My Blog as Seen in the Light of Nine Basic Principles

According to Basic Principles of Speech 4th Edition (Sarett/Sarett/Foster) there are nine effective speech principles.  They are:

• Effective Speech Reveals an Able Person.
• Effective Speech Communicates the Meanings Intended by the Speaker.
• The Goal of Effective Speech is Interaction.
• Effective Speech Presents Significant Ideas.
• Effective Speech Shows Clear and Cogent Organization of Ideas.
• Effective Speech Develops Ideas Through Critical and Creative Choice of Language.
• Effective Speech is Adapted to the Listener and to the Speech Situation.
• Effective Speech Makes Skillful Use of Voice and Gesture.
• Effective Speech is Marked by a Distinctive Style.

I have written blogs almost daily since May of 2010.  Most of these blogs can be seen as brief essays.  I would like to substitute the word “Essays” for “Speech” in the above principles and discuss my blog in relation to these principles. 

I will begin with the first: Effective Essays Reveal an Able Person.

Allowing for the inevitable–a distressing number of readers who find my essays ineffective and thus prima facie evidence of an unable person–I will even so mount a dogged defense.

In regards to the first principle,  let’s define “Able”.  Relevant definitions include: Adjective:

1. (usually followed by 'to') having the necessary means, skill, know-how or authority to do something
2. Having the skills and qualifications to do things well
3. Having inherent physical or mental ability or capacity  [WordWeb Pro]

I unabashedly affirm my essays reveal necessary means, skill, know-how or authority to write effectively. They reveal necessary skills and qualifications including mental and physical ability and capacity.  Beyond this definition, I think most agree that an “able person” also suggests someone who is steady, persistent, and reliable.  Since to date I have 1,987 posts, I will be the first to admit that scattered among occasional excellence is occasional dross.  But my general rule is to let unevenness stand without endless revision–though I may spend as much as an hour revising a single sentence at the time of writing.

In the nine days ahead, I look forward to considering my blog in relation to these principles. 

Print Page