Why Write?

During the past five weeks of class, I have learned a lot of different perspectives on the theory of writing. Each perspective has given me insight into my own theory of writing and composition. The three most important perspectives that have shaped my theory of writing thus far are: Blitzer, Yancey and Martin Luther King. Each of these individuals have given me at least one important lesson in writing

Blitzer helped me understand the basic concepts of a rhetorical situation. Each rhetorical situation contains five parts: emergence, discourse, context, constraints, and audience To me, I imagine them as steps to the writing process. First comes the call to action, emergence.  Then comes the method you choose to implement your writing, discourse. Step 3 is the obstacles you must face or constraints. Step 4 is the people you are writing to, or the audience. Lastly step 5, the overall situation surrounding the writing is the context. But the most influential concept he gave me, was that when writing something, the author must be writing for change. A call to action must be given to the audience. This call to action can be through appeal to logos, ethos, pathos or all three. However the author does it is up to them, but the important part is that their aim is to change the audience’s opinion about something.

Yancey helped me discover the important of reflection. Reflection isn’t just about looking back, it’s also about moving forward. Reflecting on yourself, as a writer will help you create pieces that show more depth, and analysis.  It’s also important to let your peers reflect on your writing as well. This way, you will get more dimensions to your piece by taking into account another perspective. 

Martin Luther King’s Letter From Birmingham Jail showed me how to use ethos, pathos, and logos in the right balance to shape a successful argument.  This piece really helped me understand what a rhetorical situation is. The call to action is very clear in the piece, and the 5 “steps” can be pointed out fairly easily.

My theory of writing has developed immensely throughout the trimester, and although it is still forming I have clearer sense of who I am as a writer. I have learned that my writing tends to focus more on a logos appeal, and that incorporating ethos and pathos into a writing piece is harder then I thought it would be. I have learned to add more personality in my pieces and really show the audience who I am.  I have learned the importance of shaping my writing on the people who are reading it (audience), which includes forming the genre, tone, and voice to fit the rhetorical situation.

Overall, I think I have become a more active writer. Before I was very passive in my writing, and didn’t really think about the purpose of each piece. My theory of writing thus far can be summed up in a single word: PURPOSE. To write purposefully is important because writing should be used to make a difference.  Each piece should have a specific meaning to it, why write something if it is pointless? It should seek to make a difference within each reader, and be memorable enough to change his or her perspective on something.