Formal and Informal Writing

1. Formal and Informal Writing Considering Your Audience

2. Informal essays • Have more open topics; may be based more on personal opinion • Can use “I” – if addressing a personal topic • May be narrative in nature • Narrative essays do not always have a thesis • May be shorter to fit time or assignment requirements • Can have a more “story-like” introduction and conclusion • Still need to be organized

3. Formal essays • Formal essays follow an established format (introduction & thesis, topic sentences, organized body paragraphs, conclusion & restated thesis) • Strunk and White state that: • “In formal scholarly analysis, writers should: • Choose an introduction that matches the scholarly style • Avoid narration and plot summary • Avoid distracting introductions and conclusions • Example: rhetorical questions- ‘Have you ever wondered…?’ • Do not abbreviate or use contractions (example: can’t, won’t) • Do not use I, We, You, Your, Our, Me, My, etc. • These pronouns can be easily replaced with a more formal ‘one’ or ‘the reader’” (Chapter 2.12) • Work Cited: Strunk, William, Jr. and E. B. White. The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition. Needham Heights: Allyn & Bacon, 2000.

4. Knowing the difference between formal and informal essays • Literary scholars Strunk and White have the following truths to share: • “Formal scholarly analysis is different from creative writing, informal writing, journaling, etc. Each mode of writing has its own ‘language’ and style.” (Chapter 2.12) • “Skilled writers know how to switch and adapt tone and delivery to meet the requirements of a particular style.” (2.12)

5. RECAP: What are some of the differences between formal and informal writing? Contains a thesis Does not require a thesis Can be narrative, and does not have to follow a formal structure Follows formal structure May include him-/herself in the essay using first person: I, We, Me, My, etc. May NOT use second person (you) Writer removes him-/herself from the essay (no first and second person pronouns- I, You, We, Us, Me, My, etc.) Contains a formal voice (like a textbook) Voice varies depending on the purpose for writing and audience

6. So how do you know when to use formal or informal style? • Ask yourself these questions: • WHO IS MY AUDIENCE? • WHAT IS MY PURPOSE FOR WRITING? • The level of formality depends upon whom your audience is and your purpose of writing. • Who are some of the audiences you might write for?

7. Activity: What kinds of assignments/writing would fall under the following formality levels? Persuasive essay Autobiographical essay Narrative essay Analytical essay Personal speech Poem Research essay Journal Entry Song Informative essay Note to a friend

8. Let’s Practice: • You will be given a card with the following information: • Speaker/Writer • Type of Writing • Audience • Purpose • Based on the assignment you received, choose a level of formality and write it on the top of a piece of composition paper • Formal, Formal using first person, or Informal • Compose 2 paragraphs for the assignment you received. You have 7 minutes.