Reflective writings – IMAGES OF THE CITY

Reflective writing 2: you will be asked to write about the language a friend uses when you interview them about their travels, or hopes to travel, to another city. Interviewing a friend about a city they’ve visited + analyzing the language your friend uses to represent the city. Talk about both WHAT they say about the city and the WAY that they talk about the city

“Questions you could ask your friend (your choice)Describe the city for me. What is the city like? Did you like it? What did you like about it? What did you not like about it? How does it compare to other cities you have been to? Would you want to go back to visit again? Why?”
“Questions to ask yourselfHow does the speaker relate to the city?As a consumerAs a passer-byAs an expertTo what is the city compared? Other cities? Is the city being represented as Small or large? Global or local?Interesting or boring?”

“First part: Summary (content) WHAT do they say about the cityHistorical or contemporaryInternational or localLarge or smallDiverse or all the sameBustling or boringOthers? We can always analyze the way something is represented (through language, through images etc.)”

“Second part: HOW do they talk about the city?1.Extremes and superlatives2.Imperatives3.Language to create familiarity: i.e. similes4.Language to create unfamiliarity: historical or fantastical language5.Quoting others (directly or indirectly)6.Using “factual” language7.Hedging 8.Presenting multiple images. Discussion – HOW do your friends represent the city?In what ways are your friends’ discourses similar to tourism discourse? Similar to news discourse? Different from both?”

Tips and reminders for reflective writing #2
– Sample reflective writing + Link to class material >> Please look at :Additional Materials”
– A-range: Great analysis. Demonstrates solid knowledge of both class material and data
– 400-500 words
– Talk about both WHAT they say about the city and the WAY that they talk about the city
– Give your interviewee a fake name
– Use plenty of direct quotes from the interview (in these direct quotes include all of the words, not just the main point)