Elements of Good Writing

Audience

First Person
The person who tell the story (narrator). I, we, me, us, mine, ours Uses to convey the plot to the audience. Communication between the author and the readers. When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.(Albert Einstein) When I am getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say and two-thirds about him and what he is going to say.(Abraham Lincoln)

Second Person
Refers to the person who is being spoken to. Using of pronouns you, your, and yours to address a reader or listener directly. Use of the imperative mood (to express a request or command) and used to give directions or instructions. The imperative is the command form of the verb without the 'you' included ('Start your engines' not 'You start your engines'). Begin most procedural steps with an imperative, rather than a noun. Using imperatives when you list steps for users to perform makes the instructions easy to read and concise. Example: "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. Youre on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy wholl decide where to go." (Dr. Seuss, Oh! The Places Youll Go! 1990)

Third Person

Refers to the person or thing that is being spoken about. Think of the third person as someone telling a story about another person or thing. Paragraph written use third-person pronouns (he, she, it, they, him, her, them, his, hers, theirs) and third person possessive adjectives (his, her, its, their) Most academic paragraph use third person. Example: He turned quickly and saw them leaving the theater.

Choosing Person in Formal or Informal Writing

Most writing that we do for school is considered formal writing. The first person is generally used in writing a personal story (narrative) or description. In most cases, academic writing uses formal techniques in the third person. Type of Writing Person Level of Writing Third First and/or Second First Formal Informal Formal or informal depending on audience

A paragraph about the importance of exercising A letter to your best friend A description of your best vacation