1. Planning Essays as Communication
Ch. 2

2. In this chapter, we will learn to ….
Make communication goals the focus of your writing
Distinguish between two kinds of communication: communication to inform and communication to solve problems
Recognize how communication concepts cross over to different genres of writing, different art forms, and different media
Plan essays to present issues and support views
Organize essays using formal and informal patterns of development

3. Understanding Communication Goals
Planning implies having a goal
For a college student, this usually means getting an “A”
For Shakespeare, it meant writing a hit play
These goals are legitimate, but, unfortunately, don’t aid in the planning aspect of writing
Effective writing involves seeing being on subjective goals and including the needs of the reader in the process
Often when we’re writing, we’re so focused on being a writer and forget what we know about being a reader

4. Understanding Communication Goals
Connecting to readers
Remember that writing is a form of communication
Base your writing on what readers are looking for

5. Communication Types
For the purposes of planning an essay you only need to distinguish between two basic kinds:
Communication to inform
To provide information
Communication to solve problems
To address issues and support views

6. How To Plan Addressing an issue and supporting a view
The first step is to identify a problem or issue that intend to address or resolve
BUT this step is insufficient without the second step: supporting a view about the issue
A view will usually take the form of argument or thesis
Readers identify with an issue, but they are also looking for a view or viewpoint in which a solution is proposed to complete the communication process

7. Practice Think about a movie you like
What is the central issue driving the story?
Dilemma or frustration the main character grapples with
Explain the view or message that the movie communicates about the central issue - this is usually linked to the ending or resolution.

8. Planning Different Kinds of Essays
Understanding Different Genres, Methods, and Aims
Dominant modes or methods of writing
Narratives, comparison and contrast, extended definition, analysis, etc.
Aims of objectives of writing
Describing, analyzing, explaining, persuading
Genres or kinds of writing
Narratives, profiles, reviews, arguments

9. Planning Different Kinds of Essays
Mock assignments on pg. 52
Narrative or Personal Essay
What do you write about?
How do you evaluate those ideas?
Remember to write for your readers!
Identifying an Issue
Supporting a View

10. Planning Different Kinds of Essays
Reflection activity pg. 57

11. Organization Outlining, organizing, drafting The puzzle
Use principles of time, space, and logic
Solving the puzzle
See example on pg. 61
The formal organizational pattern
Deduction
The informal organizational pattern
Induction

12. Organization Where to express your view Formal organizational pattern
Academic, business
Informal organizational pattern
Narrative