1、The Writing Process and the Rhetorical Context,Technical Writing ENGL 3153 Scott Hale,Levels of Composing,Situational Analysis Discovery Process Arrangement Drafting and Revising Editing,First Level of Composing,Situational Analysis What is the situation which causes the writer to compose the docume
2、nt? What is the purpose of the document? What is the documents intended audience?,Purpose,What is the writers primary purpose? Request information? Respond to questions? Reporting results? Describing a process? Recommend? Persuade? Often, these purposes intermix.,Audience and Audience Analysis,What
3、is the relation between writer and recipient? Superior? Customer? Peers? What knowledge does the recipient have about the subject matter? Middle management? Technician? General public?,Problem Audiences,Multiple Audiences Many documents will be read by more than one individual. These individuals may
4、 have different needs, knowledge, and goals. Superiors who have little knowledge of the subject One cannot “talk down” to the audience.,Situational Analysis, then,Requires an awareness of why the document is being written from both the writers and recipients points of view. Requires knowledge about
5、who will receive and utilize the document. May cause one to choose to write multiple documents or documents with sections geared towards certain audience members.,Second Level of Composing,The Discovery Process Research done In the lab In the field In the library In response to other documents Or, i
6、n some combination of these,The Discovery Process, then,Is where the subject matter of the document is generated. In this class, much of the work on this level has already been done during other classes. Is also where one may need to re-think or re-shape the material already gathered so that it will
7、 suit the audience and situation.,Third Level of Composing,Arrangement Putting the subject matter generated during the Discovery Process into a pattern which is suitable for the purpose of the document and for the documents intended audience.,In the Arrangement Process, then,The writer selects a seq
8、uence a sequence which contains all steps necessary for the audience the writer may find that some steps are missing and return to the discovery process to generate them,In the Arrangement Process, also,The writer also selects the format formal or informal? memo or letter? short report or multi-leve
9、l formal report? The writer selects the transmission method E-mail? Snail mail? Fax? Inter-office mail? Hand delivered? Orally presented?,Also a component of Arrangement,Time management How much time can the writer spend on the document? How quickly does the audience need the document? How long will
10、 the document be kept on file? How long will the document be in transit?,Fourth Level of Composing,Drafting and Revising This level includes everything from rough notes to completed drafts. Good writers tend to spend more time on this level of composing than any other. Poor writers tend to spend as
11、little time as possible on this level of composing.,Drafting, Revising, and Technical Writing,This level is the one upon which we will concentrate the most. Since better writers tend to spend more time on this level, we will break down the stages which good writers tend to go through. We will learn
12、to spend time more profitably by learning and practicing the stages which good writers tend to move through.,Fifth Level of Composing,When revising ends, and the draft is being prepared for transmission, editing comes into play. Professional drafts must be pristine, as flawless as they can possibly
13、be made. Working with others is helpful, as fresh eyes can often catch embarrassing mistakes. One must become ones own best editor.,The Composing Process,Situational Analysis Discovery Process Arrangement Drafting and Revising Editing,This process is not necessarily linear. One may begin with analys
14、is and move to discover, then to arrangement, then back to discovery, to drafting, and back to discovery, etc.,Points to Remember,Spend adequate time on each level of composing-as time permits. Break down tasks-do not try to draft and discover at the same time. Good writers tend to spend more time with drafting and revising. Save editing for the final stage-it is a waste of time until the document is completed.,
