The Writing Triangle Writer Audience Text
Writing Context Writer Audience Purpose
Who is the writer? How is he/she related to his/her subject? Does the author have a reputation for honesty, thoroughness, fairness and knowledge? Is the author an expert? Is the author associated with any group, organization or belief system?
Who is the author’s audience (how does he/she understand them?)? Popular audience General, but well educated Specialized Others: culture, belief/religion, membership in an organization, etc. How does the author expect his/her audience to react?
What is his/her purpose in writing? To Inform To Persuade To Entertain Combination of these
What can you guess about the writing context of our 3 Space Dust articles?
The Elements of Style
Content Sources Facts Statistics Anecdotes Examples Graphics/illustrations
What kind of evidence will you need to support your ideas? How much background information will your readers need?
What differences are there in the content of these three articles? How do you explain these differences?
Content 2: Metaphorical Language What comparisons and specific images might you use to clarify difficult concepts or engage your readers’ interest?
Do any of these authors use metaphors? If so, why?
Organization In what order should you introduce ideas? Which subjects should be discussed at length? How might you guide readers using transitions, headings, subheadings? How might formatting – Quotation Marks, Italics, Capital Letters – be used?
What techniques will you need to use to guide your readers through your document?
What differences in organization stand out? Can you explain them?
Style 1: Word choice Level of diction (formal or informal) Connotative/denotative meanings Jargon/Doublespeak
What synonyms have a different connotation? More Positive: Notorious Fat Politician Old Reckless Cheap More Negative: Child Persistent Thin A large group Scholarly Trusting Quiet
What language will be most effective for your audience and purpose?
How do these three authors use language differently? Why?
Style 2: Attitude/Tone What Attittude do you wish to convy (positive, negative, neutral)? What Tone will be appropriate -- how will your voice come across in the piece of writing?
Style 3: Sentence Structure Simple Expanded simple sentence Compound (two or more independent clauses) Complex (at least one independent and one dependent clause) Fragments
What kind of sentence structure will be most appropriate for your audience?