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ADVANCED EXPOSITORY WRITING

ENG 201 ON-LINE

Dr. David B. Axelrod

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Did you know that 38% of the adult population in America are functionally illiterate?  

That means they can only read, at best, at a third grade level. The major, mass media is aimed at a reading level of third to fifth grade.  Generally:

People do not know how to read. Thus, keep it simple.

People do not like to read. Thus, keep it interesting.

People do not have time to waste when they read. Thus, keep it useful.

The consequence is that you must produce the clearest, most interesting, most easy-to-read writing possible. Don’t assume that educated or “high-level” people have any more time or desire to read what you are writing than those 38% of the population who simply don’t know how to.

In fact, a fair number of those functionally illiterate people have risen to wealth and power and a great number of those “intelligent” readers are in just too much of a hurry to bother with an overly-long or poorly-written product.  

When considering your audience, you should not think of yourself as writing down. There is a phrase often used in the mass media (alas, in politics and even in education) of aiming the message to the “lowest common denominator.” You should not feel that you are dumbing down your message. You don’t have to “lower” anything.  

Rather, raise your goal to writing only, exactly, the best words to communicate for the purpose at hand. If a simple word can do it, use it. The fewer the words the better. And, the prettier the product, the better. Why not keep it short and sweet? As I advised in my link on "Writer's Block," you are not writing a language called "Essay." You are writing in plain English!

Of course your audience may have very specific knowledge. Your purpose may be so specific that you know they will all understand your vocabulary and are completely accustomed to a particular style.  Don’t be fooled. People are people and the same principles apply.  Certainly, avoid jargon!

The most knowledgeable people may still not be inclined to read. They certainly have more to do than wade through extra verbiage. Translation: don’t waste their time.

Produce a good looking and efficient product. As with feature writing in journalism, you are obligated to be not only to factual but INTERESTING! Your message is primary. It would be nice if, while reading you're essays, your audience went “Ohhh, what beautiful writing!”