All the writing classes I have taken have emphasized the purpose of writing and what I read this week was no different. I am pleased that the reading material supports what I have learned in the past, however, being told the same things over and over again is boring and a waste of time. Part of it was new material at least: To Earn or Maintain Good Will. I haven't thought of writing as having that particular aspect to it, but thinking about it retrospectively, I notice how deeply it is woven into human communication. I am going to focus most of my writing on creating a good and truthful picture of myself while a write in addition to strengthening the relationship between my reader and I. When I am revising my writing I will pay special attention to the tone I create and whether or not my writing is accommodating and friendly, if that is my goal. On the other hand, if my goal is to initiate an event then I will carefully examine my communication to see that it is not tyrannical, but empowering and motivating. Separate from business writing, when I write thank you letters in my future I will create a sense of gratitude with the words that I choose.
Despite the effort I will put into maintaining a sense of good will in my writing, I also recognize the necessity of strengthening the other aspects of my paper: purpose, audience, and information. I feel that my ENGL 106 class will be especially helpful in this class because of the work we put into the three recurring themes of all writing: ethos, pathos, and logos.