Week 8: Writing Style Strategies Summary

Question 1

What are the 3 phases of writing?

Answer 1

1. Inventing
2. Drafting
3. Revising
   Note: Can be linear or iterative (less efficient)

Question 2

What is the Communication Process? 6 steps

Answer 2

1. Sender has idea
2. Sender encodes idea in message
3. Message travels over channel
4. Receiver decodes message
5. Feedback travels to sender
6. Possible additional feedback to receiver

Question 3

What is Cognitive Interference?

Answer 3

Ways in which elements of poor format or style can interfere with reader’s ability or willingness to focus on the message

Question 4

Which type of Order Strategy is this: “There are many aspects of the problem that have not yet been
considered”?

Answer 4

Empty sentence opener

Question 5

Which type of Order Strategy is this: “Engineers, because they inadvertently write in ways that, all too
often, use technical jargon, lengthy noun strings, and the passive
voice, have difficulty communicating with non-specialists”

Answer 5

Embedded phrases

Question 6

Which type of Order Strategy is this: “The information provided in the report suggesting the cause of
the crash was due to mechanical failure is not persuasive for the
most part”?

Answer 6

Weak ending

Question 7

What is Passive Voice?

Answer 7

Goal -> Action -> Agent

Ex. Bridges are designed by engineers

Question 8

What are 4 revisions strategies to look for Connection?

Answer 8

1. Repetitive structures
2. Parallel sentence structure
3. Vague “this” subjects
4. Transitional tags

Question 9

What are 4 revision strategies to look for Clarity?

Answer 9

1. Short sentences
2. Specialized language
3. Noun strings
4. Prepositional phrases

Question 10

What are 3 revision strategies to look for Conciseness?

Answer 10

1. Nominal style
2. Talkie vs descriptive verbs
3. Wordy phrases