Another element that Hacker and Sommers review in their textbook is the concept of knowing who your audience is and how to adjust your message to fir the unique nature of that audience. Essentially, in the past, I wrote what I thought, with no second thinking of who the reader was going to be. Yet, in professional business writing, one has to be clear of how to approach an audience. You could be writing to a potential client, or even your boss. Knowing how to manipulate language in order to better approach particular audiences is a skill I feel like I can work harder to develop. As I plan to write in more of a professional context, there is a direct need to understand how to persuade and get very different types of audiences engaged in my writing content. This is something I feel like I can really gain some insight on during the length of this course. Finally, there is another element I know that this course will help me improve on. I have writing experience mainly in a different grammatical and syntax style when comparing to other American students. When I first began writing more academically here, I found it a hard adjustment. Growing up in England, spelling and some grammar elements are quite different. The small spelling differences, as well as other grammatical differences, can be sneaky. I do not feel confident all the time writing in an American context, and find myself second guessing my writing. This then tends to have a negative impact on the writing itself. Taking this course will help me not only strengthen my ability as a writer in general, but it will provide me a stronger foundation in American writing styles. Essentially, I hope to learn more of an American style of writing. This will help me both academically and later in my...

It will prove less confusing writing internal communication with other employees, as well as external communications with customers. Part of writing in a business context is crafting a message rather than just spewing one out (College Board, 2004). I want to make sure my writing style does not distract from the communication process.
I have several major goals for taking this course, English 102. I hope to strengthen my argumentative writing, understanding of my audience and how it plays into writing style, and to get a stronger foundation in American writing styles. I feel that these three major elements will help improve my writing dramatically for what I plan to use it for. I may not want to be the next great American novelist, but I will want to impress my employers and potential customers enough to succeed in my professional goals I will set for myself after graduation.

References

College Board. (2004). Writing: A ticket to work…or a ticket out. College Entrance Examination Board.

Hacker, Diana & Sommers, Nancy. (2011). A Writer's Reference 7th ed. Bedford Books.