialogue of each picture (if any) is short and humorous, and the actions of the characters from picture to picture is portrayed in a simple manner. This makes for an easy, quick to read comic.

Memegenerator is a website that produces memes, or popular images from media with witty text over it. Like Pandlyland, each generated piece is supposed to evoke laughter. Memes have become an internet sensation because of their humorous characteristics. The illustration is usually very popular. Whether the picture is a movie character or a trendy image, each meme cannot survive without it. The text is short, funny, and clever. One thing to notice is that memes with the same picture also follow similar structures in text. For instance, although the end text can vary, the picture of Matrix Morpheus from the movie The Matrix has text that starts with “What if I told you.” The “Bad Luck Brian” memes all have the same picture of some guy ironically named Kyle. The text on the top starts with something positive and hopeful. However, as the title suggests, the text on the bottom reveals the eventual misfortune of “Bad Luck Brian.” Therefore, even in something as silly and simple as a meme, there are conventions that make this genre unique from others.

A generator website that has helped many students conclude their paper is actually another type of genre generator. Easybib is a website that easily creates a bibliography with the help of inputted data from the user. While the author, title, publisher, etc. are all different, the structure of the bibliography prevails. Whether the user chooses MLA, Chicago, AMA, or more formats, and regardless of if the piece cited is a book, website, newspaper, etc., the website will create a bibliography that is properly indented, has proper punctuation, and is alphabetical order.

As shown in the four examples, while the context of different genres may be different, the conventions of each separate each genre from another. Each website has a set of established characteristics that are found in each generated item. Depicting the common patterns can help someone determine what important features make up each genre. In addition, if one hoped to be bold and innovative by breaking these conventions, he or she would better understand which are acceptable to ignore so that the entirety of the genre is not changed.