A Genre Field Analysis of Water Right Transfers in Utah

Genre assemblages play a key role in technical communication.  In this paper, I will do a genre field analysis of the specific genre assemblage pertaining to water right transfers in the state of Utah.  Genre field analysis is the theory developed by Ryan M. Moeller and David M. Christensen in “System Mapping: A Genre Field Analysis of the National Science Foundation’s Grant Proposal and Funding Process.”  On page 71 of their article, Moeller and Christian discuss and define the elements of communication situations that genre field analyses identify.  These 4 elements are as follows:

1. Genre-agents
2. Player-agents
3. Transformative Locales
4. Play Scenarios

I will identify and analyze these elements in relationship to the transfer of ownership, or title, for a water right in the state of Utah.  This analysis will include an examination of the website, forms and review process created by the Utah State Division of Water Rights (genre-agent) from the perspective of a title abstractor employed by a property owner (player-agents) to facilitate the change in ownership.  By applying genre field analysis to this process, I hope to gain a better understanding of water transfers and inform other player-agents of the complexities of the genre assemblage.  I believe this paper will help make the process more accessible for property owners, attorneys, surveyors and other title agents.  I also hope it will identify important transformative locales and play scenarios that may influence future legislation relating to water right transfers in Utah.

Moeller, R., & Christensen, D. (2010). System mapping: A genre field analysis of the National Science Foundation's grant proposal and funding process. Technical Communication Quarterly, 19(1), 69-89. doi:10.1080/10572250903373098