During English 101 this quarter we learned many writing moves, concepts, and processes. We used these strategies in order to write a critical inquiry essay. These concepts were very useful and necessary to achieve this goal, and are even useful outside of the classroom as well. Out of the equivalent concepts that were covered, I believe that anticipating objections is the most universally useful.

 

            Anticipating objections is a writing move that has the writer guessing the possible objections that their reader or listener might come up with while reading or listening to their writing. Take the example used in class; you have a claim about the ideals of superman being unchanging. By attempting to guess possible objections you realize that there are several faults in your line of thinking about superman. In this way anticipating objections become incredibly useful. This writing move allows for personal criticism and realizing your own faults in your idea path. It also reinforces your ideas to the reader, by showing them that you realize the faults in your own claim they are more likely to believe what it is you are trying to say.

 

            Outside of English I see myself using anticipating objections in many ways. I have already used it in another class this quarter, for my Communications 101 class. In this class we gave four speeches, each about different topics and attempting to achieve different goals. For each speech, except the first one, we were to plan out what we were going to say by writing out an outline of the speech.

 

          In the last of these speeches the end goal was to persuade our listeners to a specific point or stance on a subject. Here is where I find anticipating objections the most useful outside of class. By trying to figure out and handle the objections that my audience might possibly have to the stance I was trying to make my main point would help give my speech credence. My audience is more likely to see my way or at least give my line of thinking the time of day if I show them that I understand my thinking is not faultless, or I understand where they are coming from. Not only does this writing technique help in giving myself and my stance a stronger footing, but it is also an incredibly useful tool while editing early drafts. While in the process of writing anything, but in this case a five to seven minute speech, by anticipating my audience’s objections while editing my outline I can see where my reasoning fails. Even if I do not include the anticipated objections in the writing, the writing still gains that boost in reasoning.

 

          Outside of English 101 and college in general I can see myself anticipating objections in several cases. The first, and maybe the most common use, is while trying to argue a point to a peer or while at work. If I am trying to make my coworkers understand why I used a specific process or technique, it would make the task of convincing them easier if I am also trying to anticipate their objections as well.

 

           Besides debating with coworkers or peers, anticipating objections can also be used during personal critique of my own values and beliefs. By seeing other people’s viewpoints or arguments, I can more effectively critique my own viewpoints.