GEB 3213

Lecture 4: Lecture 4: Clear WritingClear Writing

Good News MessagesGood News Messages

Lecture OutlineLecture Outline

Basic Grammatical Terms

• In active construction, the action flows ___________________________________.

• In active construction, the actor ___________________________________.

• In passive construction, the action ___________________________________.

• The verb is always _____________________.

• The actor ____________________________________.

Passive verb ≠ Passive construction

Can you have active construction with a passive verb?

Clarity

• Active sentences are _____________________________.

• Active sentences _____________________________.

• Active sentences are _____________________________.

Clarity 1

• Golden Rule 1: _________________________________.

Clarity 1

• How can you tell if a sentence is passive?How can you tell if a sentence is passive?• The “____________________?” test• The verb is __________________.• The originator of the action

____________________________.

Clarity 1

• To make a To make a passivepassive sentence sentence activeactive::1. or2.

Clarity 2

• Golden Rule 2Golden Rule 2: ______________________________________________________

• ____________________________.____________________________.

Clarity Principle 3

3. Whenever possible, _________________________________.

What Makes a Good Sentence?

• Ideally, each sentence should contain _________________________________.

What Makes a Good Sentence?

• Active verbs and active construction will help only if your subjects are ______________________, rather than ______________________.

What Makes a Good Subject?

• Think of your subjects as _________________________________.

What Makes a Good Subject?

• When you can’t find a person or thing that is acting in a situation, use a ___________________.

Clarity Corollary

• Avoid Nominalizations• Nominalizations = ____________________.____________________.

Hey, where’d you get the verb?

• Nominalizations usually _________________________________.

• To provide your verb(s), turn any nominalization _____________________.

Clarity Corollary

• For your grammatical subjects, avoid using isolated pronouns like

• __________• __________• __________• ____________

Clarity Corollary

• Avoid using Avoid using _______________ or _______________ or ____________________________in your sentences.in your sentences.

• These constructions make for _______________________________.

• They also _________________________________ for your sentence.

Clarity Corollary

• Place your subjects and verbs ______________________________.

Clarity Corollary

• If you place too much information between subject and verb:

• your readers will _____________________ by the time they reach the verb.

• your readers will _______________________________.

Types of Business Writing

Informative and Informative and Positive MessagesPositive Messages

Positive Messages

• Share good news ______________. • Give _______________________. • Explain ________________________. • Use _____________________, shifting focus

away from ___________ to ______________.

Subject Lines

• Make subject lines _________________.• Make subject lines _______________.

Reader Benefits!

• Always stress _____________________________.

• Take focus away from institution or business and onto _______________.

Closings

• What are three problems with standard closings like “If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call me”?

1. 2. 3.