Thursday, November 17, 2011

Technical Communication Ch 8 & 9

Chapter 8 moves forward to help writers create a draft. One effective way to begin a segment is to announce your topic from the start. Stating the facts/main point upfront helps readers easily understand your message. Three effective ways to begin a segment are, to use a sentence, use a single word (first), or to use a question. The second way to begin a segment is by presenting your generalizations before your details. This saves the reader time and give the general point upfront. However, there are times when presenting your generalizations first are not effective. You don't want to start out with a negative reaction from the  readers. Sometimes it is best to show some facts and a base of your argument before stating your general points.

Chapter 9 is about putting your own voice into the article and owning it. As a writer, you have to decide how formal, or informal you want to be perceived. Saying things in your own words creates a more personable style. However, that does not mean you should always be as informal. If you are writing a report, proposal, etc, with other writes it is best to have a uniform voice. Chapter 9 also urges writers to put action into verbs. Do not use passive sentances and instead convert your verbs to become full of action and energy. Emphasizing the most important points of the article, report, etc., can be achieved throuhg clear, forceful sentences.

No comments:

Post a Comment