Writing Effectively

You learn in Freemasonry that grammar teaches you the proper arrangement of words.  But, to ensure you are writing effectively, your arrangement of those words involves much more than seeing that the “rules” are followed.

Force, elegance and beauty of expression 

You want your writing to be effective and it should be every bit as focused on force, elegance and beauty of expression as your rhetoric.  Perhaps more so, as your written words remain long after what you say has disappeared.

Do you want to be writing more effectively?

Do you worry about the effectiveness of your writing?  Ever find that what you have written was misinterpreted. or the point was missed by your audience?

Larry McEnerney, Director of the University of Chicago’s Writing Program, led this session communicating helpful rules, skills, and resources for graduate students interested in developing their writing effectiveness.  If you want what you write to be understood and taken seriously by your audience, you will find his suggestions very useful.

Do you understand how the purpose of your writing has changed?

You must understand the difference between the writing you did in school and the writing you do now.  The first was for people who were paid to read what you wrote and were interested to find out what you knew (teachers).  Now your audience is only interested in information that is of value to them.  This very important distinction comes alive in Dr. McEnerney’s talk.