Final answer:
A poorly written buffer leads to misconceptions about the content that follows, reflecting a lack of awareness of the audience and rhetorical situation. Buffers should be relevant, empathetic, and correctly set the tone for the message. Key email writing techniques include precise subject lines, inclusivity, brevity, and nuanced language.
Step-by-step explanation:
A poorly written buffer in a message can lead to several issues. Primarily, it can mislead the reader into believing that good news will follow when it may not, thus setting the wrong tone and expectation for the message. Moreover, if the buffer is not carefully and thoughtfully crafted, it may not appropriately reflect the rhetorical situation or the writer's intent to meet or challenge conventional expectations in ways that are effective and rhetorically appropriate. This can result in lapses in tone and language choices, making the writing unsuited to the audience and purpose, and can communicate minimal awareness of the audience's needs or the context within which the message is received. To avoid these pitfalls, the writer should ensure that buffers are relevant to the topic, show appreciation or empathy towards the audience (when appropriate), and stimulate the reader's interest without misleading them. Effective email writing techniques also include using clear and precise subject lines, inclusive language, short paragraphs, and cushioning language that fairly represents uncertainty while still conveying the key message.