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6 INTRODUCTION About Readers You don't want to repel readers.This doesn't mean you have to flatter them or avoid saying something they may disagree with.It does mean you must respect them.Don't take their interest for granted or suppose that it is the readers'job to follow you.It's your job to guide them,to make their task as easy as the subject allows. Ask yourself questions about your readers:What can I ex- pect them to know and not know?What do they believe and value?How do I want to affect them by what I say?What attitudes and claims will meet with their approval?What will offend them?What objections may they have to my ideas, and how can I anticipate and counter those objections? Readers may be annoyed if you overestimate their knowl- edge.Tossing off unusual words may seem a put-down,a way of saying,"I know more than you."On the other hand,la- boring the obvious also implies a low opinion of readers: don't tell them what a wheel is;they know.It isn't easy to gauge your readers'level of knowledge or to sense their be- liefs and values.Sensitivity to readers comes only with ex- perience,and then imperfectly.Tact and respect,however,go a long way.Readers have egos too. Kinds of Writing The various effects a writer may wish to have on his or her readers-to inform,to persuade,to entertain-result in dif- ferent kinds of prose.The most common is prose that in- forms,which,depending on what it is about,is called exposition,description,or narration. Exposition explains.How things work-an internal com- bustion engine.Ideas-a theory of economics.Facts ofevery- day life-how many people get divorced.History-why Custer attacked at the Little Big Horn.Controversial issues laden with feelings-abortion,politics,religion.But whatever6 INTRODUCTION About Readers You don't want to repel readers. This doesn't mean you have to flatter them or avoid saying something they may disagree with. It does mean you must respect them. Don't take their interest for granted or suppose that it is the readers' job to follow you. It's your job to guide them, to make their task as easy as the subject allows. Ask yourself questions about your readers: What can I ex￾pect them to know and not know? What do they believe and value? How do I want to affect them by what I say? What attitudes and claims will meet with their approval? What will offend them? What objections may they have to my ideas, and how can I anticipate and counter those objections? Readers may be annoyed if you overestimate their knowl￾edge. Tossing off unusual words may seem a put-down, a way of saying, "I know more than you." On the other hand, la￾boring the obvious also implies a low opinion of readers: don't tell them what a wheel is; they know. It isn't easy to gauge your readers' level of knowledge or to sense their be￾liefs and values. Sensitivity to readers comes only with ex￾perience, and then imperfectly. Tact and respect, however, go a long way. Readers have egos too. Kinds of Writing The various effects a writer may wish to have on his or her readers—to inform, to persuade, to entertain—result in dif￾ferent kinds of prose. The most common is prose that in￾forms, which, depending on what it is about, is called exposition, description, or narration. Exposition explains. How things work—an internal com￾bustion engine. Ideas—a theory of economics. Facts of every￾day life—how many people get divorced. History—why Custer attacked at the Little Big Horn. Controversial issues laden with feelings—abortion, politics, religion. But whatever
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