WRITING SAMPLES AND RESPONSES 1

Writing Samples and Responses Alastair Harris CRT/205 16 July 2012 Michael Wenk

WRITING SAMPLES AND RESPONSES Writing Samples and Responses

The follow paper will identify what is vague and what is ambiguous about the two writing samples from the Associate Level Material found. It will also explain how vagueness and ambiguity influences understanding. Lastly I will describe the relationship between critical thinking and clear writing. Example 1 The first example is very vague in nature. It starts with mentioning a case study on an organization with a van that has undergoing internal conflict. Then is says it will give the reason for the conflict and offer resolutions. The problem is a preexisting problem. The problem is with the religious leaders and their responsibility to the congregation. It goes on to state if they are in a leadership role, they bear responsibility and accountability. The vagueness of this example is that it never gave the true problem. It just let you know the problem was with the leadership. The ambiguity can be found in the way they grouped the leaders. Did every leader not fulfill their responsibility? The vagueness and ambiguity in this example made the whole study unclear. Is there a problem with the van or the leadership or both. Example 3 The third example start with that a collection will be taken to help with the cost of the new altar. The next sentence is vague by stating that anyone that wanted to help could do something. What is meant by do something? Then it was ambiguous by stating that the volunteers could step forward. Did they mean step forward in the literal sense?? Or did they mean to let someone know that they would help? The vagueness and ambiguity in this example left the question: what am I volunteering for to fix the altar or hire someone to do it?

WRITING SAMPLES AND RESPONSES Critical thinking and Clear Writing As stated in chapter 3 of our textbook, a good argumentative essay usually consists of four

parts: a statement of the issue, a statement of ones position on that issue, arguments that support ones position and rebuttals of arguments that support contrary positions. (Moore & Parker, 2012, p. 71). For each one of the four parts of writing a good essay one must critically think. With critical thinking there would be no flow of the essay. The points would not be address well. Lastly, the reader would not get the message that the writer was trying to convey

WRITING SAMPLES AND RESPONSES References Moore, & Parker, . (2012). Critical Thinking