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9k Delivering an argument

9kDelivering an argument

When someone asked the ancient orator Demosthenes to name the three most important parts of rhetoric, he said: delivery, delivery, delivery. In short, while what speakers said was important, the way they said it was of even greater importance. Today, Demosthenes’s words have special meaning: we live in a time of information overload, when many powerful messages are vying for our attention. In such a time, getting and keeping an audience’s attention is paramount—and doing so is all about delivery. Figuring out the medium of delivery (print? digital? in-person?) and the appropriate genre is important, and so is designing the argument to appeal to your target audience. As a writer in the digital age, then, you will need to think carefully about how to deliver your message.

What medium will best get and hold your audience’s attention? print? video? in-person or Web presentation? social media site? Choosing just the right one is important to your success. (2f)
What genre is most appropriate for your message? a report? a narrative? an essay? a brochure? (2f)
What word choice, style, and tone will be most successful in delivering your message?
Are any conventions expected in the kind of argument you are writing? Look for examples of similar arguments, or ask your instructor for information. (2f)
What visual style will appeal to your intended readers, set a clear tone for your argument, and guide readers through your text? Spend time thinking about how the argument will look, and aim for a consistent visual design and for appealing fonts and colors. (Chapter 16)
Are visual and media elements clearly integrated into your argument? Place images close to the text they illustrate, and label each one clearly. Make sure that audio and video files appear in appropriate places and are identified for users.

After you have a rough plan for delivering your argument, test it on friends and classmates, asking them what you need to change to make it more effective.