Prawira Oka: In- class 1: RLW Questions

1. 1. The article teaches us to identify the choices an author makes in their writing and how these choices influence their writing. By questioning the author’s word choice and motivation behind writing a piece we can understand how we can integrate the desired methods into our own writing in order to achieve the desired results. This is significantly different from the way I read for my other classes because as a biochemistry major who takes predominantly science and math classes, most of the information provided is absolute and objective with little room for the author to introduce their opinions.

2. 2. My identity as a writer stems for the choices I make with respect to my writing style. A common attribute of all my academic pieces is the intention to deliver a clear massage in a succinct manner. What I hope readers identify through my written work is my objectivity and reliance on facts to get my point across to the audience.

3. 3. What I noticed in this essay is the author’s use of rhetorical questions and his conscientious effort to connect with the audience on a personal level. Through his effective use of rhetorical questioning, the points he shares are well emphasized. The infusion of personal experiences into his piece is how he attempts to connect with his readers on a personal level.

While I do not have prior experience in using these strategies, it would definitely be an interesting experience to do so. I believe that one’s growth as a writer can only be achieved by developing several distinct writing styles as opposed to being confined to a singular one. I plan to introduce the use rhetorical questioning into key sections of my piece, to either dissuade or persuade the audience into making a particular decision. I would also be open to including personal experiences in my writing to try and develop a personal rapport with the reader.

4. 4. Some of the ways to learn about the context of a text prior to reading it is to do background research on the topic covered. One should also analyze their individual stand/view on the topic and try to understand why others may not share the same viewpoint. By going through these steps, one would be able to more effectively analyze and comprehend the text being read.