As an online course, the writing that we do in English 305 is substantially different from a face to face course. As such, it is imperative that you understand the course style from the start. Nearly all of your work in this course will be posted on the course blog.
EACH WEEK YOU WILL HAVE THREE BLOG ASSIGNMENTS:
1. A BLOG ENTRY,
2. A READING, AND
3. A WRITING ABOUT THE READING. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the Friday (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls. You have all week each week to complete the reading and writing for that week, but there are no late assignments accepted, so be sure to be disciplined about the work from the start. Let me re-state that point; if you do the assigned work before or during the week it is due, you will receive full credit. If you do the work after the Friday of the week it is assigned, you will get zero credit for that week.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
WEEK ONE RESPONDING TO WHAT YOU READ
Which of the writing "rules" apply to your chosen field?
Overall, how is writing used in your major field(either as a scholar or in the occuption itself[meaning, for instance, as a nursing student or as a nurse])? In essence, what is good writing?
The writing “rules” that apply to my chosen field is #10 because it deals with a person’s interest in their work such as school. This connects to my major field which is liberal studies, to become a high school teacher. One needs to become a good teacher and make the students enjoy school and have them interested in the subjects. The students should love what their learning and feel free to express their thoughts on the subject of matter. Becoming a teacher takes a lot of patience and time to teach the students a subject such as English, Math, Science, or Social Studies. But in particular English is very important in one’s life and has a lot of significance in learning and teaching how to write. Some students will love english and some will hate english because of their writing skills but it take a lot of practice.
In computer science, the rule that applies is “18. Employ a simple, straightforward style”. For example, when writing code it is important to add comments that will identify what the code is doing. Those comments should always be written as simple and straight forward so that other programmers can quickly decipher through thousands of lines of code. The same principal applies when writing good code. If functions are to long are repetitive they can be simplified by applying other programing concepts and reducing confusion and redundancy.
In the dental field, the rules that apply are both number 12 and 15- say what we propose to say and do not omit necessary details. For example, when a patient comes in and needs work done, it's important that we clearly inform them of what they have, and what can or needs to be done. All the details concerning costs, potential problems, and of course, get a signature of decline/ approval are all crucial in a dental practice. It helps protect the patients and dental providers from issues such as malpractice, or even violation of confidentiality.
In the Social WOrk field, the rules that I feel would apply the most would be 12-13, amd 16-17, using the proper world to represent or explain your clients cases, using proper grammar that the client can understand and knowing exactly what is going on whithout releasing more information than allowed. When dealing with client profiles we must assure privacy and not omit necessary details to the client.
As a teacher, rules 17 and 18 can be really important. When interacting with people, especially children you want to use proper grammar and explain yourself in a way that can be easily translated. A elementary teacher wants to provoke proper grammar, in order to do that he/she must apply it in their teaching. To me good writing is using to proper grammar and just following the rules of writing. As well making sure your writing is clear and to the point.
Interesting posts here, everyone! I think you all are heading toward a definition of good writing that probably has more in common than not. Keep it up!
In mathematics, the writing rules that apply are 12, 15, and 18. In this field, the correct vocabulary and use of proper grammar is fundamental since it helps the student to identify the topic that it is presented. As a mathematics student, the message that we want to understand/absorb should be clear and accurate. There is no space for approximations, but an absolute and definite answer. Equally important, students might have doubts on certain concepts and an exact illustration with plenty of details is necessary and preferable for the learner. Additionally, by employing a simple, and straightforward style it facilitates the reader to understand the material and enjoy the material that it is being exhibit. In particular, I think that good writing is knowing how to transmit the exact ideas that you want to share. In order to do this, the writer should be familiar with the writing rules and strategies, as well as great vocabulary, so at the end the reader can understand the narration.
In the nursing field, the rules that apply are 15, 13, and 16. One of the most important things in this field is to be alert and not forget necessary details even if they appear to be unnecessary. However, a nurse has to report their observations of a patient and when reporting, she/he needs to use the right words otherwise, they may be misunderstood. As a result, a patient might be given the wrong treatment. Nurses deliver a quality health care for people from different cultures and some terms are misinterpreted by patients due to cultural differences; therefore, it is essential to not only recognizes those differences, but to use the right words and always keep it professional.
