Lecture 2

Question 1

Purpose

Answer 1

Your reason for writing, as well as how you approach the task.

Question 2

Audience

Answer 2

refers to your intended readers and their expectations.

Question 3

How to do audience-based writing?

Answer 3

To write this way, you must ask yourself the following:
– Who is my audience?
– What are their interests and values?
– How formal should the writing be?

Question 4

Informal Writing

Answer 4

-Addresses the audience directly (e.g., uses “you” and “I”)
– Uses a conversational style (e.g., general diction, contractions such as
“don’t”)

Question 5

Formal Writing

Answer 5

– Addresses the audience indirectly (e.g., uses “one” or “the reader”)
– Uses a detached, objective style (e.g., specific diction, no
contractions, no clichés)

Question 6

What to keep in mind about the audience?

Answer 6

– Knowledge: background, expertise, or familiarity with the topic
– Interest level: extent of interest or potential interest
– Orientation: the attitudes and emotional or ethical positions that define a typical
reader

Question 7

The two types of audience?

Answer 7

• Primary audience: the people you are composing your document for (e.g., your
  instructor).
  – Secondary audience: other people who may read your document (e.g., other
  faculty, future employers).

Question 8

Writing for the Workplace

Answer 8

It is essential that you write clearly and concisely.
* Co-workers need to be able to scan a message quickly to determine its
importance.
* Many basic principles of writing essays apply to workplace
communications such as emails and reports.

Question 9

Informative approach

Answer 9

Best for presenting straightforward information

Question 10

Persuasive approach

Answer 10

Best for presenting information that could result in a negative reaction

Question 11

What does having correct grammar do?

Answer 11

Using correct grammar contributes to your credibility.
– It allows the audience to trust you and understand your intended meaning.
* Having grammatical errors gives the audience the impression that you
are unskilled, unknowledgeable, and/or careless.
* Learning the basic building blocks of grammar will help improve your
writing.

Question 12

Subject–verb agreement

Answer 12

means that a sentence’s verb must match its
subject in number (i.e., a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a
plural subject requires a plural verb).
* For example:
– “The jury is unanimous”; the members of the group (“jury”) are acting together
so “is” is used.
– “The jury are divided in their opinions”; the members of the group are acting
separately so “are” is used.