RHETORICAL KNOWLEDGE

Writing with different purposes and target audiences

The assignment above, "Me in the Melody" was a short paragraph that required the individual to find a song and reflect on how that certain song resonates with them. Whereas, the assignment, "Final Exam Portfolio/Essay" required the individual to find a college admission/scholarship prompt to answer.

As I began writing Me in the Melody to a new audience for the first time, my ENG 101 classmates, I aimed to invoke an easy-going ambiance that not only introduced me but also how I see myself as a person. The balance of maintaining formality was crucial, given that my teacher was also part of the target audience. During the process of writing the content, I meticulously selected a widely recognized song, "Broken Clocks" by SZA, which gathered over 500 million streams on Spotify alone. This deliberate choice aimed to foster a sense of familiarity among my peers, which would ease tensions, especially during the presentation portion of the assignment. Additionally, the format of the assignment only required a one-paragraph response, allowing me to be short and concise. During the language process, I hoped to strike a balance between a formal tone and a reflective tone. I did this by specifically using phrases like "As a person" to emphasize that the subject was about me. Moreover, I began the text with a simple sentence  that adds a touch of sense of formality by acknowledging a consensus or tendency, reading "Music, more often than not, is considered a powerful language."

However, my Me in the Melody differed from my scholarship essay in numerous ways. Firstly, rather than focusing on who I believe I am as a person today, the content of my scholarship essay focused on what success is to me and what I would consider success in 30 years to be. For instance, the essay states, "Amid the cheerful chorus of  'Happy Birthday,' I eagerly blew the candles on the cake, surrounded by the loving presence of those dearest to me. At that moment, I felt a sense of accomplishment, a whisper of success." As I wrote this, I was attentive to the details and needed to set a clear distinct picture in the Admission Officer's mind. This also proves a different writing process as I needed to maintain a level of attentiveness to have a formal tone throughout the essay because I was not directing it toward my peers or teacher. Thus, I did not leave any room to foster a sense of familiarity as I wanted to stand out and be unique. In addition, the format of the essay was far longer than Me in the Melody and required at least 500 words which allowed me to input much more details. Ultimately, my Me in a Melody paragraph adopted a shorter, relaxed tone, offering a brief glimpse into my identity today. Whereas, the scholarship essay unfolded as a lengthier, more solemn composition. Regardless, both pieces of work resemble who I am as a person and who I want to be as a person in the future.