Response to Jeff Schafer

One of the points that I found interesting in Jeff's post was about varying sentence lengths. I have also tried to create variety in my writing, although I am not sure that I am always successful in it. I also liked that Jeff mentioned that sentences that vary in length actually allow ideas to be communicated in a more effective way. Sentence length is important not only to have variety in writing, but to express the relationship between ideas or to emphasize them. I also agree with Jeff about using plain, clear words instead of fancy ones. Since we are to take a reader-centered approach, we need to focus on what will be most useful for the readers, not just make the writer look intelligent. If the readers believe that a writer is just trying to show off, they create a negative attitude toward the writer and are less likely to be persuaded.