Introduction: The Art of the "Game Plan"

Think about the last time you asked for something important—maybe a later curfew, a raise at your part-time job, or a favor from a friend. Did you use the exact same words and tone for each person? Probably not. You likely changed your approach based on who you were talking to and what you wanted.

In AP English Language, this is what we call making strategic writing choices. Every time a writer puts pen to paper (or fingers to keys), they are making intentional decisions to help their message land effectively. In this chapter, we’ll explore how to identify these choices and, more importantly, how to make them yourself when you write.

What is a "Strategic Choice"?

A strategic choice is any decision a writer makes—from the words they pick to the way they structure a sentence—with the goal of influencing the audience. Writing is never accidental; it’s a series of "moves" designed to achieve a specific purpose.

Note: For a deep dive into the specific parts of the rhetorical situation (like exigence and context), check out the chapter "Components of the rhetorical situation." For now, just remember that the situation is the "why, who, and where" of the writing, and the choices are the "how."

1. Diction and Syntax: The Building Blocks

The most immediate choices a writer makes involve diction (word choice) and syntax (sentence structure). These choices create the tone and style of the piece.

  • Diction: Using a word like "devastated" instead of "sad" is a strategic choice. It heightens the emotion to match a serious context.
  • Syntax: A writer might use very short, punchy sentences to create a sense of urgency. Alternatively, they might use long, flowing sentences to sound more academic or thoughtful.

Quick Tip: Don’t just identify a choice—ask yourself why it was made. If a writer uses formal language, they might be trying to establish authority or show respect to a professional audience.

2. Selecting Evidence for the Audience

Not all evidence is created equal. A writer must choose evidence that resonates with the audience’s beliefs, values, or needs (Skill 2.B).

Imagine a writer trying to convince a town to build a new park:

  • To an audience of parents: The writer might choose evidence about child safety and outdoor exercise.
  • To an audience of business owners: The writer might choose evidence showing that parks increase nearby property values and foot traffic.

Key Takeaway: Strategic writing means picking the facts, stories, or statistics that your specific audience will care about most.

3. Strategic Openings and Closings

The way you start and end an argument is a major strategic choice (Skill 2.A). These are the moments where you have the most power to hook your reader or leave a lasting impression.

Introductions

An effective introduction should be appropriate to the context. If the topic is an urgent crisis, a long, rambling story might be a bad choice. Instead, a direct and alarming statistic might be more strategic.

Conclusions

A conclusion shouldn't just repeat what you already said. It should reinforce your purpose. For example, if your purpose is to inspire action, your conclusion should feel like a "call to arms." If your purpose is to inform, it might end with a thoughtful reflection on the future.

The "Why This?" Test

When you are analyzing a text or revising your own draft, use the "Why This?" Test. For every choice, ask:

  1. Why this word instead of that word?
  2. Why this piece of evidence instead of another?
  3. Why this sentence structure here?

If the answer connects back to the audience or the purpose, it’s a strategic choice!

Did you know? On the AP Exam, the writing multiple-choice questions will often ask you to "improve" a draft. You aren't just looking for grammar mistakes; you are looking for the choice that best fits the rhetorical situation provided in the prompt.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • The "One Size Fits All" Approach: Using the same "fancy" vocabulary for every essay. Strategic writing means adjusting your level of formality to fit the situation.
  • Ignoring the Audience: Writing as if you are talking to yourself. Always keep the reader's values in mind.
  • Choice without Purpose: Using a metaphor or a long sentence just because it sounds "cool." If it doesn't help achieve your purpose, it’s not a strategic choice—it’s a distraction.

Quick Review: Putting It All Together

To master this skill, remember the relationship between these three things:

The Situation (Who are they? Why are they writing?) \( \rightarrow \) The Choice (What did they do?) \( \rightarrow \) The Effect (How does the audience feel or think now?)

Key Points Checklist:
  • Strategic choices are intentional, not accidental.
  • Choices include diction, syntax, evidence, and organization.
  • Effective choices are always based on the audience’s beliefs and needs.
  • Introductions and conclusions must be tailored to the specific purpose and context.
  • In the "Writing" section of the exam, you will be asked to make or revise these choices in a draft.

Don't worry if this seems a bit abstract at first! The more you practice looking for the "game plan" behind a piece of writing, the easier it will be to spot these strategies—and use them in your own essays.