A review of  To the Point , Journal of Extension

Shaner, Jim

English

Kansas State University

Journal of Applied Communications Volume 73 Issue 2 Article 8 To the Point Jim Shaner Follow this and additional works at: https://newprairiepress.org/jac This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Shaner, Jim (1989) "To the Point," Journal of Applied Communications: Vol. 73: Iss. 2. https://doi.org/10.4148/1051-0834.1535 This Review is brought to you for free and open access by New Prairie Press. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Applied Communications by an authorized administrator of New Prairie Press. For more information, please contact cads@k-state.edu. To the Point Abstract A review of "To the Point", Journal of Extension. This review is available in Journal of Applied Communications: https://newprairiepress.org/jac/vol73/iss2/8 Reviews Language on a Leash by Bruce O. Boston. 1988. Editorial Experts, Inc. 85 S. Bragg St., Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22312. 123 pp. ($11.50 plus $2 shipping.) I think I won', recommend Language on a Leash to my physician. The last time I was in for a physical he asked me what I do for fun. When I replied that J read and write about words, his expression was one of genuine incom-prehension. Tennis or mountain climbing, maybe. Not words. But, readers who understand that words can be fun wi ll find this an apt addition to their book collection. Most of the 44 essays first appeared in The Editorial Eye, a monthly newsletter produced by Editorial Experts, Inc. for publ ications professionals. With these essays in one place, you can easily refer to those with special meaning for you-or lend them to a friend, if you're one of those bibliophiles who del ights in sharing " finds" with others. Among the reasons that Boston suggests for using "good" English-and for reading hi s book-is that doing so can prompt invitations to lots of nice places. ACE members who work with unski lled writers will find the essays titled "Close Enough Is Not Good Enough," and "Developing a Writer's Voice" not only useful but deli gh tful. In the essay on the need for cadence in effective speechwriting. the author reminds us to put the big idea at the end when using doubles and triples to establ ish cadence. W ho would remember Patrick Henry, Boston asks, if he had sa id " Give me death or give me liberty"? In one essay, the author questions why editors commonly work alone. He argues for team editing, especially on large-scale projects. A bonus to the reader o f th is sl im book is that nearly every essay points the reader to other books: some which, surely, you have read; some that you've intended to read and are grateful for the reminder; and some new ones that you can't wait to track down. Two chapters are devoted solely to reference books on writing. Joyce Patterson Oregon State University - Corvallis 1'10 the Point," Journal of Extension, (Madison, Wiscon-sin, The Extension Journal, Inc., National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges and the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy [ECOP], 1988-89). The Journa/'s new section, " To the Point," promises a dialogue from three national leaders regarding the issues faced by Cooperative Extension System (CES)-before the system 's directions are set. Typically, one person takes a stand, w ith the other two react ing to that person's position. Together, the three articles present a brief, but seasoned, thoughtful and well rounded perspective. 27 1Shaner: To the PointPublished by New Prairie Press, 2017"To the Point" reviewers select the issues and those best qualified to speak to them. In that sense, Journal editor Michael Quinn Patton says, the articles are "pre refereed." The number of these reviewers will be expanded to better ensure a national dialog. The list of contributors reads like a "who's who" in service institutions. Within the system, they range from national administrators Myron Johnsrud and Roy Rauschkolb, state administrators like Minnesota's Patrick J. Borich, to an extension projed leader from Cornell. And contributors include leaders outside CES, like Norman Brown, president of the W. K. Kellogg Founda-tion. Reviews of some articles follow: "Uncertainty: Condition Normal for the Future " by Roy S. Rauschkolb, ECOP Chair, opens the new section in the Winter, 19BB, issue (pp. 4-S) To meet the rapid changes in the structure of our social, economiC, en-vironmental, and natural resources, the chairperson of the Extension Com-mittee on Organization and Policy, writes that every person in Extension must have a strong scientific background. That background is needed, Rauschkolb says, to design, implement, and interpret the experimental data needed to solve problems. ECOP's chair argues that if we cannot "apply the principles of our various scientific disciplines to solve the problems of our clientele," we not only miss an opportunity, but we