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CPL Workshop-Fall 14: Plain Language: So what? Principles of writing to show IMPACT( Chip Crane)
The document outlines principles for impactful writing, emphasizing the importance of audience, purpose, context, and document type. It stresses clarity, organization, and tone, while warning against common pitfalls like over-evidence and grammar mistakes. It provides practical guidelines to enhance communication effectiveness in both school and workplace settings.
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CPL Workshop-Fall 14: Plain Language: So what? Principles of writing to show IMPACT( Chip Crane)
- 1. S “So What?” Principles of Writing to Show
- 2.
- 3. Impact S Relevance S Why does it matter? S What’s at stake?
- 4. School Writing WRITERCONTENT (me) (stuff I have to write)
- 5. Workplace Writing AUDIENCE ME CONTENT But beyond audience…
- 6. Workplace Writing AUDIENCE CONTEXT PURPOSE ME CONTENT
- 7. Qualities of aMessage with Impact S Clarity S Humanity S Authority S Story S Evidence Don’t make readers CHASE your meaning.
- 8. 1 Audience SWho is your audience? Who are your readers? S How does the situation look from their point of view? S What assumptions and expectations do they bring with them? S What kinds of things keep you from thinking about your audience?
- 9. 2 Purpose SWhat problem is your communication solving? S What need is your message meeting? S What outcome do you seek?
- 10. 3 Context SWhat factors outside your control affect what you say and how it’s received? S Timing, Location, Setting S Power and Direction
- 11. 4 Document type S Email? Face-to-face? Phone call? S Letter, Web posting, Newsletter article? S Formal policy, New SOP?
- 12. 4 Document Type How can the same information take different forms in these document types? S Emails S Policy S Public Relations Articles S Staff Updates S Budget Request S Performance Evaluations S Letters of Recommendation S Procedures / SOPs
- 13. 5 Structure &Organization: S Prioritize – What do they need to read (or hear) first, second, last? S Place the most important information first S Provide necessary background S Organize your main points strategically S Make your desired response clear
- 14. 5 Structure &Organization Bottom Line Up Front S If you could only get one thought across, what would it be? S What does everything else point to?
- 15. 6 Words SSet the right tone S Formal or informal? S Personal or impersonal? S Choose the best style S Clear S Concise S Concrete S Active
- 16. 7 Grammar &Mechanics Does grammar matter? “They know what I meant.”
- 17. 7 Grammar &Mechanics You can plan you’re document write four the indented inpact your desire on you’re reader’s, but then loose credibility by, failing to profread and, corectly punctuate.
- 18. 7 Grammar &Mechanics Let’s try that again… You can plan your document right for the intended impact you desire on your readers, but then lose credibility by, failing to proofread and, correctly punctuate.
- 19. 7 Grammar &Mechanics One more revision for punctuation and word choice… You can do everything else well to create the intended impact on your readers but then lose credibility by failing to proofread and punctuate correctly.
- 20. Obstacles to Impact S Over-evidence S Too much, too soon S Precision over purpose S The Curse of Knowledge* * Chip and Dan Heath, Made to Stick
- 21. Following up? Christopher“Chip” Crane, Ph.D. President, CPoint Consulting cecrane@cpointconsulting.com 410-507-6938