Writing Exercise for Week 3 – Writing, Rhetoric & Persuasion

Questions for discussion:

1 – What are the dangers of not determining your purpose before you start speaking or writing?

Several problems could occur if one doesn't determine what the purpose is for the speech or written word.  A speaker could ramble on with their thoughts forgetting completely why they're on the stage in the first place, or worse still, go into panic mode and forget completely what it was they wanted to say.  They could end up speaking in such a way that what they are saying isn't received by the listener and same goes with writing.  If the writer just rambles on, the reader isn't clear about what the writer is trying to say basically leading to mis-communication.

2 – Why is it important to work out a plan or structure before you try to communicate a message?

It's important to work out a plan or structure before you try to communicate as this prevents sentences from rambling.  If a plan or structure is formed, the reader, at a glance, can view the structure and start to be clued into what it is that's being said.  Then by reading the information that is structured out, the reader is able to easily comprehend what the writer is trying to say thereby effectively getting the communication across.

3 – What are the advantages and disadvantages of writing as a communications medium?

The advantages of writing as a communications medium would be the ability to form the words into a clear and concise way so that the reader understands what is being said.  Whether what is written is meant for information or duties for the day, it's there for all to see at all hours, so that passers-by can view it at a glance without all persons having to meet up somewhere in a group to get instructions.

The disadvantages of writing as a communications medium would be if it was poorly worded, badly timed or set at the wrong 'tone', misunderstandings could occur or readers just not taking the written word seriously enough to follow through what is being said, be it tasks or information.

4 – Why is it important to retain a sense of the presence of the reader whenever you write?

It is important to retain a sense of the presence of the reader to remind one-self that it is the reader that needs to receive and comprehend the message.  If the written word was done without the reader in mind, it may cause misunderstandings through mis-communication.  So the writer needs to periodically, but regularly, sit back and try to read what was written as if they were looking through the eyes of the reader.  Only then will they see clearly what needs to be edited to improve communication through the written word.

Exercises:

1 – Draw up a plan of at least ten chapters for your autobiography.  Then select one of these chapters and prepare a plan for it.

Chapter 1 – Life before birth
Chapter 2 – The big day
Chapter 3 – Trials and Tribulations
Chapter 4 – Passing the death dates
Chapter 5 – First Achievement
Chapter 6 – First steps to destiny
Chapter 7 – Free at last
Chapter 8 – Goodbye to the past
Chapter 9 – A new beginning
Chapter 10 – Following a dream

Plans for Trials and Tribulations:

Step one would be the early months and all the health issues that were discovered.  Followed by how my mother worked at keeping my alive despite doctors predicting I wouldn't survive.  Continuing on with more hospital visits, and adding the health issues of later years.

2 – Draw up a plan for a five minute speech about your family background, life history and personal interests to be given to a group of people who do no know you.

Starting with origin of parents, and how they escaped war, came to Australia and met here.  Then… I'd skip mentioning my older siblings, but will vaguely mention that I was the 5th child born.  I would mention that I was born with health issues that I struggled with all my life.  Follow with my dreams as a child and how I followed through with them into my adult years.  Then can blend this into what my interests actually are.

3 – Watch a political interview on a current affairs TV program.  Make a note of the issues discussed in the interview which are not explained clearly enough for the average viewer to follow.  Write questions you think should have been asked to make these issues more understandable.

Not looking forward to this as I have no interest in politics whatever….

…I'll be back later after I've listened to something.

For this question, I chose the transcript for a political interview between PM Guillard and CNBC reporter Emma Barnett.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1498437/Transcript-of-Gillards-interview-with-CNBC

The questions I think that should have been asked are:

• What subjects were addressed in Congress that you thought were poignant in relation to Australian issues?
• You mention the inward investment from the United States being greater than China.  Could you go into that some more?
• I've heard that many Australians have complained about the amount of companies being sold to overseas buyers.  Can you specify what is the criteria that the Foreign Investment Review Board looks at?
• When you say you want to see money move, aren't you concerned about the Australian dollar?
• What are your plans for the mining tax as in where will that money be going?
• Can you tell us what the new mining tax rate will definitely be?
• Are you looking at other sources of energy aside from coal?
• Would you at least consider offering Government grants or support to anyone who chooses to farm camels for their milk if this would help to curb the pest issue?

Write: For your writing exercise this week, write an email to the director of a workplace complaining about increases in parking fees for the staff carpark.

Dear Sir,

I would like to complain about the recent increases in the parking fees for the staff carpark.

The recent prices have nearly doubled to what they used to be and I'm unclear as to why this is the case as there has been no warning that the prices would increase.  A recent email sent to all employees had no mention of this increase, and yet this same email had a lot to say about the results of a recent fundraising event.  I understand that this company is trying to find ways to raise money, but I really must disagree with the current fees for a carpark that's meant to be for staff anyway!  If there were only limited spaces, I can understand this, but it's four levels of parking, enough to accommodate everyone in this building who owns a car.

Could you please reconsider this new fee and perhaps make a compromise between the old fee and new to make it a little easier on our wallets.  I'm sure I won't be the only staff member that will be complaining.

Regards,
Carol Nemes
Customer Service Officer level 2