Writing with Style Writing and Style Manual 
Poway Unified School District  

Writing with Style |  The Writing Process | Writing Modes
Forms of Writing | Organizing Your Writing  | Formal and Informal Style
The Basic Structure of an Academic Essay | Writing on Demand
The Research Process | MLA Format

ELEMENTS OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

Whether you are writing e-mail to a friend or a formal essay for a class, all writing has several elements in common.  The three most important elements to consider are: 

Audience:     Who are you writing to?

Purpose:       Why are you writing?

Form:             What will the finished piece of writing look like?

Whenever one of these elements changes, it has an impact on each of the others.  For instance, if you are writing to a friend, you might choose a casual form, like e-mail or a note.  However, if you are writing an essay for a class, you will have a very different purpose and form. 

Before you start writing, determine the three elements for your particular writing task.

Audience: 

Determining your audience helps you to know what style (formal or informal) your writing should take.  It also will help you to understand the level of detail and information your finished piece of writing should contain. Consider:

·        Who will be reading this piece of writing?

·        Is a formal or informal style more appropriate for this audience?

·        What information on this subject does this audience need?

·        How much information does this audience already know?

Purpose: 

Determining your purpose will help keep you focused as you write.  The main purposes of writing are to inform, persuade, and entertain.  Why are you writing? Consider:

·        What do you want the audience to know when you are done?

·        What do you want the audience to believe or agree with?

·        What action do you want the audience to take?

Form:

Sometimes your form will be determined by the assignment, such as a research paper or an essay in MLA format.  However, sometimes you must decide what form will best accomplish your purpose for your particular audience.  Consider:

·        Is there a model or format that you are supposed to follow?

·        Would formal or informal writing be more appropriate for your audience and purpose?

·        How can you best organize your information to have the greatest impact on your audience?