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Sara Gilman

Fredrik DeBoer

WRI 303

Due Date: February 14, 2011

A Forever Changing Definition

Sometimes relating college courses to real life is hard to grasp. Taking a geology class
about dinosaurs as an unscientific, uninterested writing and rhetoric major seemed purposeless
and at times demeaning to my learning capability. Attempting to learn the full anatomy of a
dinosaur two weeks into the semester was not making me a happy camper. I decided from that
moment on for the rest of my college career, I would try taking classes I knew would be
beneficial to me as a learner and a writer. No longer will pterodactyls consume my thoughts.
Upon signing up for writing 303, I had a brief idea of what the class had to offer, and what
exactly public writing means. At the time, I defined the term through people’s actions. Many
people feel the need to speak up about the obscene amount of trash that liters inner cities and
state highways. Other citizens believe a change should be implemented regarding what material
is being taught to children in public schools. Street artists find that their voices are being heard
through graffiti, whether the population condones the act or not. The important aspect of my
understanding for public writing is I realized everyday life is infested with issues that can be
altered or changed, and through the power of public writing this shift in how things are done can
be made possible.

DEFINING PUBLIC WRITING

Public writing is a generally understood term through the media and population, believed
to have lost its true meaning somewhere in translation decades ago. Defining this term may be
cookie cutter for politicians or devoted advertising agents, but how about the common citizen, or
college student? Journalists, columnists and political candidates shouldn’t be the only genre of
writers accepted into the public writing realm, but anyone who is passionate and serious about
resolving something in their community they think can be improved. The population is
constantly being smothered with public writing, whether people are aware or not. Being able to
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form a tight grasp on the entire concept of public writing will prove to be difficult, but putting
the subject into classroom terms for Public Writing 303 is achievable.

Defining public writing - in my opinion – was not meant to be confined to a single

sentence thesis that completely covered the entire idea of this form of writing. Looking to Linda
K. Shamoon for initial guidance towards understanding the concept of public writing, I read
through the required classroom text simply labeled Public Writing. The first chapter describes
public writing as, “writing that is prompted by surprising or on-going problematic events and
writing that attempts to gain attention to these problems, to stimulate public discussion and/or
promote solutions for these new or on-going going problems of public concern” (3). Considering
that this definition is rather broad, Shamoon still manages to lay a frame out for what exactly
public writing is supposed to mean to us, as aspiring authors. Although I may tweak or go into
greater depth as the semester continues, I am resting on Linda Shamoon’s idea of public writing
as an excellent base to define exactly what this genre of writing is all about.

PUBLIC WRITING IS A PROCESS

One of the beginning aspects taught at the start of my public writing course included the
types of writing that make up this genre. Shamoon breaks down each type of writing style;
components including personal public statements, activist writing, argumentative writing,
informative writing and foundational and institutional writing. Each type of writing differs from
the next, creating an intertwined group of choices to get a message out to the public. Informative
writing leads to an argument which may in turn become a form of activist writing. Shamoon
writes of informative writing as, “public writers seek to be objective, to gather as much data as
possible about the issue or problematic event, and to analyze the available data to see if there are
valid or reliable patterns or predictable elements upon which a good solution can be developed”
(4). Here Shamoon is trying to state the basis of any argument or proposal must have extensive
research behind it, ensuring a clear reason to why there needs to be a change in a current policy
or way about doing things. This also shows there is a process to public writing: from research to
proposal or writing a letter to getting a devoted group together for or against the same cause.

The process of public writing could be better described as AIDA: Attention, Inclusion,
Discussion and Action. This helpful way to remember the process of public writing was
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presented in class, and has held true to its relevance as it continues to pop up in discussions and
comprehension of theories. Attention could be obtained in a good or bad way, but the major
objective is to raise awareness to the public that what you are trying to change. As an author, you
need to prove why this change is important, and why other people should care and/or take a side.
Inclusion is a mutual agreement between you (as the writer) and the public. A more basic idea
would be the insiders versus the outsiders, who is aware of the issue and who is left out. Moving
on to discussion, the idea of having a broader understanding of the issue at hand helps the public
engage and support change, aiding action to be set into motion. The stages of writing learned in
class are easily applicable to any aspiring public writer in hopes of making a difference, with the
help of a large portion of the population being engaged.

Further expanding upon public writing as a process, the Continuum of Authority and
Influence model supports AIDA. This chart like diagram goes through the individual steps of
progressing becoming acknowledged in the public writing world. The five terms used in
increasing public authority and influence are to inform, consult, involve, collaborate and
empower. Through this process of informing the public about an issue, consulting the masses
about feedback about a change, involving people to be a part of the decision making process,
collaborate a group of partners to aid in decision making and finally empowering people to take
charge in action. By looking at this chart, the process in which how decisions are made is clear
cut and easy to understand. A change can be spurred by one person’s idea, but with the
appropriate resources and knowledge about furthering the issue’s existence – like the Continuum
of Authority and Influence chart suggests – action can be feasible for anyone.

WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF PUBLIC WRITING:

Public writing is everywhere, throughout culture and every day to day life. From
seemingly purposeless billboards promoting men’s after shave to the flyer posted on Wal*Mart’s
information board regarding lost children, writing to inform the public is almost unavoidable.
Shamoon even comments on the endless possibilities for exhibiting public writing by providing a
brief list of examples. She notes, “here is a partial listing of types of public writing; the list is
long but incomplete” (5). Even as the author of the Public Writing book , she too understands the
perplexity and endless possibilities public writing has as a genre. Simply look around on campus:
finding pamphlets on rushing sororities and fraternities are in large numbers and the school
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newspaper - the 5 cent cigar – is piled on countertops in the union. Activist groups are constantly
raising awareness about racial injustice or promoting on campus recycling awareness, flooding
the message boards in the Student Union. Meanwhile local college bands pass out flyers
attempting to gather fans for their next gig roam around in front of Quinn Hall. Public writing is
simply a component of life, in more ways than one.

WHAT PUBLIC WRITING ISN’T

When thinking of the endless possibilities of what could be considered public writing,
what should the public recognize as non forms of the genre? Obviously, personal journals or
diaries cannot be considered public, they are only for the author’s eyes and strictly not intended
for others to read, ever. Emailing chain letters or text messages is also not public: a person only
has so many email and telephone contacts. Social networks – such as Facebook, Twitter and
Myspace – also fall within this category, considering one person cannot be friends with an
undetermined amount of people. Media shared through these social networking sites can only be
seen by whomever the user’s friend list extends to; which most certainly is not the entire human
population (not even a fraction). Even if a person’s account is public for everyone to see, many
people take advantage of the privacy option almost all social networks have to offer. I must
admit I choose to keep my online activity as private as possible!

Additional types of media can be left for debate, whether or not they are eligible to be
considered public writing. How are private journals converted into published stories classified, or
what about books placed into reserved sections of the library? While discussing the idea of
public versus private in class discussion, a general consensus on the issue was made. Depending
on the author’s intentions determines whether the writer wants the message to be seen or
delivered to the masses. Fair enough.

WHAT DOES PUBLIC WRITING MEAN TO WRI303?

When coming to terms with all the possibilities public writing has to offer, trying to make
the subject relatable to an aspiring writer and active college aged citizen in society is necessary.
When using the concept of public writing in the classroom, more specific requirements can be
applied to the working definition. Concerned and engaged members of the community may not
view an Adidas promotional add as a component of public writing. The advertisement has barely
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a few words while extremely lacking in encouraging the public to kick start change; nevermind
suggest people to make a decision to do something initiating a movement towards a better
solution. A billboard featuring Uncle Sam pointing at oncoming traffic on a busy interstate
highway demanding the public to act for our country is the type of public writing this course asks
of. Thinking in terms of how a segment of writing encourages the population to participate in
change is the type of material the public writing course requires of its students to consider and
qualify as relevant.

On a more political stance, public writing is the foundation of important documentation

such as the Constitution, laws and other written government policies. Public libraries basically
scream public writing in the most simplistic way. When talking in these terms, public writing is
highly applicable to the types of activities and work we will be producing in this class. Any piece
of documentation that presents an issue demanding action to be resolved is exactly the type of
writing we will be focusing on. Attending this class will prepare me to research thoroughly about
the change I am passionate about altering, and how to gather participants based on solid facts and
concerns. Participating in this class will teach me how to actively engage the public to care about
my issue, using pamphlets much like a candidate running for office would. Finishing the public
writing course will leave me with an understanding with not only learning to be an active citizen
- and know the importance behind doing so – but boost my confidence in proposing a problem I
see worth fixing, no matter how small my voice may be alone.

Although multi-dimensional and never precisely defined, public writing can be

understood through a plethora of examples, models, acronyms, policies and writing styles. I am
hoping I leave this class with a firm, concrete understanding of how public writing can be used in
a scholarly and professional way as I become an adult. I want to feel comfortable with presenting
an issue that I think needs changing or revising. I will then have the tools for initiating change, as
well as know how to captivate a public that has similar concerns as I do towards an issue that
needs altering. But as far as defining public writing goes, I admit having a concrete definition is
near impossible. For as long as the world and its people change, as will public writing be
constantly altered and expanded upon. I must say I am going to have to side with the definition a
few peers of mine and I devised during a class discussion. Linda Shamoon’s definition was solid
and correct, but we had come to the decision public writing is better defined as communicating
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to involve, engage and solve. Corny with the rhyming? Yes, but the validity of the words
communicate, engage, solve and involve all accurately describe elements of public writing.
Aspects of public writing will continue to evolve and flourish, leaving a wider understanding for
the subject up for later classes to define. But for right now, I think this description will have to
do.