Throughout the semester, I learned the power of addressing my audience in a way that aids the transition of my ideas to the consumption of them by the audience. This task included identifying who my audience was, understanding their background and my own, then how these certain factors can influence my writing significantly.
By identifying these characteristics, I could analyze and compose my writing in a manner that would remain objective. For instance, when collecting data or quotes, I thoroughly read and searched for the credibility of the author or organization behind them. I questioned, “what is their intention? Is this a fact or opinion?” In doing so, I was able to provide a piece that remained unbiased for my audience.
Finding this an essential part of my process, in specific essays, especially in my exploratory essay, “Technology and its Effects on Politics and Journalism,” it became a challenge. Not only was I covering politics, an already a very much polarizing subject, but I had to find information that would be presented as truth and not opinion. Wanting to give middle ground to this subject honestly, I had to find resources that would also fit the same criteria.
By understanding the background of publications, resources, as well as the audience and my own, I was able to write it far more objectively; and in the same way, it applied to my writing on all platforms.
I gained experience from reading and composing in several genres by using the rhetorical situation effectively. This means breaking down each section of prompt and answering with conventions to aid my paper. Equally, I also found experience by using the STEPS prompt to identify certain questions, keywords, or information that would help during the writing process to guide my writing.
For example, it helped guide my questions to an answer in the essay and provoked critical thinking about what pieces to explore in the prompt. Additionally, it initiated deep thinking about what the prompt could mean and my own interpretation of it. In the proposal and presentation essay, I specifically went through each portion of the STEPS to identify what key focus elements I wanted to emphasize. This way, as I went through the STEPS, I could reason what was needed.
Equally, in my engagement essay with the STEPS tool, I focused more on the audience part and questioned, “What will my audience relate to? How can I add to this piece to make it more informational for the audience it is for?” This led me not only change my opinion as I wrote the paper but to view the topic at a different angle than before.
I also learned that by focusing on answering certain questions on where the paper would lead, analyzing clearly what situation to focus on in the STEPS portion, questions such as, “what is the end game of this paper? What are my solutions and how can I get there?” were answered with ease. This helped lead my audience into a more condensed and clarified essay as I explored different genres.