Chapter 1:
A Writer's Choice
By: Jezerea Hatch & Aubrey King
Establishing Authority
What does establishing authority mean?
-A writer who has established his or her authority is someone who knows their
opinions and beliefs on every topic and assignment they are given to write. To
be an effective writer instructors of every subject expect you to know your side
of each argument and stick with it.
How can I establish my authority?
-To make your writing more exciting, always assume that your opinion matters
and that your audience cares about how detailed your research is.
-Once you have decided your opinion on the argument make sure that you
have plenty of points to back up your argument to show your audience that you
truly know what you are talking about. Nothing is more boring than reading a
paper that was obviously done in five minutes or less.
Being Direct and Clear
On the other hand you don't want to put so much irrelevant
or lengthy details in your writing that readers get lost and
are no longer sure exactly what your topic or opinion is.
To prevent this confusion:
- In the beginning of each paragraph directly state your point.
- Be confident in your opinions and instead of writing I think this means, write,
This means.
-If you wanted to use any kind of example or any type of experience make sure
it relates directly to your topic.
- Clearly make transitions from point to point. The beginning of each point
should make reference to the last point to present a sense of flow in your
writing.
Assignments and Purposes
When given a writing assignment ask yourself these
questions:
1. What does it ask you to do?
-Define? Explain? Survey? Elaborate? Research?
2. What information do you need to complete the assignment?
-Decide if you will need to gather research from articles or graphs or if you will
need to create a graphic design or a visual aid.
-Also keep in mind the assignments requirements like length, format and
deadline.
3. What is the primary purpose for writing?
-Is it to explain, persuade, summarize, answer a question, or express certain
feelings?
Topic
When choosing a topic be sure that:
-The topic is interesting and important to you.
-The topic is focused enough so you can easily write about it.
-You already have enough ideas on how to write about the topic.
Once you have chosen a topic ask yourself:
-What do I know about the topic?
-What is most important about the topic?
-What do I expect my opinion will be on the topic?
-What do I need to find out about the topic?
Audience
Who are you trying to reach?
-People who disagree with you?
-People who are sympathetic to your views?
Consider factors like their education, background, age,
gender, region, social class, political affiliations, religion,
marital status, sexual orientation, and ethnic group.
What assumptions can you make about your audience?
-Do they value brevity, originality, honesty, or thrift?
What is the outcome you want for your audience?
Stance and Tone
Know your stance. That's what will get your
readers to understand your view on the subject.
What is your overall attitude towards the topic?
-Do you approve or disapprove?
-What personal views of your own change your attitude?
Be aware of any preconceptions about your topic
that could affect your stance.
Your tone will change depending on your
audience, purpose, and stance.
-Should it serious or humorous to get your point across?
Media, Genre, and Format
How should you present your stance?
-Print, powerpoint, or something else?
Is it a report, review, essay, letter, or a Web site?
These formats will change your overall effect.
Organization patterns?
-Chronological order?
-Font?
-Size?
-Headings and subheadings?
Do what's best to help the reader follow along.
Visuals
The big question: what would your audience
expect the writing to look like?
-The way your writing looks must match the purpose and
intended audience.
Visuals should add clarity, not decoration. The text
and the visuals should be parallel to each other.
Choose visuals that emphasize the main point of
the writing.
Does the visual convey a specific tone that reflects
the writing? Make sure it's appropriate to the text.
Example of Visuals
If your essay topic
was to discuss the
need for stray cat
awareness, you would
most likely have a
picture of a stray cat,
rather than a happy
puppy who has a
perfect home.
Language and Style
What level of formality should it be?
-A text to a friend?
-A letter to an acquaintance?
-A legal document?
How should you address the audience?
-Jargon or slang?
-Different language?
What is the appropriate sentence style?
-Short sentences?
-Clear, concise sentences?
-Long, descriptive that provoke the mind?
-Phrases or break sentence fragments?