What is your research question/rhetorical situation?
To what extent is criticism necessary in building one’s character?
What is your connection to rhetorical situations and why are you uniquely placed to write about it?
My research question ties back to my teachable moment. In my teachable moment, I recognized my own strength when I was able to be vulnerable and reach out for help when I received unsettling comments about my appearance. With this teachable moment, it made me understand the negative impacts of unsolicited criticism from peers, and this in turn made me question how impactful criticism is in terms of shaping one’s character. As I have been personally impacted by criticism, it makes me want to write about whether or not criticism actually helps shape people into good human beings.
Where do you imagine your writing “existing”? (newspaper, magazine, youtube, personal blog)
I intend for my writing to exist within a newspaper because it seems to be the most credible source. I want my work to be received as accurate and credible, and sometimes the source of my writing can be the most influential.
Who is your target audience?
My piece will be targeted towards people who are prone to giving criticism. In reality everybody provides criticism, so you can say my target audience is everyone. However, I am more so targeting parents and supervisors who are aware of their words, and are in a position to be providing feedback to their kids or supervisees.
What form will your writing take? (Research paper, narrative, letter, script.)
I would like to establish a more formal piece of writing to make sure my content is well received and viewed as credible; however, I also want to introduce some formal aspects in order to connect with my audience and establish a level of sincerity. If I can, perhaps I would merge a research paper and narrative into one format.
Why is this form the most effective way to communicate to your target audience?
This form is the most effective way because my writing would retain the credibility of a research paper, but at the same time my piece can remain relatable and easy to understand like a narrative.
What is the value you’re trying to impart on your audience?
To my audience, I am trying to emphasize the importance of being careful with our words. People may choose to say one thing on a whim, but what they say can cause a large impact on the people who receive their words.