Frequently asked questions disscussion

The reading by technical communication researchers Natasha Jones and Miriam Williams provides a review of plain language practices, and how they impact people in their everyday lives. Specifically, they examine how home mortgage documents as technical communication impact homebuyers, particularly African American homebuyers. This same concern is what compelled the federal government to issue plain language guidelines.

To frame your Questions: start with a Question Word [Q]

To provide answers: Write for Your Users [A]

What is plain language?

What do you understand social justice to be, from your reading of this article? Cite what consolidates this term for you.

Explain (from the reading) how and why the plain language movement needs to adopt a social-justice approach.

According to Jones and Williams, how is plain language (PL) understood traditionally? Provide some examples noted throughout the article.

According to Jones and Williams, how can language impact how people engage and participate in particular activities? What examples can you provide that aren't mentioned in the text? Perhaps examples from your own lived life (for example, I skip over the fine print on credit card statements because i..)

According to Jones and Williams, social justice (SJ) is missing from existing plain language theories and practices. In response to this gap, they "couple" plain language with critical discourse analysis (CDA) techniques. What is CDA, and what considerations does it offer plain language? Use their case to ground your response.

As you read this article, you are not simply getting the content, you can also see CDA as a method in application. Comment on the

1. research approach

2. methodology

3. the data and kinds of evidence that Critical Discourse Analysis uncovers

In examining CDA, you are mimicking the manner in which researchers show their work. For example see how the Wirecutter

(Links to an external site.)

explains how it arrives at a review. Scroll down to The Research to see how they document their work.

.