My chosen field is teaching English and Language Arts to middle school and high school students. While all the rules are important, my favorite is "Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print." If it's something you've heard before, it will be unoriginal to use it. A good writer must be able to create their own metaphors and similes. While teaching, I hope to do some creative writing on the side. Taking out words that are uneccessary will be important, as I have a tendency to "fluff" my writing. A shorter story with more substance is better than a long drawn out one with more words.
For my chosen field, which is physical education, history and health. Rule 12 seems to be the one that should be followed the most. If im teaching or attempting to teach something i want the students to understand without a doubt what i am trying to convey to them. Rule 17 is right up there with rule 12 i dont have the best grammar but i know that in order to write well, for others to understand my writing proper use of grammar must be used. Lastly rule 18 could be used in my field, i am a big fan of straight and to the point writings, there is no need for fluff
For my chosen field (nursing), I imagine it a lot like my old one (emergency medical technician). In that when writing information, it should be done up like a report, with goals and facts clearly laid out. When it comes to medicine an errant word can have big consequences down the line, with that being said I think rules 12-18 apply the most to me. Medical reports should be concise, grammatically correct when possible (won’t lie sometimes medical terminology can be a handful sometimes), details are extremely important, maybe not to person A or person B but to person C it can mean life or death so nothing should be omitted. Most importantly rule 12 and 13 if nothing else, at least with a report that follows those 2 rules would have enough on it to paint a picture of what’s going on.
Writing rules that apply to my chosen field nursing are #15 and #18. Writing rule #15 states not to ommit necessary details. Details are important in the nursing field for instance, if a procedure is to be done and necessary details such as the patient is allergic to penicilin is left out than the patients life is at risk. Writing rule #18 employs a simple straightforward style which is important in nursing when trying to explain something to a patient or worker. Overall in the Nursing field writing is very important because it can effect someones life. In essence, good writing is detailed, striaghtforward, grammatically correct, and concise.
As a sociology student, many of Twain's rules apply to my writing but especially #12. _Say_ what he is proposing to say, not merely come near it. I feel that when doing qualitative research it is crucial to be able to simply and clearly present your data. A good research report should be able to be clear enough to be duplicated by another sociologist in hopes of recreating your study. Therefore in my writing I must be able to define what I am trying to say clearly. In order to to this, one's study must be extremely detailed and well written. Good writing is filled with not only correct grammar but is also simple and straightforward as rule #18 points out, it must employ a simple straightforward style. It is essential as a sociology student to learn the correct way to write, especially when doing qualitative research.
As a Biology major Orwell's rules of writng best applied to this field. Number 1 and number 5 I thought best fit because in biology there are many scientific terms that can be written into simplier terminology. Furthermore, good wrting in essence has to be readable, what you want for other readers to understand has been met and lastly there should be no grammer errors.
As a business major, I an pursuiting to be a sports agent, and for that, I feel like rule 17 and 13 apply to me. Rule 17 is "use good grammar", if I am trying to reresent a client I would sale him to good grammar which would tell him I know how to talk my way into things and since I will handle there nagotiating, thats a plus and I feel like number 13 is good also because I have to be straight forward with what I am saying and not use its second words to describe.
As a business major with an emphasis in accounting many of these rules are important. The main ones I will use in the field would be #12, #13, and #18. We must be concise and make our point clear when preparing financial statements that will be read by people who invest in our company. Rule #13 states use the right word, not it's second cousin this mistake can cost the difference of having a profitable year or a downfall of a year. We must be straightforward business people do not like to be around the bush unless it's something negative. Lastly, the essence of good writing is getting your point across just the way you perceive it in your mind. To be able to communicate effectively will be critical in my chosen field.
A biologist must be able to write of an experiment in a clear, organized, and concise manner. Before I became a biology major, my writing was persuasive and wordy, like many of Mark Twains rules. I wanted to paint pictures with my words, and include as much detail as possible. I had to learn that scientific writing is much different than writing for English, history, or philosophy majors. Knowing what needs to be said, and stating it clearly is important if a reader wants to replicate your experiment for themselves. If something can be said more simply while using less words, then the writer should do so. I found through asking my instructors many times to proof read my papers, that I would often include confusing information that was not important to the study, or I would miss a detail that was vital to understanding the study. Through much practice with scientific writing, I have learned how to communicate my studies to the scientific community.
