English Composition

English Composition Study Guide When reviewing another’s writing, look to see if the writer responded appropriately to reach the intended audience. Does the word choice work well for target readers? Does the writer assume too much or too little about the background knowledge of the reader? By determining the intended audience, it is easy to review a writing to see if the author was successful in reaching readers. 6.3 Tone Tone is defined as the view or attitude of the person who wrote something. A writer conveys tone through the use of adjectives. The tone of a document is one way to individualize the thesis. It is how the writer indicates an opinion. In college writing, the tone should be informed and reasonable. It is important to maintain objectivity and not overwhelm the reader with information. However, adding a note of humor, surprise, or passion can distinguish a writing from that of the other students. The tone of a document should be appropriate to the type of document. A business report may not contain humor or passion. It should report facts without passion or emotion, using neutral vocabulary to present information. On the other end of the spectrum, a sales letter should contain lots of emotion. It needs to convey to the reader a need for the product it is selling. A sales letter needs to convince the reader that the product is the best on the market and the best value. When critiquing a writing, determine the tone to see if it is appropriate for the writing situation. Suggestions to a writer might be to improve the overall tone of the document. For example, is it condescending to the reader? Is it an offensive argument? Figuring out the tone of a document, along with the audience and purpose, can help someone offer more specific suggestions for improving a writing. 6.4 Global vs Local Changes When reviewing a document and offering another writer suggestions for improvement, it is best to read the document multiple times. The first couple times the document is read, look for global issues. Global issu s are problems with a writing on a large-scale level. This includes the organization or structure of the writing, such as a weak of missing introduction or conclusion. Global problems can also include illogical arguments, a poorly written thesis, items that are off topic, or weak transitions between ideas. When reviewing global issues, think about the purpose of the writing and determine whether it is focused, well-developed, and put together in a way that makes sense to the reader. After critiquing the global strengths and weaknesses of a writing, it is time to look for local issues. Local issues are sentence-level concerns, such as grammar and spelling. When critiquing a writing for local issues, look for patterns throughout the writing. For example, does the writer misuse commas? Does the writing forget to cite evidence?

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