Chapter 9: Emphasizing Important Information

Emphasizing Important Information

Writing clear, imformative -titles -headings -lists -paragraphs

There are two kinds of paragraphs

a body paragraphs 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

Use three techniques to emphasize coherence

add transitional words and phrases repeat key words use demonstrative pronouns followed by nouns

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

follow one of three techniques when dividing long paragraphs

break the discussion at a logical place make the topic sentence a separate paragraph and break up the supporting information use a list

Paragraph lengths can vary

don't let arbitrary guidelines dictate length if a brief paragraph fulfills its function, let it be long paragraphs are more difficult to read and more intimidating than short paragraphs consider how the information will be printed or displayed many one-sentence paragraphs need revision

study documents from other cultures to answer four questions

how does the writer make the information accessible? How does the writer show the relationship among types of information? How does the writer communicate the organization of the document? how does the writer make transitions from one subject to another?

Supporting information usually fulfill one of five roles

it defines a key term or idea included in the topic it provides examples or illustrations of the situations 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

Turning paragraphs into lists present four advantages

it forces you to look at the big picture it forces you to examine the sequence it forces you to create a helpful lead-in it forces you to tighten and clarify your prose

Write a clear, informative title

jot down a working title before you start drafting use precise key terms test your title by asking whether readers could paraphrase it in a clear, meaningful sentence

Follow these five suggestions for writing paragraph 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

Avoid burying bad news in paragraphs

the most emphatic location 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

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