As Biochemistry major, this major is very specific on small details and processes. To communicate to an audience about a scientific writing or even to compose a paper, it’s necessary for the reader to feel intrigued. Rule number ten states that the reader should feel deep interest towards a particular subject. In science related journals, the abstract is an example of getting the reader’s attention. If a person is not intrigued by a speech or a story, it’s useless because no connection will be established—more like boredom. As a tutor, the best way to teach is to create a sense of curiosity. Because as a student becomes curious about a particular subject, he or she will question the facts and will want to truly understand what is going on. Good writing is heavily based on creating a connection with the reader.
As a nursing major with a minor in psychology, there are many of writing rules stated in the reading that applies to my field of study. One is number 9 because as part of the healthcare team, we must explore all possibilities to find better ways to improve the care we provide. Healthcare is a field that is continually searching for answers, new ways of treating illnesses, and better ways to care for others. Sometimes, those ways may seem impossible or just miracles, but in science, ideas are supported by reasonable logics. Rule number 12,13, and 18 also apply to nurses because when documenting a patients condition, one cannot make up a story to make a bad condition a likable result. A nurse must be straight forward, precise, and honest. Not all people are familiar with scientific terminology. Therefore, a nurse must be able to explain something using simple english words that every will understand. As both a nursing student and a future nurse, good writting skills is necessary to carry out the responsibilities and duties that come with the job. Precise, reasonable, and understandable writting constitute good writting, when it comes to this field of study.
As a police officer, reports are a daily occurance. A written report will help an officer remember the events that occurred, and other necessary details that will be important later on during criminal and civil cases. Reports will be read by many government officials, including District Attorneys and Judges, therefore it is is important that they are clear, accurate, and concise. Because of these reasons, I believe that the most important writing rule would be #15 "Not omit necessary details." If certain details are left out, police officers could be open to civil and potentially criminal liablity.
Within the business field, there are plenty of writing rules that needs to be applied. As I have learned from a business communication class, one of the most important rule about writing would be rule number one from Orwell's essay, "Politics and the English Language." Rule number tweleve and thirteen from "Twain's Rules of Writing" are some other important rules about writing. Everything that is written should be clear and it should state exactly what you are trying to say in order to prevent confusion. Having a lot of confusion within a business will only lead the business to spiral downwards. Everything about a business needs to be clearly written and not create confusion so that the person reading the writing will make a guess as to what is being said. A need to communicate effectively is required and needed within the business field.
Writing in the educational field is critical. It has to be direct, clear, and concise. Twain's fifteen rules of writing - not omit necessary details-, rule seventeen- use good grammar and rule eighteen - employ a simple, straightforward style are the three most important rules in my profession. When reading everyone needs to understand the instruction(s), or the message written. The reader must be able to comprehend exactly is being said through the written form.
In the field of public administration, there is a demanding need for written communication to be clear, concise and to the point. Public agencies are tasked with the duty to provide written instruction to the public concerning everything from legal issues to housing FAQ's. With this in mind, the rules set forth in Orwell's "Politics and the English Language," represent the form type essential to the effectiveness of written communication within the public sector. Public agencies, as the title entails, have a duty to serve the public by providing information and support. The information presented by public agencies must be understood by the common society. The use of jargon and extensive, elaborate language in written communications presented by public agencies have recently come under fire by lawmakers for the incredible difficulty the written communications present to the understanding of the average individual. Although the writing rules presented in Mark Twain's essay on "The Literary Offenses of ....." create a sensory adventure, easily understood and enjoyed by the average individual, the need within the public sector for sensory writing is minimal to none. An elaborate, mythical tale of business ventures is unlikely to resonate with top public policy officials whereas straightforward, to the point writing is unlikely to spark the minds of young school children. The overall idea presented by both Oswell and Twain is that writing must be understood by its intended audience and only then is the writing truly appreciated and made effective. The author has the sheer discretion to decide which writing method to utilize in written work presented to the target audience. If the communication is thoroughly understood, the author has created a great written work. If the communication is confusing and misunderstood or not understood at all, there is no other truth than the bitter sound of failure. It is too often said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this idea transcends that of face value and lends itself to, and in turn defines, the occupation of written word.
