The Composing Process

In Jack Selzer's article I found it interesting that the subject, Kenneth Nelson, spends the least amount of time in the revision steps. "Revision takes up less than 5% of Nelson's time and consists of little more than superficial editing" (184). In other selections that we read, it is revision needing the most time. It does mention that the subject knows the audience and has become a confident writer. Although I agree that knowing the audience and being confident can help write a more effective piece, I think everything needs revision. Everything can be made better.


Also in Selzer, he writes that the Nelson always writes from an outline. I find it can guide the writer and helps with clarity. In the Writing Center, when I have a student whose thoughts and ideas are jumbled or they are repeating themselves, I suggest that they create a quick, simple outline. Basically just one key word for the points, omitting the introduction and conclusion. That way if they can look at the outline it will help them stay on track and support their thesis. I have always had the best intention of writing an outline myself, but rarely do it for short assignments. I tend to write down thoughts and points so I don't forget them, but I don't really organize them into an outline. On larger assignments I depend heavily on my outline. Although very simple, having an outline can help guide the process and prevent writer's block.





Finally, in Greg Myers' article the idea that they must persuade without appearing to be persuasive is a challenge. "Proposal format . . . do not allow for most types of rhetorical appeals; one must persuade without seeming to persuade" (220). Subtlety is hard to achieve on it's own but trying to apply it to a scientific memo or proposal where you're asking for something seems daunting. I think of technical writing to be objective and logical, but if given the task of writing a proposal then one must subtly persuade in order for the proposal to be granted, and the client to be happy. I didn't really think of technical writing as persuasive but given the right task, it can be very persuasive.