Establishing the Significance of a Fact Writing Workshop

The Significance of Facts Facts- they’re needed to provide information, but what are the different types of facts??

Facts- they’re needed to provide information, but what are the different types of facts??

Three Main Types Facts to provide background information Facts that are important Facts that are REALLY important

Facts to provide background information

Facts that are important

Facts that are REALLY important

Making your Facts Clear to the Reader As the writer, it is your job to explain so the reader understands which facts you want to emphasize, and why a particular fact is significant.

As the writer, it is your job to explain so the reader understands which facts you want to emphasize, and why a particular fact is significant.

Example Topic: Germany after World War II. You write: In December of 1990, Helmut Kohl won a decisive victory and became chancellor of Germany. So what? True, this was more than just one more election, but don’t assume your readers know that. It is important to follow this sentence with another.

Topic: Germany after World War II. You write:

In December of 1990, Helmut Kohl won a decisive victory and became chancellor of Germany.

So what? True, this was more than just one more election, but don’t assume your readers know that. It is important to follow this sentence with another.

Second Sentence This was the first time all Germans had voted together for a leader since the country was divided in 1949. That second sentence shows us the importance of this election by putting it in the context of German history.

This was the first time all Germans had voted together for a leader since the country was divided in 1949.

That second sentence shows us the importance of this election by putting it in the context of German history.

Second Example Topic: The Battle of the Bulge, the last big German counteroffensive in World War II. You write: The Germans suffered 220,000 casualties. This sounds like terrible carnage, but readers are so used to reading huge numbers of dead during war they may get numb and just read on. You may want to make them ponder this number by adding: In this one battle the German suffered more casualities than all the United States casualties during the entire Vietnam War.

Topic: The Battle of the Bulge, the last big German counteroffensive in World War II. You write:

The Germans suffered 220,000 casualties.

This sounds like terrible carnage, but readers are so used to reading huge numbers of dead during war they may get numb and just read on. You may want to make them ponder this number by adding:

In this one battle the German suffered more casualities than all the United States casualties during the entire Vietnam War.

Adding Significance During Revision: Make sure any important facts you have aren’t buried and are fully explained. Is there any place where the reader might not understand the importance of what you have written? You may have to add a sentence to explain why this is important.

During Revision:

Make sure any important facts you have aren’t buried and are fully explained.

Is there any place where the reader might not understand the importance of what you have written?

You may have to add a sentence to explain why this is important.