Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Jot down the differences we might expect to find in these letters. Jot
down the differences we might expect to find in these pamphlets.
What accounts for the differences you noted?
Audience
Undoubtedly, some of you are quite willing to tell the truth no matter
what and so your letters would be basically the same. Maybe wildness
at a party would not bother your grandmother, parents, or priest. But,
I would be willing to bet that many of you would chose your words very
carefully. You would include some details and omit others. Does that
make sense?
The same goes with the pamphlet on sexual harassment. Elementary
school children cannot understand concepts like “hostile
work/educational environment” or “quid pro quo.” Clearly, for this
audience the vocabulary would need to be simpler and the examples
given would need to be very concrete and based on life experiences of
young children.
Knowing as much as you can about your intended readers and their
needs is clearly important.
Topic
When you are given an assignment, what is the first thing you think
about? I’d be willing to bet that the topic is first thing you think
about—unless of course your professor assigned the topic. When
coming up with your own topic, you should consider the requirements
of the writing assignment (genre, purpose immediately should come
to mind), the required length of the paper, and the complexity of the
issue.
Of course, the more complex the topic, the longer the paper would
need to be to cover all aspects. So, even seemingly simple topics might
take more space than you have been given in the assignment.
Context
Lastly, we must consider the context. Context is defined as the
“situation” or “occasion” that generates the need for writing. The
context is affected by the time period, location, current events, and
the cultural significance of events or people under consideration.
Please print out this last slide if you wish 16-hour credit. Present this
slide and your notes to your teacher. This workshop is worth 1.5 hours.
So What? And What Next?
Undoubtedly you are currently working on papers for your composition
class and perhaps other classes as well. Before you turn in those
papers, make sure that you have carefully considered all five
elements. If the deadline is close at hand, show your teacher evidence
that you have used this workshop to guide your thinking about your
paper.
Please print out this last slide if you wish 16-hour credit. Present this
slide and your notes to your teacher. This workshop is worth 1.5 hours.