Andrea Lunsford, author of “Writing Addresses, Invokes, and/or Creates Audiences” for the text Naming What We Know, has an interesting way of describing the characteristics of writing. She defines the term “rhetorical triangle” as having “each of its points a key element in the creation and interpretation of meaning” (Lunsford). Later, she explains the three vertices: writer, audience, and text. Lunsford makes it clear that it is important for writers to know what audience they are writing for. For instance, when writing a speech you know that your audience is going to be present with you, although your readers will be absent. Furthermore, with the introduction of modern-day technology knowing what audience you are writing for isn’t as simple. The second you hit the publish button on a website or blog, anyone with an internet connection can view your post. Sadly you don’t get to pick and choose who can view it or not. This can be a problem when deciding your audience for your writing. The message you are trying to send can sometimes be seen by the wrong type of person. Lunsford’s main point is that with the new technology, the simple “rhetorical triangle” of the past has become much more complex. It is not just as simple as imagining exactly what your audience will be. And the adaptation of new ways to think about modern writing has developed a multitude of questions regarding how writing is going to progress in the 21st century.
When asked about the way the K-12 school system has prepared me for real life writing, often the answer is not that simple. Obviously the younger years have allowed me to know the absolute bare bone basics like how to read and write. Eventually I learned to form sentences and turn my ideas in my head onto words that people could understand. High School allowed me to find a topic I’m interested and turn it into a meaningful essay. While all of these school years have definitively helped me be prepared for college level writing. The actual structure and way I need to write now as completely changed. I know how to write but I don’t know how to WRITE. Not only have I never been taught how to really connect with my reader and make them see things the way I have, but I’m not even sure how to make my readers want to read my writing. Lunsford article has helped me be aware of the added risk of technology. I’ve always enjoyed how much faster I can write things out on a computer, and I enjoy all the added features like auto correct. Although until I read Lunsford article I had never thought of the negatives of technology.
