ENG 3303 Notes: Writing for Your Readers (Transcript 24 Jan 2025)

Presenting Yourself Effectively

  • "No matter how strong your arguments, your audience won’t read them—or won’t read them sympathetically—unless they see you as a professional."

The Rhetorical Triangle for Stakeholders

  • Logos: The argument's logic and reasoning
  • Pathos: The argument's emotional appeal
  • Ethos: The speaker or author's credibility
  • Source: nngroup.com NN/g

LOGOS • PATHOS • ETHOS

  • In the context of rhetorical communication, addressing these three components is crucial. This is how a good communicator decides what methodology to use based on their audience and context.
  • In the context of technical communication, there is an underlying dynamic that requires good communicators to ensure the credibility of text and/or the author is communicated throughout the document.

Creating a Professional Persona

  • Cooperativeness: Make clear that your goal is to solve a problem, not to advance your own interests.
  • Moderation: Be moderate in your judgments. The problem you are describing will not likely spell doom for your organization, and the solution you propose will not solve all the company’s problems.
  • Fair-mindedness: Acknowledge the strengths of opposing points of view, even as you offer counterarguments.
  • Modesty: If you fail to acknowledge that you don’t know everything, someone else will be sure to volunteer that insight.
  • Ethical/practical implication: Professional credibility is built on service orientation, balanced judgment, openness to other viewpoints, and humility about one’s limits.

SYNTAX

  • The arrangement of words in sentences, clauses, and phrases, and the study of the formation of sentences and the relationship of their component parts.

Components for Credibility

  • Writing Clear, Informative Titles
  • Writing Clear, Informative Headings
  • Writing Clear, Informative Paragraphs
  • Topic Sentence
    • Should this go at the start or the end of the paragraph?
  • Supporting Information
    • It defines a key term or idea included in the topic sentence.
    • It provides examples or illustrations of the situation described in the topic sentence.
    • It identifies causes: factors that led to the situation.
    • It defines effects: implications of the situation.
    • It supports the claim made in the topic sentence.

Writing Grammatically Correct Sentences

  • Avoid Sentence Fragments.
  • Dependent and Independent Clauses.
  • Avoid Comma Splices.
  • Two independent clauses joined together by a comma.
  • Comma and conjunction.
  • Semicolon.
  • Terminal punctuation (period).
  • Avoid Run-On Sentences.
  • Avoid Ambiguous Pronoun References.

Ambiguous Pronoun References

  • Clarify the pronoun’s antecedent.
  • Clarify the relative pronoun, such as which, introducing the dependent clause.
  • Clarify the subordinating conjunction, such as where, introducing a dependent clause.
  • Clarify the ambiguous pronoun that begins a sentence.

Writing Grammatically Correct Sentences – Part II

  • Compare Items Clearly
  • Use Adjectives Clearly
  • Maintain Subject-Verb Agreement
  • Maintain Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
  • Use Tenses Correctly

Structuring Effective Sentences

  • Emphasize New and Important Information
  • Write Effective Sentence Lists
  • Choose an Appropriate Sentence Length
  • Focus on the ‘Real’ Subject
  • Focus on the ‘Real’ Verb
  • Use Parallel Structure

Use Parallel Structure

  • “Our present system is costing us profits and reduces our productivity.”
  • “The compositor should follow the printed directions; do not change the originator’s work.”
  • “The speakers will include partners of law firms, businesspeople, and civic leaders.”

Use Modifiers Effectively

  • Distinguish Between Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Modifiers
  • Avoid Misplace Modifiers
  • Avoid Dangling Modifiers

Choosing the Right Words and Phrases

  • Select an Appropriate Level of Formality
  • Audience
  • Subject
  • Purpose
  • Be Clear
  • Use Active and Passive Voice Appropriately

Connections and Real-World Relevance

  • The material aligns with foundational principles of persuasive, clear, and ethical professional communication.
  • In practice, applying Logos/Pathos/Ethos, together with careful syntax, grammar, and style, improves readability, credibility, and persuasiveness in technical writing.
  • Emphasizes audience-aware communication: adapt methodology and tone to audience and context; maintain credibility throughout the document.

Key References for Quick Review

  • Logos = logic and reasoning
  • Pathos = emotional appeal
  • Ethos = credibility
  • Parallel structure improves readability and rhythm
  • Clear topic sentences and well-supported paragraphs boost clarity
  • Correct use of modifiers, pronouns, and verb tenses prevents ambiguity
  • Formality level should match audience, subject, and purpose