All Writers Have More To Learn

Writing Expresses and Shares Meaning to be Reconstructed by the Reader- By Charles Bazerman

In the article the author explains the way that writing has meaning whether that is through communication, words, texts, phrases, anything that can get the reader’s attention in regard to the writings meaning.  The author explains that lots can be learned throughout reading an article and its writing. It creates new forms of communication, ways to interpret texts, new ideas being sparked everything that would display the writings meaning.

As a writer if a piece does not go the way that I want it to or intended for it to go I change it. How would I change it I would get feedback from others as to what needed to be changed, what needed to be added what didn’t they understand, what I can help them understand. I would ask all of those questions and then when I published a new article, I would make sure that it was just a little bit better if not a lot better than the last one. I would feel down about it, but it would in turn motivate me to move further with it and continue further into my writing. Nobody is going to think the exact same way as another person we all interpret text differently, as a writer I would generalize my topic into a version that can not only be understood but comprehended about the same as I intended. Like how Bazerman says ” While writers can confirm that the written words feel consistent with their state of mind, readers can never read the writers mind to confirm that they fully share that state of mind.” (Bazerman Pg 22)

Kevin Roozen states in Writing is a Social and Rhetorical Activity that anytime you are writing something, you are drawing from previous readings, conversations or experiences.  For example, a description, saying or definition.  You can then gather that with the current information you have and apply it to the audience you intend to present it to.  He favors that there is always an audience, even if it is yourself.  He believes writing connects the writer and the reader.  In the end, he is trying to emphasize writing being both a rhetorical and social activity.

When I helped organize an event, I wrote the invitations.  I had to consider my audience (social aspect), and also the best way to convey the information (rhetorical aspect).  I chose words that would appeal to my friends and also clearly communicated the event details.  This shows that writing is both a social and rhetorical activity because it involves considering the audience and the most effective way to get the message across.  Understanding the social and rhetorical nature of writing is crucial because it helps you connect with your audience effectively.  It´s not just about what you say, but how you say it and who you’re saying it to.

In Kevin Roozen’s, “Writing Is a Social and Rhetorical Activity,” he talks about the conscious and subconscious connections with a specific audience. Writers can reach specific audiences by connecting with other people who are either part of the audience, or have studied the desired audience. Though writers may seem alone, they are not. Writers have to connect to their audience, think like one one they are not, act like someone they are not.

This week I wrote a class plan for my fexability and conditioning class. I wrote the plan for myself as a guide to what I would be teaching. The plan may not provide a lot of information, but it is all I need to teach. I am connecting to others by using the plan to coach and talk to my students about different muscles and how to train specific muscles. Part of the lesson plan included, “Start the class by explaining the major muscles groups for the femoral region,” for someone that may have taught the class other then me this would be good to know, and a plan for the day would be nice to have. It is important that we can successfully write in a rhetorical nature so that people can understand what the writers have to say. 

In Kevin Roozen’s, “Writing Is a Social and Rhetorical Activity”, he states that writers often forget that they are writing to a specific audience and there is always a connection between the writer and the reader. He believes that writing is simply catering to the audience’s needs. Simply put, writing connects everyone and everything, and understanding this concept makes for better writing.

Earlier today I wrote a journal in my Personal Finance class for my teacher. That writing demonstrated being a social activity because the journal was about your progress in the class and we work in groups. It demonstrated being a rhetorical activity because our teacher reads the journals and grades them. We do journals every week so it is also rhetorical in that our teacher has expectations of us. It is important to understand the social and rhetorical nature of writing because these qualities make for clearer and more communicative writing.

In Kevin Roozen’s article, “Writing Is a Social and Rhetorical Activity”, he stands by the approach that writing is more than just words on a paper and that it actually connects people from everywhere whether we as writers recognize it or not. He advocates this because writing is always attempting to fit the needs of an audience even if that audience is simply just yourself. People do this by taking the ideas and inspirations of other people which spirals us back to the point that writing connects people more than it’s thought to.

This week in my psychology class, I wrote a research paper on topics that we were required to study. This paper required me to interview and discuss different ideas with five other people. This directly hits the point that writing is a social activity. In doing this requirement, I was meeting the standards of my audience, aka professor, based on what she wanted to hear. This not only made me engage with others by demand, but it also made me engage by choice as I had others proofread my writing to make sure it was as sound as possible for my said audience. In the text, Kevin Roozen says, “In working to accomplish their purposes and address an audience’s needs, writers draw upon many other people.” This quote demonstrates the point that for successful writing, it typically falls on being a heavy social and rhetorical activity.

1. In the article ‘Writing is a social and rhetorical activity’, author Kevin Roozen explains how social writing is. He then mode explains how that whenever a writer is writing, they are aiming it toward a certain demographic. He also highlights how writing is as much a rhetorical activity as it is social, due to writers needing to use the right words and phrases when trying to persuade an audience

2. Last week I wrote a letter to my 13 year old self giving advice for an assignment In my writing class. This was a very social activity because when writing it, I had to direct as if im talking to a less mature, less experienced, and younger version of myself. This was difficult as I had to imagine it like I was writing a letter to a 13 year old. This is rhetorical too as I had to write it in a way where my younger self could comprehend and apply it to life.