Final Preparation

ENG302 : The Class : The Process : Final Preparation : Final Preparation
Correctness and final Manuscript Preparation

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Topic 3 Overview, the Interactive Lesson

Once the writer has his or her audience, purpose, and stance (or voice) in mind, then he or she can use those elements to control the writing. Control means making the writing fit the situation. In other words, every writing choice, such as which word to select, which organizational pattern to choose, which tone to adopt, etc., etc., can be (and should be) determined according to the purpose, audience, and voice inherent in the situation.

Here is an exercise to illustrate this principle:

The following article appeared in the Honolulu Star Bulletin in the early 1980s. In Hawaiian, the word "kokua" means "help." So if one has a problem, say with a business or an office, and one can’t get any resolution or satisfaction, the "Kokua Line" is a place where one can write in to get some help. In the exercise below, first you will see a letter that a parent wrote in; on the right side is what the Kokua Line wrote back.

TWO STORIES

The Angry Parent's Story

We sure got ripped off at the Don Ho Show last night. We made reservations months in advance. We got there and we found a huge jam of people and we had to stand in line forever. We finally got to the front and we were told that all tickets were sold out and we had to come back for the late show. My daughter was so upset she cried and it spoiled her whole vacation.

Kokua Line's Response

Investigating your complaint with the manager revealed a somewhat different story than the one you presented.

It seems that there are two clearly marked lines at the Don Ho Show, one for people with tickets already reserved and one for those still needing to buy new tickets.

Witnesses reported that when you arrived you directed your daughter to stand in the shorter line, which was the one for those needing to buy new tickets. When you got to the front of the line there were no more unreserved tickets to be bought as you were told. Your tickets were still waiting in the other line. Your daughter's unhappiness was the result of your refusal to wait again in the longer line.

If you will call 524-8900, the manager promised to give you new tickets for any night of your choice.

1. To complete this exercise, first analyze the context for the angry parent. Tell me what the following elements are.

THE ANGRY PARENT:

Purpose:

Voice:

Audience:

2. Now tell me the elements for the Kokua Line.

Purpose:

Voice:

Audience:

3. Now, select some word choices from the parent's letter. Choose one that the parent uses because he is angry--because of the situation he is facing.

Similarly, select some word choices that the Kokua Line uses because she is professional-- because of the situation she feels she is facing.

4. Describe how the sentence structure is used in each of the two letters to express their individual points of view. Which uses shorter sentences? Why is this so?

5. Examine and comment upon the organization of each letter. Which one uses a formal introduction?

6. How do all these choices connect with the triangle in each case?

. What other elements does the writer have under his or her control?

Are there more than three more things the writer can control? Name some of them.

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E-mail Greg Larkin at Gregory.Larkin@nau.edu
or call (520) 523-4911

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