# Elements of Political Communication/General guidelines/Audience

Find your audience and address it directly. Adapt to its needs and interests, but use a consistent tone and style in whatever you produce. Informal or anecdotal pieces are fine, but don’t start with an informal introduction and finish with a formal analysis of the subject. Avoid colloquialisms, but don’t try to impress your audience by using words or phrases you don’t fully comprehend, since educated readers will notice any malapropisms. Conversely, don’t be afraid to use words or concepts that some readers might not understand. In the proper context, the use of slightly more esoteric (yet relevant) concepts can give your audience a sense of accomplishment and education.

## Review

    A: We saw their tired faces each Sunday when they held their bowl up to get their meager helping of soup. Seventy-two percent of those on the other side voted for HB XX, which will reduce funding for indigent persons by 34.39 percent.
    B: We've seen the long-term trend of homelessness shift upwards dramatically. This bill will cut off the legs of our neediest citizens.
    C: We saw their tired faces each Sunday when they held their bowl up to get their meager helping of soup. Now they have introduced HB XX, which will cut off the legs of our neediest citizens.
    D: We've seen the long-term trend of homelessness shift upwards dramatically. Seventy-two percent of those on the other side voted for HB XX, which will reduce funding for indigent persons by 34.39 percent.
    A: The judge is biased against the African-American community and his black constituents are tired of his antics.
    B: The judge is biased against the black community and his black constituents are tired of his antics.
    C: The judge is biased against the black community and his African-American constituents are tired of his antics.
    D: The judge is biased against the African-American community and his African-American constituents are tired of his antics.
    A: The answer to this problem seems easy: Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem.
    B: The answer to this problem seems easy: The simplest solution is usually the best.
    C: The answer to this problem seems easy: Occam's Razor.
    D: The answer to this problem seems easy: Simplicity.
    A: A group of citizens has banded together to oppose our policies.
    B: A group of citizens has banned together to oppose our policies.
    C: A group of citizens has bandied together to oppose our policies.
    D: A group of citizens has band together to oppose our policies.
    A: If our leaders aren't giving us a clear example of Parkinson's Law of Triviality, I don't know what else you could call it.
    B: Our leaders are purposefully trying to distract us from a larger issue by having us argue about the details of a petty one. Can you say "Parkinson's Law of Triviality"?
    C: In a classic example of Parkinson’s Law of Triviality, our leaders are purposefully trying to distract us from a larger issue by having us argue about the details of a petty one.
    D: Parkinson's Law of Triviality, which states that "the time spent on any item of the agenda will be in inverse proportion to the sum involved," is clearly in effect here.

## Notes

* ↑ Laplante, Technical Writing, 22.
* ↑ Parkinson, Parkinsons Law, 9.
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