The definition of good writing is very broad; especially because each profession has it's own definition of what they consider to be good writing. In the Liberal Studies work field writing is very important; not only are you teaching it as a teacher but it is also a way to communicate with your boss, co-workers, and most importantly the parents. Rules 17 and 18 are very common in this field because you have to sound profesional and use good grammer while getting to the point in a simple short manner. As a teacher you write to such a wide range of audiences that it is important to keep it short and to the point.
In Exercise Science, the rule that applies the most is 18. In this field, you have to be very straight forward with your patients so that they know what they need to do. For example, if you get a patient that is a little overweight and is starting to have chest pains and health problems then you have to be straightforward with the patient and tell them that they need to loose some weight, eat right and start exercising to have a healthier lifestyle.
Since Psychology is based on research, writing is an essential part of the field in the sense that Psychology-based research is properly recorded for future reference. Aside from properly conducting research, individuals must also be able to provide reports on their findings. In order to produce successful reports, researchers must be able to follow certain rules, such as not omitting necessary details, use good grammar, and have a straightforward style. Essentially, rules 12-18 from Twain's Rules of Writing should be used for good writing in Psychology.
Sociology focuses on the study of human interaction in the social setting. Conducting research and writing about the data in a clear concise manner is essential to the field. I think rules number 17 and 18 apply to sociology and writing. As in most fields it is important to use good grammar as well as employing a simple, straightforward style. When writing about the data a simplistic, concise style is required. As a student writing is used as a way of expressing thoughts, ideas, and information in a manner that is easily understood by the reader. When presenting research and data facts not fluff are important as well as a straightforward approach. The writer should avoid omitting their personal opinions or thoughts. In essence good writing should clearly state what the writer means in a manner that is easy to follow and pleasing to the reader. A good writer must always remember their target audience as well as staying on task with their topic. Overall, I thing good writing takes a lot of practice and I hope to improve my writing skills this quarter.
I looked back to see what I wrote and I noticed that I didn't do this part! Sorry. I know I am past the deadline for credit for this Dr. Shmoll, but I just wanted to respond so that I can keep a record for my own brain and check it off. As an English major, all of the writing rules apply to my field! I adore being an English major. I enjoy researching, reading, and writing. Unfortunately, there are things I like less in my field, like linguistics or if I have to read violent or graphic literature. Good writing to me is Dr. Seuss to Benjamin Franklin! I even enjoy reading drawings and cards from my nephews and nieces. Good writing to me is the writing that is on paper and was constructed by someone putting their best into it, at whatever level they are in.
The writing “rules” that apply to my chosen field is #10 because it deals with a person’s interest in their work such as school. This connects to my major field which is liberal studies, to become a high school teacher. One needs to become a good teacher and make the students enjoy school and have them interested in the subjects. The students should love what their learning and feel free to express their thoughts on the subject of matter. Becoming a teacher takes a lot of patience and time to teach the students a subject such as English, Math, Science, or Social Studies. But in particular English is very important in one’s life and has a lot of significance in learning and teaching how to write. Some students will love english and some will hate english because of their writing skills but it take a lot of practice.
ReplyDeleteIn computer science, the rule that applies is “18. Employ a simple, straightforward style”. For example, when writing code it is important to add comments that will identify what the code is doing. Those comments should always be written as simple and straight forward so that other programmers can quickly decipher through thousands of lines of code. The same principal applies when writing good code. If functions are to long are repetitive they can be simplified by applying other programing concepts and reducing confusion and redundancy.
ReplyDeleteIn the dental field, the rules that apply are both number 12 and 15- say what we propose to say and do not omit necessary details. For example, when a patient comes in and needs work done, it's important that we clearly inform them of what they have, and what can or needs to be done. All the details concerning costs, potential problems, and of course, get a signature of decline/ approval are all crucial in a dental practice. It helps protect the patients and dental providers from issues such as malpractice, or even violation of confidentiality.
ReplyDeleteIn the Social WOrk field, the rules that I feel would apply the most would be 12-13, amd 16-17, using the proper world to represent or explain your clients cases, using proper grammar that the client can understand and knowing exactly what is going on whithout releasing more information than allowed. When dealing with client profiles we must assure privacy and not omit necessary details to the client.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher, rules 17 and 18 can be really important. When interacting with people, especially children you want to use proper grammar and explain yourself in a way that can be easily translated. A elementary teacher wants to provoke proper grammar, in order to do that he/she must apply it in their teaching. To me good writing is using to proper grammar and just following the rules of writing. As well making sure your writing is clear and to the point.
