Ch 15 - Organizing and Drafting Flashcards
What is a basic organizational pattern that any document can follow?
- Introduction - builds a context - what and why
- Body - provides the content needed to make a decision
- Conclusion - rebuilds the context
How do you use genres to organize and outline documents?
Sketch shape of document by creating outline based on genre.
Genres are predictable patterns for organizing information to achieve a specific purpose.
How do you organize and draft a document’s introduction in six moves?
- Define subject
- State purpose
- State main point
- Stress importance of subject
- Provide background information
- Forecast content (for longer documents)
How do you use sections and arrangement patterns to organize and draft the body of a document?
- Each section has an opening, a body, and sometimes a closing.
- Sections follow patterns of arrangement to organize information.
How do you draft a strong and persuasive conclusion in five moves?
1) Make obvious transition
2) Restate main point
3) Reemphasize importance of subject
4) Look to the future
5) Say thank you and offer contact information
How do you organize documents for transcultural readers?
Some cultures, especially Eastern ones will feel more comfortable with an “indirect approach” that moves from general (in introduction) to specific (in conclusion).
What three things does the organization of a document accomplish?
Highlight key points - making important information easy to locate
Reveals reasoning - by arranging the information in a logical way
Allows different speeds of reading - scanning or reading in depth
What are the three parts of a section, within the body of a document?
Opening - identifies subject and purpose of subject, typically includes claim that rest of section supports
Body - support claim of opening
Closing (optional) - restates claim, looks forward to next section
What are nine major patterns of arrangement used for writing the body sections of a document?
Cause and effect Comparison and contrast Better and worse Cost and benefits If/Then Either/Or Chronological order Problem / needs / solution Example
