QRGs: the Genre

This post will describe some aspects of the quick reference guide (henceforth QRG) genre, as they appear to be in the five following examples of QRG's:
 Gamergate, Greece's debt, Sochi ceremony, Bernie Sanders, E-cigarettes

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1-2. Conventions of the genre, and why they are conventions in the first place

• First and foremost, the QRG is meant to put information in context - it's the whole reason they exist. Context is vital to a complete understanding. It follows that they all must do this.
• Use of images, or other visual/graphic stimuli. blocks of text are boring and intimidating, so a visual input that can help condense information and beak up text is very useful.
• Hyperlinks: useful in the same way that they are in most internet-based genres. They give credit and offer the readers further information that goes deeper on a particular subject. They also show evidence for the writer's claims.
• Subheadings seem to stand out the most for this genre. There is a lot of information that a writer has to give out, and that information usually spans many topics that are not necessarily related. Subheadings help categorize all those topics. Additionally, if a reader only wants info on some topics, the subheadings make their job far easier. Subheadings also allow a reader to skim quickly through and get a basic understanding more easily than skimming through large, monotonous blocks of text. 
• Specificity and concision: also because of the large amount of information, the writer cannot expect the reader to stay engaged for a full understanding of every detail. Therefore, the writer's job is to provide only the most important details, while still offering a complete depiction of whatever the topic is.

3. Why people make and read QRG's

Like it was previously stated, QRG's put information in context. They are meant to offer at least a shallow-but complete understanding of a particular topic. That is to say, a reader may not get a deep understanding, but he or she should have a basic concept of each part and every side of it.

The QRG is a fantastic tool (when the conventions are followed) to take in a whole lot of information in a short amount of time. Because we can't all be expert on everything, having a few people who are experts on a given subject explain concisely at least lets anyone know enough to not feel ignorant, which is important. No one likes to be the one one who doesn't know what's going on, and QRG's allow everyone to not be that person.

4. Intended audience

A QRG is by nature intended for anyone who has little-to-no knowledge within a subject. In that sense, all QRG's are intended for the same audience, at least in terms of how they will deliver information: typically without using the obscure, subculture-specific lingo, using common terms, and explaining or defining any terms that are important, but not outside of the subculture. Although those terms used in QRG's on different topics may be different, the way a reader will encounter them will always be the same.

5. Visuals

Visuals can serve many functions in a QRG. It can be as simple as just providing something neat to look at to break up large sections of text, or as vital as condensing information from the abstract to something concrete, which helps understanding and remembering that information. An important example of condensing info is graphing data: in certain forms, but not others, data can be understood incredibly easily, by just about anyone. Images can also bring emotional connotations, which engage the reader further.


Reflection:

We classmates seem to have gotten basically the same understanding of what a QRG is and does. After reading Rose's, Charles', and Chloe's posts on the QRG, I can see that putting the subject into context is extremely important. Also, i need to work on concision.