ReplyDeleteInteresting posts here, everyone! I think you all are heading toward a definition of good writing that probably has more in common than not.
ReplyDeleteKeep it up!
In mathematics, the writing rules that apply are 12, 15, and 18. In this field, the correct vocabulary and use of proper grammar is fundamental since it helps the student to identify the topic that it is presented. As a mathematics student, the message that we want to understand/absorb should be clear and accurate. There is no space for approximations, but an absolute and definite answer. Equally important, students might have doubts on certain concepts and an exact illustration with plenty of details is necessary and preferable for the learner. Additionally, by employing a simple, and straightforward style it facilitates the reader to understand the material and enjoy the material that it is being exhibit. In particular, I think that good writing is knowing how to transmit the exact ideas that you want to share. In order to do this, the writer should be familiar with the writing rules and strategies, as well as great vocabulary, so at the end the reader can understand the narration.
ReplyDeleteIn the nursing field, the rules that apply are 15, 13, and 16. One of the most important things in this field is to be alert and not forget necessary details even if they appear to be unnecessary. However, a nurse has to report their observations of a patient and when reporting, she/he needs to use the right words otherwise, they may be misunderstood. As a result, a patient might be given the wrong treatment. Nurses deliver a quality health care for people from different cultures and some terms are misinterpreted by patients due to cultural differences; therefore, it is essential to not only recognizes those differences, but to use the right words and always keep it professional.
ReplyDeleteMy chosen field is teaching English and Language Arts to middle school and high school students. While all the rules are important, my favorite is "Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print." If it's something you've heard before, it will be unoriginal to use it. A good writer must be able to create their own metaphors and similes. While teaching, I hope to do some creative writing on the side. Taking out words that are uneccessary will be important, as I have a tendency to "fluff" my writing. A shorter story with more substance is better than a long drawn out one with more words.
ReplyDeleteFor my chosen field, which is physical education, history and health. Rule 12 seems to be the one that should be followed the most. If im teaching or attempting to teach something i want the students to understand without a doubt what i am trying to convey to them. Rule 17 is right up there with rule 12 i dont have the best grammar but i know that in order to write well, for others to understand my writing proper use of grammar must be used. Lastly rule 18 could be used in my field, i am a big fan of straight and to the point writings, there is no need for fluff
ReplyDeleteFor my chosen field (nursing), I imagine it a lot like my old one (emergency medical technician). In that when writing information, it should be done up like a report, with goals and facts clearly laid out. When it comes to medicine an errant word can have big consequences down the line, with that being said I think rules 12-18 apply the most to me. Medical reports should be concise, grammatically correct when possible (won’t lie sometimes medical terminology can be a handful sometimes), details are extremely important, maybe not to person A or person B but to person C it can mean life or death so nothing should be omitted. Most importantly rule 12 and 13 if nothing else, at least with a report that follows those 2 rules would have enough on it to paint a picture of what’s going on.
ReplyDeleteWriting rules that apply to my chosen field nursing are #15 and #18. Writing rule #15 states not to ommit necessary details. Details are important in the nursing field for instance, if a procedure is to be done and necessary details such as the patient is allergic to penicilin is left out than the patients life is at risk. Writing rule #18 employs a simple straightforward style which is important in nursing when trying to explain something to a patient or worker. Overall in the Nursing field writing is very important because it can effect someones life. In essence, good writing is detailed, striaghtforward, grammatically correct, and concise.
ReplyDeleteAs a sociology student, many of Twain's rules apply to my writing but especially #12. _Say_ what he is proposing to say, not merely come near it. I feel that when doing qualitative research it is crucial to be able to simply and clearly present your data. A good research report should be able to be clear enough to be duplicated by another sociologist in hopes of recreating your study. Therefore in my writing I must be able to define what I am trying to say clearly. In order to to this, one's study must be extremely detailed and well written. Good writing is filled with not only correct grammar but is also simple and straightforward as rule #18 points out, it must employ a simple straightforward style. It is essential as a sociology student to learn the correct way to write, especially when doing qualitative research.
ReplyDeleteAs a Biology major Orwell's rules of writng best applied to this field. Number 1 and number 5 I thought best fit because in biology there are many scientific terms that can be written into simplier terminology. Furthermore, good wrting in essence has to be readable, what you want for other readers to understand has been met and lastly there should be no grammer errors.
