Factors Affecting Writing and Speaking

Study Notes

Choosing a topic: Consider your expertise and the relevance to your audience. For example, writing about “Essentials of Job Interview” could be relevant to graduating students, but assess your own knowledge and credibility on the subject.
Writer's role: The writer's role in academic and professional writing often intersects but differs depending on the purpose, knowledge, and target audience. Adapting your writing style to suit the audience is essential.
Purpose of material: The purpose of writing can be categorized as either:
- To inform: Helping readers learn about a subject, complete a task, or make a decision.
- To persuade: Reinforcing or changing attitudes, motivating readers to take action.
Target audience: Consider the following factors when tailoring your writing to a specific audience:
- Who will be reading your work?
- How much background knowledge do they have about the topic?
- What are their needs or expectations?
- How can you engage them with your writing?
- How will they likely react to the ideas you present?

Formality: The level of formality in academic and professional writing depends on the audience and the writer's purpose. It can be categorized as:
- Formal: Use this tone when addressing an unknown audience.
- Semi-formal: Appropriate for a known audience.
- Informal: Not suitable for academic or professional writing.
Formality in Letters of Application
- Formal: Use formal language, avoid contractions and slang. (e.g., "I am applying for the Administrative Assistant position advertised in the newspaper. I am an excellent candidate for the job because of my significant secretarial experience.")
- Informal: Use informal language, contractions, and slang. (e.g., "I’m applying for the Admin Asst job you put in the paper. I’d be great for this job 'cause I’m really good at secretarial stuff.")