8/26/14

1. In your own words, explain how readers and writers are engaged in a social act?
How is writing like a conversation? Give an example (either from the reading or
your own experience) in your own words.
Readers and writers are engaged in a social act through the piece of writing
which is the medium between two parties. Very much like a conversation, the
writer is conveying his or her ideas to the reader and the reader would have to
interpret the idea and react to it. That, however, is where the conversation
ends. My own experience from writing is through the e-mails I would write to
my cousins in Vietnam. Words are very important in this because English isnt
their first language and that is something that I have to keep in mind when Im
writing these e-mails. There have been times when there was
miscommunication and my cousin would be confused or upset because she
misinterpreted what I wrote based on her own knowledge of the English
language.
2. As a writer, what does it mean to "consider your readers?" When writing about
any given topic, you may need to know and consider some important things
about your audience. Brainstorm some characteristics of an audience that you
may need to consider?
As a writer, one needs to remember who the audience is; their culture, history,
knowledge, hobbies, likes/dislikes etc. An example would be the different
sections in the library. There is a section for kids, teen, and adults. Romance
novels usually start in the teen section and the explicit sexual relationships in
the adult section. When I wrote a paper for the school news paper, the majority
of the students came from rich families whose main sport was lacrosse or
football. Because of that, my article on Ultimate Frisbee did not receive the
attention that would have represented the student body.
3. Based on the reading (specifically the content in section: A Social Model of
Writing), how would you describe what the author means by a writing situation?
Why are writing situations so complex and tricky?
A writing situation would be the topic of writing in relationship to the audience
that is writing; the physical, social, and cultural contexts. Writing situations are
so complex and tricky because of the complexity of the individuals who are all
unique from one another.

Things to consider when writing a paper (writing situation): basically anytime you have to sit down and
think about what you write, and how you write it.
Audience

-culture religion, sexuality, politics

-socioeconomic background, job
-age, gender, opinion/ interest
-knowledge education level

Purpose stance, express

-Assignment
-goals
-attitude
-tone, diction, content
-formality
-audience
-expectations
-organization, format

Genre