ReplyDeleteAs a business major, I an pursuiting to be a sports agent, and for that, I feel like rule 17 and 13 apply to me. Rule 17 is "use good grammar", if I am trying to reresent a client I would sale him to good grammar which would tell him I know how to talk my way into things and since I will handle there nagotiating, thats a plus and I feel like number 13 is good also because I have to be straight forward with what I am saying and not use its second words to describe.
ReplyDeleteAs a business major with an emphasis in accounting many of these rules are important. The main ones I will use in the field would be #12, #13, and #18. We must be concise and make our point clear when preparing financial statements that will be read by people who invest in our company. Rule #13 states use the right word, not it's second cousin this mistake can cost the difference of having a profitable year or a downfall of a year. We must be straightforward business people do not like to be around the bush unless it's something negative. Lastly, the essence of good writing is getting your point across just the way you perceive it in your mind. To be able to communicate effectively will be critical in my chosen field.
ReplyDeleteA biologist must be able to write of an experiment in a clear, organized, and concise manner. Before I became a biology major, my writing was persuasive and wordy, like many of Mark Twains rules. I wanted to paint pictures with my words, and include as much detail as possible. I had to learn that scientific writing is much different than writing for English, history, or philosophy majors. Knowing what needs to be said, and stating it clearly is important if a reader wants to replicate your experiment for themselves. If something can be said more simply while using less words, then the writer should do so. I found through asking my instructors many times to proof read my papers, that I would often include confusing information that was not important to the study, or I would miss a detail that was vital to understanding the study. Through much practice with scientific writing, I have learned how to communicate my studies to the scientific community.
ReplyDeleteAs Biochemistry major, this major is very specific on small details and processes. To communicate to an audience about a scientific writing or even to compose a paper, it’s necessary for the reader to feel intrigued. Rule number ten states that the reader should feel deep interest towards a particular subject. In science related journals, the abstract is an example of getting the reader’s attention. If a person is not intrigued by a speech or a story, it’s useless because no connection will be established—more like boredom. As a tutor, the best way to teach is to create a sense of curiosity. Because as a student becomes curious about a particular subject, he or she will question the facts and will want to truly understand what is going on. Good writing is heavily based on creating a connection with the reader.
ReplyDeleteAs a nursing major with a minor in psychology, there are many of writing rules stated in the reading that applies to my field of study. One is number 9 because as part of the healthcare team, we must explore all possibilities to find better ways to improve the care we provide. Healthcare is a field that is continually searching for answers, new ways of treating illnesses, and better ways to care for others. Sometimes, those ways may seem impossible or just miracles, but in science, ideas are supported by reasonable logics.
ReplyDeleteRule number 12,13, and 18 also apply to nurses because when documenting a patients condition, one cannot make up a story to make a bad condition a likable result. A nurse must be straight forward, precise, and honest. Not all people are familiar with scientific terminology. Therefore, a nurse must be able to explain something using simple english words that every will understand.
As both a nursing student and a future nurse, good writting skills is necessary to carry out the responsibilities and duties that come with the job. Precise, reasonable, and understandable writting constitute good writting, when it comes to this field of study.
As a police officer, reports are a daily occurance. A written report will help an officer remember the events that occurred, and other necessary details that will be important later on during criminal and civil cases. Reports will be read by many government officials, including District Attorneys and Judges, therefore it is is important that they are clear, accurate, and concise. Because of these reasons, I believe that the most important writing rule would be #15 "Not omit necessary details." If certain details are left out, police officers could be open to civil and potentially criminal liablity.
ReplyDeleteWithin the business field, there are plenty of writing rules that needs to be applied. As I have learned from a business communication class, one of the most important rule about writing would be rule number one from Orwell's essay, "Politics and the English Language." Rule number tweleve and thirteen from "Twain's Rules of Writing" are some other important rules about writing. Everything that is written should be clear and it should state exactly what you are trying to say in order to prevent confusion. Having a lot of confusion within a business will only lead the business to spiral downwards. Everything about a business needs to be clearly written and not create confusion so that the person reading the writing will make a guess as to what is being said. A need to communicate effectively is required and needed within the business field.
