Thinking as a Writer

Conceptualizing the writing process and “entering the conversation”

Thinking about the Writing Process: Communication and Persuasion

Communication involves the interaction of three essential elements:

• The Writer/Speaker• Audience• Subject

Rhetorical Triangle

Presenting Your Ideas Successfully:

• It is important to understand these factors because they influence the reception of your paper

Think about it…Speakers/writers make adjustments to their

presentation based on their audience.

Audience responds to the writer’s presentation.

Understand Your Audience and Build Your CredibilityBefore you begin to write, ask yourself the following question to

ensure that your work will be well-received

• Who is most likely to read what you write?• How much does your instructor know about your subject? Does

your instructor want you to define key concepts to ensure that you know them?

• How can you convince your instructor that you have thought carefully about the subject?

• What strategies can you use to enhance your credibility? Should you cite experts on your subject? Can you acknowledge opposing positions?

• Does the appearance, accuracy and clarity of your writing give you credibility?

Consider the following samples of writing…• Also, the study including finding out if males were more

attracted to tall attractive females or short attractive females.

• A growing idea of research is on physical attractiveness and unattractiveness and the effects it has on jobs and living.

• This could possibly indicate that society generally views attractive individuals as credible people, and unattractive individuals as incredible people.

• I hate wet and reiny days. It rained a lot in 1816.... a lot - like everyday; the weather in Europe was abnormally wet because it rained in Switzerland on 130 out of the 183 days from April to September.

• Psychology often deals with the psychology of why people are the way they are due to the psychology of nature and nurture.

• All of these past findings helps relate to the purpose of this study being conducted.

• Their experiment is a good example of the cultural has about the elderly.

• When we do see the elderly being active citizen, we categorizing them as falling outside the norming.

• One description was a description of a 75 year old man and the other description was of elderly women.

Does spelling and grammar count?

Persuasion: Appealing to your Audience

• 3 Tactics of Persuasion– Ethos:

Credibility/authority of the speaker

– Pathos: Appeals to the emotions and values of the audience

– Logos: Appeals to reasoning/logic of the audience

Let’s see if you can spot them?

Ethos, Logos and Pathos

Analyzing images is easy… right?

Logos, Ethos and Pathos appear in other places as well…

See if you can find examples in the following…???

“Freedom”https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=gr_OpFxCx-A

“At the bar”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymsHLkB8u3s

Examples in WritingAppeals to Ethos:"As a doctor, I am qualified to tell you that this course of treatment

will likely generate the best results.""My three decades of experience in public service, my tireless

commitment to the people of this community, and my willingness to reach across the aisle and cooperate with the opposition, make me the ideal candidate for your mayor."

Appeals to Pathos"If we don’t move soon, we’re all going to die! Can’t you see how

dangerous it would be to stay?"

"There’s no price that can be placed on peace of mind. Our advanced security systems will protect the well-being of your family so that you can sleep soundly at night."

Examples in Writing

Appeals to Logos"The data is perfectly clear: this investment has consistently turned

a profit year-over-year, even in spite of market declines in other areas."

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: we have not only the fingerprints, the lack of an alibi, a clear motive, and an expressed desire to commit the robbery… We also have video of the suspect breaking in. The case could not be more open and shut."

Persuasion

People attempt to persuade us everyday in many ways.

Understanding the writer/speaker’s motives and being able to understand their techniques of persuasion allows us to make critical decisions.

Martin Luther King Jr. “I have a Dream”http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

Now you try…

George Bush Announces the War in Iraqhttp://www.historyplace.com/speeches/bush-war.htm