Kendra's 1st Blog Post

Hi Kristen,



Hope I am doing this right!



Kendra's 1st blog on readings from Everything's an Argument and A Writer's Reference.

Our assigned reading were based on how to write on arguments. I had no idea there were so many aspects of arguments that could influence writing. There are arguments using emotions that influence people's feelings to convey a point to the reader. Writers can use emotions to feel connected with the readers especially with topics that are sensitive. The reader wants you to feel what they are feeling. A writer needs to anticipate how the reader will feel when reading the document.



I thought it was interesting that the writer has better luck trying to persuade the reader rather than trying to argue with the reader. When someone argues, they are trying to convict someone into taking action. When persuasion is used, it makes the reader want to take action. According to A Writer's Reference a writer needs to establish the purpose for writing before starting.



Another way to connect with the reader is to use humor. Humor makes a subject that could be controversial or sensitive a little lighter. Sometimes, serious writing doesn't work and won't get through to the reader or may offend the reader but when humor is used it makes the point without being offensive. The writer has to be careful because if humor is used in poor taste it discredits the writer.



People many times base their opinions on what others say about a topic. For example, if the writer is speaking of an opinion of a doctor from Loyola in comparison of an opinion from a doctor at Mercy Hospital in Aurora, the reader will probably side with the doctor from Loyola. This is because people know that Loyola is a respectable hospital and his opinion is more credible. A good example from the Everything's an Argument was how people would believe Consumer Reports regarding SUV statistics rather than an article in People Magazine. This is because Consumer Reports has a good reputation for doing the research on items and the consumer won't trust a magazine like People for buying a car.



Writers need to establish credibility with their readers. Another way to do this is to let your reader know what you don't know. It helps the reader to understand that the writer is down to earth and admits that they don't know everything about a certain topic, so the reader trusts that he/she will only tell what they do know.



My preference with writing arguments would be to use facts and reasons. I don't like to feel like I am being manipulated by a writer. If the writer gives facts, that is something to grab a hold of. The writer needs to document where the facts came from for credibility and plagarizing reasons.

This reading was interesting. I think it will help me think before I write a paper about which angle I want to use before I start writing.