ReplyDeleteWriting in the educational field is critical. It has to be direct, clear, and concise. Twain's fifteen rules of writing - not omit necessary details-, rule seventeen- use good grammar and rule eighteen - employ a simple, straightforward style are the three most important rules in my profession. When reading everyone needs to understand the instruction(s), or the message written. The reader must be able to comprehend exactly is being said through the written form.
ReplyDeleteIn the field of public administration, there is a demanding need for written communication to be clear, concise and to the point. Public agencies are tasked with the duty to provide written instruction to the public concerning everything from legal issues to housing FAQ's. With this in mind, the rules set forth in Orwell's "Politics and the English Language," represent the form type essential to the effectiveness of written communication within the public sector. Public agencies, as the title entails, have a duty to serve the public by providing information and support. The information presented by public agencies must be understood by the common society. The use of jargon and extensive, elaborate language in written communications presented by public agencies have recently come under fire by lawmakers for the incredible difficulty the written communications present to the understanding of the average individual. Although the writing rules presented in Mark Twain's essay on "The Literary Offenses of ....." create a sensory adventure, easily understood and enjoyed by the average individual, the need within the public sector for sensory writing is minimal to none. An elaborate, mythical tale of business ventures is unlikely to resonate with top public policy officials whereas straightforward, to the point writing is unlikely to spark the minds of young school children. The overall idea presented by both Oswell and Twain is that writing must be understood by its intended audience and only then is the writing truly appreciated and made effective. The author has the sheer discretion to decide which writing method to utilize in written work presented to the target audience. If the communication is thoroughly understood, the author has created a great written work. If the communication is confusing and misunderstood or not understood at all, there is no other truth than the bitter sound of failure. It is too often said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this idea transcends that of face value and lends itself to, and in turn defines, the occupation of written word.
ReplyDeleteThe definition of good writing is very broad; especially because each profession has it's own definition of what they consider to be good writing. In the Liberal Studies work field writing is very important; not only are you teaching it as a teacher but it is also a way to communicate with your boss, co-workers, and most importantly the parents. Rules 17 and 18 are very common in this field because you have to sound profesional and use good grammer while getting to the point in a simple short manner. As a teacher you write to such a wide range of audiences that it is important to keep it short and to the point.
ReplyDeleteIn Exercise Science, the rule that applies the most is 18. In this field, you have to be very straight forward with your patients so that they know what they need to do. For example, if you get a patient that is a little overweight and is starting to have chest pains and health problems then you have to be straightforward with the patient and tell them that they need to loose some weight, eat right and start exercising to have a healthier lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteSince Psychology is based on research, writing is an essential part of the field in the sense that Psychology-based research is properly recorded for future reference. Aside from properly conducting research, individuals must also be able to provide reports on their findings. In order to produce successful reports, researchers must be able to follow certain rules, such as not omitting necessary details, use good grammar, and have a straightforward style. Essentially, rules 12-18 from Twain's Rules of Writing should be used for good writing in Psychology.
ReplyDeleteSociology focuses on the study of human interaction in the social setting. Conducting research and writing about the data in a clear concise manner is essential to the field. I think rules number 17 and 18 apply to sociology and writing. As in most fields it is important to use good grammar as well as employing a simple, straightforward style. When writing about the data a simplistic, concise style is required. As a student writing is used as a way of expressing thoughts, ideas, and information in a manner that is easily understood by the reader. When presenting research and data facts not fluff are important as well as a straightforward approach. The writer should avoid omitting their personal opinions or thoughts. In essence good writing should clearly state what the writer means in a manner that is easy to follow and pleasing to the reader. A good writer must always remember their target audience as well as staying on task with their topic. Overall, I thing good writing takes a lot of practice and I hope to improve my writing skills this quarter.
ReplyDeleteI looked back to see what I wrote and I noticed that I didn't do this part! Sorry. I know I am past the deadline for credit for this Dr. Shmoll, but I just wanted to respond so that I can keep a record for my own brain and check it off. As an English major, all of the writing rules apply to my field! I adore being an English major. I enjoy researching, reading, and writing. Unfortunately, there are things I like less in my field, like linguistics or if I have to read violent or graphic literature. Good writing to me is Dr. Seuss to Benjamin Franklin! I even enjoy reading drawings and cards from my nephews and nieces. Good writing to me is the writing that is on paper and was constructed by someone putting their best into it, at whatever level they are in.
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