Introduction toProfessional Writing

Sue WebbSue Webb

webbsuza@msu.eduwebbsuza@msu.edu

AIM: webbsuzaAIM: webbsuza

Session 2

COURSE HOMEPAGE

www.msu.edu/~webbsuza/WRA202.html

Today in Class…

Individual Assessment: Individual Assessment: What are your goal What are your goal areas?areas?

What is rhetoric?What is rhetoric? Project 1: Invitation Project 1: Invitation

LettersLetters Audiences: writers & policy Audiences: writers & policy

makersmakers PurposesPurposes Our rhetorical situationOur rhetorical situation ScheduleSchedule

For Next Time:1. Visit 1. Visit

Creativeclass.com Creativeclass.com website – read website – read

2. Bring early drafts of 2. Bring early drafts of letters for review – be letters for review – be ready to show ready to show connection between connection between PW skills & goals for PW skills & goals for a transformed MI a transformed MI

Individual AssessmentTake a few minutes and look at the Assessment form online:

Tell us:

•What might you list as goal areas?

•What areas do you feel confident about coming into the semester?

•What questions arose for you?

•Where does something like rhetoric fit?

Rhetoric…?

Discovering the available means of persuasionDiscovering the available means of persuasion

Others…Others… Making ways of making meaningMaking ways of making meaning Do a Google search. See what other definitions and descriptions of rhetoric we can use, build on, or reject…Do a Google search. See what other definitions and descriptions of rhetoric we can use, build on, or reject…

Aristotle

Professional Writing…?

Organizationally Situated AuthorshipOrganizationally Situated Authorship

Gurak (tech comm)The art and science of making information accessible, usable, & relevant to a variety of people in a variety of situationsThe art and science of making information accessible, usable, & relevant to a variety of people in a variety of situations

Others…Others… Solving problems with words and imagesSolving problems with words and images ??

Peeples

Audience

GurakGurakMaking information relevant means zeroing in Making information relevant means zeroing in

on the needs of a particular audience…how on the needs of a particular audience…how can we do that?can we do that?

1.1. Tailoring messages rather than using generic Tailoring messages rather than using generic messagesmessages

2.2. Researching the needs of our audienceResearching the needs of our audience3.3. Testing the message with actual audience Testing the message with actual audience

members when appropriatemembers when appropriate4.4. Revising when we learn the message is not Revising when we learn the message is not

as relevant as it could beas relevant as it could be

Practicing Audience: Writing an Invitation Letter

Task:Invite two different groups of people to Invite two different groups of people to

participate as speakers in our Town Hallparticipate as speakers in our Town Hall

Audience 1: Area professional writers and graduates Audience 1: Area professional writers and graduates of the MSU PW programof the MSU PW program

Audience 2: Policymakers who have some sense of Audience 2: Policymakers who have some sense of and influence on the Michigan economyand influence on the Michigan economy

How might our message differ for these two groups?

Assignment DetailsDraft a one page letter to ONE of these two Draft a one page letter to ONE of these two

audience groups, tailoring your invitation to audience groups, tailoring your invitation to their needs & intereststheir needs & interests

The PW program doesn’t have official The PW program doesn’t have official letterhead…you should design some for your letterhead…you should design some for your letterletter

Adhere to conventions for formal business Adhere to conventions for formal business letters (yes, this project is a first look for me letters (yes, this project is a first look for me at your writing…I want to see where you are). at your writing…I want to see where you are). If you need help, let me know. Also…consider If you need help, let me know. Also…consider visiting the writing center!visiting the writing center!

Our Rhetorical Situation…The challenge you’ll need to meet in making the The challenge you’ll need to meet in making the

letter persuasive is to show a link between letter persuasive is to show a link between Michigan’s economic transformation and the Michigan’s economic transformation and the skills/abilities of professional writers.skills/abilities of professional writers.

Each audience likely knows more about one of Each audience likely knows more about one of these topics than the other. You’ll need to these topics than the other. You’ll need to appeal to the expertise of each, specifically.appeal to the expertise of each, specifically.

We’ll vote on the best letters (and the best We’ll vote on the best letters (and the best letterhead design) to actually send to area letterhead design) to actually send to area writers and policymakers.writers and policymakers.

You’ll need to make a connection between Michigan’s economic outlook and the expertise/skills of a professional writer…

For Next Time…

1. Bring an early draft of your letters for review; 1. Bring an early draft of your letters for review; have a version you can share with the class have a version you can share with the class ready to goready to go

2. Read the governor’s job plan info and materials 2. Read the governor’s job plan info and materials on Richard Florida’s on Richard Florida’s creativeclass.comcreativeclass.com site site

3. Note areas where you feel you need more 3. Note areas where you feel you need more information – we’ll talk about researching to information – we’ll talk about researching to support your claimssupport your claims