Transcript Chapter 6

Understand eight typical
patterns of organization:
• chronological
• spatial
• general to specific
• more important to less important
• comparison and contrast
• classification and partition
• problem-methods-solution
• cause and effect
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Follow four guidelines
when revising headings:
• Avoid long noun strings.
• Be informative.
• Use a grammatical form appropriate to your
audience.
• Avoid back-to-back headings.
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There are two kinds of paragraphs:
• A body paragraph is a group of sentences (or
sometimes a single sentence) that is
complete and self-sufficient and that
contributes to a larger discussion.
• A transitional paragraph helps readers move
from one major point to another.
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Most paragraphs contain two elements:
• The topic sentence states, summarizes, or
forecasts the main point of the paragraph.
• The supporting information makes the topic
sentence clear and convincing.
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Avoid burying bad news in paragraphs:
• The most emphatic location in a paragraph is
the topic sentence.
• The second most emphatic location is the end of
the paragraph.
• The least emphatic location is the middle of the
paragraph.
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Supporting information
usually fulfills one of five roles:
• It defines a key term or idea included in the topic
sentence.
• It provides examples or illustrations of the
situation described in the topic sentence.
• It identifies causes: factors that led to the
situation.
• It defines effects: implications of the situation.
• It supports the claim made in the topic sentence.
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Use three techniques
to emphasize coherence:
• Add transitional words and phrases.
• Repeat key words.
• Use demonstrative pronouns followed by
nouns.
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Use transitional words and phrases:
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Use these seven techniques
for structuring effective sentences:
• Use lists.
• Emphasize new and important information.
• Choose an appropriate sentence length.
• Focus on the “real” subject.
• Focus on the “real” verb.
• Use parallel structure.
• Use modifiers effectively.
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Use these five guidelines
for creating effective lists:
• Set off each listed item with a number, a letter,
or a symbol (usually a bullet).
• Break up long lists.
• Present the items in a parallel structure.
• Structure and punctuate the lead-in correctly.
• Punctuate the list correctly.
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Use parallel structure:
• Use the same grammatical form for coordinate
elements in a sentence.
– all clauses either active or passive
– all verbs either indicative or imperative
– all nouns preceded by the same article
• Parallel structure creates a recognizable pattern
and makes a sentence easier to follow.
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Use modifiers effectively:
• Distinguish between restrictive and
nonrestrictive modifiers.
• Avoid misplaced modifiers.
• Avoid dangling modifiers.
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Choose the right words and phrases:
•
•
•
•
Select an appropriate level of formality.
Be clear and specific.
Be concise.
Use inoffensive language.
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Select an appropriate level of formality:
There are three levels of formality:
• informal
• moderately formal
• highly formal
Use a level and tone appropriate for your
• audience
• subject
• purpose
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Use these seven techniques
for writing clearly and specifically:
• Use the active and passive voice appropriately.
• Be specific.
• Avoid unnecessary jargon.
• Use positive constructions.
• Avoid long noun strings.
• Avoid clichés.
• Avoid euphemisms.
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Use the active and
passive voice appropriately:
Use the active voice unless
• the agent is clear from the context
• the agent is unknown
• the agent is less important than the action
• a reference to the agent is embarrassing,
dangerous, or in some other way
inappropriate
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Use these three techniques
for writing specifically:
• Use precise words.
• Provide adequate detail.
• Avoid ambiguity.
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Avoid unnecessary jargon for four reasons:
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It can be imprecise.
It can be confusing.
It is often seen as condescending.
It is often intimidating.
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Be concise:
• Avoid unnecessary prepositional phrases.
• Avoid wordy phrases.
• Avoid fancy words.
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Follow these five guidelines
for avoiding sexist language:
• Replace the male-gender words with non-genderspecific words.
• Switch to a different form of the verb.
• Switch to the plural.
• Switch to he or she, he/she, s/he, or his or her.
• Address the reader directly.
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Follow these five guidelines
for using the people-first approach:
• Refer to the person first, the disability second.
• Don’t confuse handicap with disability.
• Don’t refer to victimization.
• Don’t refer to a person as “wheelchair bound” or
“confined to a wheelchair.”
• Don’t refer to people with disabilities as abnormal.
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