Erika Berglund

Dr. Joannah Portman-Daley

WRT 303
11 February 2016
What is Public Writing: Who does it, Why, When?
What does a peace sign, Donald Trump, and Smokey the Bear
have in common? Yes, I am asking to compare a symbol of peace, a
leading businessman and presidential candidate, and an advocate for
eliminating forest fires. So, can you find the common ground? A
connection may seem difficult to find, however, they are all examples
of public writing. Public writing is writing that is intended to bring
attention to an ongoing issue or problematic event. Its goal is to
stimulate the concerned publics and promote solutions to the problems
at hand through varies forms of writing. These forms include speeches,
stickers, brochures, and general newspapers and magazines. Public
writing is not limited to any specific form; however, there are different
categories to help define what the goal of the writing is trying to attain.
Personal public statements, activist writing, argumentative writing,
informative writing, and foundational and institutional writing, are a
few examples of public writing in action. Anyone can be a public
writer; making the possibilities of what issue will be addressed next
and the form the message will take, endless.

Public writing strives to make others pay attention to a problem,

usually one that affects the public they are apart of, and take action
towards finding solutions. Change occurs when people come together
and unite since there is power in numbers. This idea is extremely
imperative when engaging in activist writing, a category of public
writing. Activist writing is a way to share our political and social
concerns, and is driven when we feel strongly about a problem
affecting our community. For example, the peace sign is a type of
activist writing since wearing one, having one as a bumper sticker, or
even simply making the sign with your hands all represent a bigger
issue; world peace and love. Primarily during the 70s and during anti
war movements, the peace sign encouraged love and peace and was
understood by the entire public to join the movement and address the
problem they were faced with. The people wanted change so they
expressed their views and campaigned for action by using the symbol
of a peace sign. Activist writing announces the cause and your stance
on the issue sometimes without even saying a word. On the other
hand, another form of public writing, argumentative writing, appeals to
emotions and values and aims to arouse supporters while gaining
attention to the problem.
Argumentative writing can be informative, passionate, and
reinforce and enlarge a public that addresses an issue. According to
Linda K. Shamoon, author of Public Writing, it can take place through

formal or informal speeches, debates, forums, position statements, and

press conferences, etc. (Shamoon 4). Donald Trump partakes in all of
those mentioned. He addresses problems that affect the public and has
strong views on various issues or events, with the goal to influence
others to join his campaign. Some peoples values butt-heads with his
particular stances on the widely debated topics in society, however,
not everyone needs to agree to make argumentative writing effective.
In Donald Trumps case, he simply needs the majority of the public to
be his supporter in order for his actions to be implemented.
Argumentative writing stirs the public and aims for an emotional
response, whereas, informative writing may be persuasive by providing
a thorough look at the problem by addressing all sides.
Not all forms of public writing are argumentative or conflicting of
values. Some intend to simply inform the public of a serious problem
and allow them to take action if they deem necessary. Informative
writing involves complete research on an issue and informing the
concerned public through documentation or other justified means. The
example of Smokey the Bear is justified as informative writing since it
is a campaign centered on informing the public about the dangers of
wild fires. Smokey the Bear is an iconic figure in promoting prevention
towards wild fires and aims to involve the public in addressing there
actually is a problem present. Informative writing completely
researches all angles of the problem first to clearly address the best

possible solution. In this specific example, it is evident that through

research the best possible way to prevent the spread of wild fires is to
inform the public of the necessary provisions. They achieve this by
engaging with their audience by saying Only YOU can prevent wild
fires and informing that the only reasonable solution to the issue is to
take it upon yourself to know how to prevent wild fires and what to do
in the case of.
Ultimately, public writing is writing, in all its forms, that
addresses a problematic event or issue that affects the concerned
public. The previous examples of a peace sign, Donald Trump, and
Smokey the Bear, were given to show the variation amongst public
writing and how they can be classified. All three examples address
different issues that directly affect a public making them forms of
public writing. When problems need to be faced and a solution is
necessary, public writing enables the proper attention to be raised by
the public to take essential action. Many writers, including myself, may
have participated in public writing without even being aware. However,
being aware of the proper approaches to successfully project an
important issue to the public can improve response rates and even
lead to a solution. Public writing is another form of teaching others
about a problem outside of their common knowledge that may directly
affect them and encourages engagement in a solution. Public writing is
more than writing for personal gain or to increase fanfare on a problem

of interest but rather to address a problematic event or issue that may

not even be known to the concerned public. Knowing what you know
now, I encourage you to think about when youve engaged in public
writing or how it can possibly benefit your community.