Connecting With an Audience: Study Hall Writing Composition #11: ASU + Crash Course

Summary

This Crash Course episode, presented by Arizona State University, delves into the art of connecting with audiences through writing. Host Yumna Samie explores the concepts of 'audience addressed' and 'audience invoked,' illustrating how writers must adapt to their readers' expectations and backgrounds. The episode uses the example of a reporter, Minh, who learns to resonate with the rural community of Gooseburg by understanding their interests and avoiding stereotypes. Strategies for better audience engagement include considering access to writing, the medium's characteristics, and 'leveling down' complex ideas for clarity. The video emphasizes the importance of empathy and continuous learning to improve persuasive writing.

Takeaways

• 🎭 Bombing in comedy refers to when a comedian's performance fails to connect with the audience, leading to silence or negative reactions.
• ✍️ Writing for an audience involves negotiating meaning between the writer, the text, and the reader, which can vary depending on time and context.
• 📚 Audience addressed refers to the real people who actually see or read the work, and audience invoked is the imagined audience that writers aim to connect with.
• 🔍 Minh's example shows how understanding and adapting to your real audience’s needs can help improve connections, as he adjusted his writing to the goose farmers’ interests.
• 🛠️ Three key strategies for connecting with audiences are considering access, choosing the right medium, and leveling down explanations to ensure clarity.
• 📈 Access refers to how people can find or interact with your writing, helping to narrow down potential readers or groups.
• 🖥️ The medium of communication plays a role in determining how the message is conveyed and what type of audience interacts with it.
• 📖 Explaining concepts and jargon helps bridge the knowledge gap between the writer and the audience, making ideas more understandable.
• 🤔 Comedians and writers alike need to consider their audience’s preferences, experiences, and expectations to improve their connection.
• 📝 Understanding the difference between audience addressed and invoked helps writers adjust their content, leading to better persuasive writing and audience engagement.

Q & A

What is the term used to describe a negative experience comedians have when their performance fails to engage the audience?

The term used to describe this negative experience is 'bombing'.

How does the meaning of a text change when it is read by someone else?

When a text is read by someone else, its meaning becomes a negotiation between the writer, the text, and the reader, rather than just the writer's intent.

What are the two terms coined by Lisa Ede and Andrea Lunsford to describe how writers think about their audiences?

The two terms are 'audience addressed' and 'audience invoked'.

Who constitutes the 'audience addressed' in the context of writing?

The 'audience addressed' refers to the actual people who see the writer's work.

What is the difference between 'audience addressed' and 'audience invoked'?

The 'audience addressed' are the real people who will encounter the work, while 'audience invoked' is the imagined audience that the writer aims to connect with.

Why is it challenging to write for the 'audience addressed'?

It is challenging because they are living real lives with distractions, personal agendas, and different past reading experiences, making it difficult to predict their reactions.

How does Minh, the reporter for the Gooseburg Sentinel, adapt his writing to connect with his audience?

Minh adapts his writing by researching common goose farming techniques, avoiding stereotypes, and focusing on topics valuable to the farmers and residents of Gooseburg.

What are three strategies suggested for writers to better connect with their audiences?

The three strategies are considering access (how people find the writing), considering the medium (type of communication or publication), and leveling down the writing (shifting explanations to be less complex).

Why is it important for writers to define terms or concepts in their writing?

It is important to ensure clarity and understanding, as not all terms or concepts are common knowledge to all readers.

What does 'leveling down' in writing mean and why is it suggested as a revision technique?

'Leveling down' means simplifying the complexity of explanations to help readers understand better. It is suggested as a revision technique to avoid oversimplifying concepts too early in the writing process.

How does understanding the audience help comedians improve their performances?

Understanding the audience helps comedians by allowing them to cut jokes that might be uninteresting or confusing, thus improving their connection with the audience.