lose credibility which the Futures Task Force already found was in question. Scientific skills are needed to solve the prob-lems, and interpersonal skills in communication are needed to work with clients to implement the best solutions. The reactions are entitled "Clients Face Uncertainty, Too," by Patrick J. Borich, dean and director, Minnesota Extension Service, and "Even the Best Rubber Band Will Only Stretch So Far!" by Doris S. Smith, Office of Pro-gram Information & Analysis, Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of California-Berkely. In response to Rauschkolb, both administrators stress the need for these scientifically oriented specialists to be able to communicate well with clients. Diredor Borich emphasizes the dangers of overspecialization-clients already are often left to integrate specialized advice for themselves. He sug-gests two specializations for Extension staff- one in a scientific discipline, the other in adult education, change, or community development. He also warns against the danger of specialized agents looking more to their col-leagues than to their clients for direction and recognition, and the narrow-ing of Extension's reach to specialized audiences. Rather than embodying complete answers in eve!)' Extension specialist, California's Doris Smith calls for a team solution. She stresses these teams must develop and communicate knowledge and ways to integrate it to "allow people to make informed choices in the solution of their own problems!" The ability to do that, she writes, depends upon "administrators, program leaders, and individual staff maintaining the delicate balance between en-couraging individual excellence and developing, supporting, and rewarding team efforts." Brown's article, "Too Little, Too Late?," in the Spring, 1989 issue, says Extension's knowledge base should include the entire university. [t must in-clude more than colleges of agriculture and home economics. "Of all in-stitutions," says The Kellogg Foundation executive, "Extension should be a leader in building a pluralistic selL" 26 2Journal of Applied Communications, Vol. 73, Iss. 2 [1989], Art. 8https://newprairiepress.org/jac/vol73/iss2/8DOI: 10.4148/1051-0834.1535More Listening. Less Selling He also says Extension must do more listening and less sel ling in working with its citizen advisory groups. Susan G. Laughl in in "Yes, Bul. .. Yes, And," calls for a balance between a rapid response and a research-based response in meeting clientele needs. The associate dean or the College of Natural Resources, University of California-Berkeley, cautions that issues-based programming may aggrevate the problem of "Extension 's already weak link to campus-based research." For issues-based programming to be truly national, she suggests, each state must examine the National Initiatives and apply only what's relevant. In the Summer "To the Point," Wisconsin's Patrick Boyle stresses the need for individual change and the imfX)nance of issues-based progrdmming for Extension to conti nue to be relevant. South Carolina's Byron K. Webb en-courages forging partnerships with institutions outside Extension and sug-gests Extension must learn to act, wh ile its actions are still relevant. Usually, that's before "scientific publication and academic debate establish a firm research conclusion." Finally, a team from Cornell University suggests that CES playa stronger role in establishing the research agenda and that Extension professionals need to be better evaluators oi Extension's impact on people. Jim Shaner University of Missouri-Co/umbia " Technical Communication: Journal of the Society for Technical Communication." Edited by Dr. Frank R. Smith. Published quarterly by the Society for Technical Com-munication, 81 5 Fifteenth St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005. Subscription included in STC membership or available to nonmembers for $30 per year. Individual issues, $7.50. Technical Communication publishes articles of professional interest to writers, editors, artists, teachers, managers, consultants, and others involved in preparing 1echnical docu ments. The journal is usually 84 pages plus cover, 8-1/2 )( 11 inches, and saddle stitched. All articles are refereed. Each issue also features such regular depart-ments as: Recent and Re/evanr-One-paragraph abstracts of literature in aud iovisuals, communication, educat ion, graph ics, information , science, language, management, the profession , proposals, publishing, readability, reports, teach ing and writing. Technology Reviews-Readers who have experience with new products (hardware or software) are invited to submit reviews. Among the ProfeSSions-Careful comparisons examine the place of technical communication among the professions. Current Research in Technical Communica tion-Reports on in-progress research. 29 3Shaner: To the PointPublished by New Prairie Press, 2017

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