This video takes a look at an aspect of rhetoric called metadiscourse. Don't let the term scare you. Metadiscourse refers to the language we use to frame our ideas and observations. Being self-conscious about metadiscourse will help you develop your own unique writing style.
When we break up the word "metadiscourse" we discover that it consists of two parts. The word "discourse" refers to language and communication. The prefix "meta" means "about." Metadiscourse thus refers to the language we use to talk about language.
An example would be a phrase such as "I will argue that ..." where I talk about the actual arguments. When you edit your writing you can often do without metadiscourse. At the same time, if you do too much pruning your writing will have no personality and your reader will have a hard time understanding how your ideas relate to each other.
In other words, studying metadiscourse will help you discover your own voice and will make you more confident in talking to your audience.
For more information about metadiscourse, see Nature of Writing is a Youtube channel and website dedicated to the teaching of English literature and writing.
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