This document discusses the importance of structuring messages effectively. It explains that thinking involves considering assumptions and conclusions, while structuring is about organizing ideas in a logical order. The key points are:
1. Thinking involves being aware of assumptions, drawing valid conclusions through deduction or induction, and avoiding logical defects.
2. Structuring means providing a hierarchy of main and supporting ideas and choosing an appropriate order, such as by time, importance or using a direct or indirect approach.
3. An effective structure stresses the conclusion first, divides into main points, and subdivides into supporting points to follow the audience memory curve.
2. “A message prepared in the mind reaches a
mind; a message prepared in a life reaches a
life.”
Bill Gothard
3. Outline
• Thinking versus Structuring
• Thinking Process
• Be aware of your assumption
• Draw valid conclusion
Induction
Deduction
• Provide logical defects
Don’t jump too fast to conclusion
Don’t hide your ideas
Don’t oversimplify
• Structuring Process
• Provide a hierarchy for your ideas
• Put your ideas in order
6. Thinking Process
• The process of considering or reasoning about
something.
• Your assumptions, which form the basis for your
thinking, are like assumptions about what will be
produced.
• Thinking Process has three steps:
1. Beware of your assumptions
2. Draw valid conclusions
3. Avoid logical defects
7. 1. Beware of your assumptions
• Assumptions are the basis for all the your thinking
• In business communication you make assumptions
Example:
“This program will increase our profits”.
Assumption: You want to make a profit.
“I better finish this report tonight or I'll get fired”.
Assumption: You want to keep your job.
8. 2. Draw valid conclusions
• Assumption and facts are what you start out with when you
are thinking; conclusions are what you end up with.
• It has two valid methods:
Deduction
Induction
Continued…
9. Deduction
• Deduction means to start with a general statement or
assumption and proceed towards a guaranteed
specific conclusion.
• For example “It's sunny in Singapore. If it's sunny in
Singapore, he won't be carrying an umbrella. So, he
won't be carrying an umbrella.”
10. Induction
• Induction begins with observations that are specific
and limited in scope, and proceeds to a generalized
conclusion that is likely, but not certain, in light of
accumulated evidence.
• You could say that inductive argument moves from
specific to general.
• For example “Every time I've walked by that dog, he
hasn't tried to bite me. So, the next time I walk by that
dog he won't try to bite me..”
11. 3.Avoid logical defects
You can avoid defects by remembering the three main
rules:
• Do not jump at conclusions too fast
• Do not hide your ideas :
o by focusing on less important issues
o behind exaggeration
o behind irrelevant events
• Do not over simplify
12. Structuring
Structuring is defined as to construct or arrange
according to a plan; give a pattern or organize
something.
Structuring a message:
• Providing a hierarchy of ideas
• Choosing the appropriate order for those ideas
13. Hierarchy of Ideas
• Stress your Conclusion or top level idea (audience memory
curve).
• Divide your writing or speaking into main points or
Second level ideas
• Subdivide these into supporting points
16. Put Your Ideas In Order
• Explanatory Ideas
You can order by time.
You can order by components.
You might order by importance.
17. • Action Ideas
Direct Approach
o State your top level idea first
o Use your strongest evidence
Indirect Approach
o Start with least controversial point
o Present rejected alternatives
o Use strongest evidence at last