LET'S COMMUNICATE
Agriculture Communication Newsletter
September 2000, No. 57
CONTENTS:
WRITE THE RIGHT WORD
REMEMBER THE BASICS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
WRITE THE RIGHT WORD
"All words are pegs to hang ideas on." Henry Ward Beecher
***
So, what's the point of all these writing "rules?" Is it just
sort of a Miss Manners or Emily Post kind of thing? No, there are
good reasons for striving to write well. One of them is self-
serving to a degree. Author William Zinsser wrote, "Bad writing
makes smart people look dumb." It's a fact. You are judged by the
way you communicate, writing and speaking, to a much greater
degree than you may realize. But even more important, if you have
information to give an audience, you have an obligation to make
it clear, understandable and accurate. An error in construction
or punctuation can cause confusion as bad as having the facts
wrong. After expending great effort to assemble good information,
don't blow it with bad presentation. The next few editions of
Let's Communicate, starting with this one, will include some
suggestions on becoming a more effective writer. These are not
quick fixes. Neither are they particularly difficult. For
example...
***
The best way to become a better writer? Read. Of course you read
every day, but do you give yourself a chance to read good
writing, outside of your usual subject matter so you have the
luxury to concentrate a bit on the writing rather than the
content? If you never read anything but mediocre writing you
don't provide yourself a role model for improvement. Reading
different things exposes you to a broader vocabulary and to the
cadence and rhythm of language. In short it helps you develop an
"ear" for writing. Then, when you encounter something expressed
awkwardly, you can say to yourself, "That sounds funny." Once you
recognize there's something wrong you can figure out how to fix
it. You can't become a musician without listening to music. You
can't become a writer without reading.
***
Now for some of that nitpicky stuff we all love. A recent query
asked about how to express percentages in a non-technical piece
for a general audience should it be "85%" or "85 percent?" Spell
out "percent." This is Associated Press style; the Gregg
Reference Manual, which also aims at general use, agrees. (There
was once disagreement on whether to use "per cent" or "percent."
The two-word version is rarely seen today.) Use figures (3
percent; 2.5 percent). The % sign is not likely to cause readers
confusion, but it's just best to avoid symbols in non-technical
writing. For "semi-technical" use I can live with either one, but
be consistent--all of one or the other.
REMEMBER THE BASICS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
Some of us give so many oral presentations we get lazy and don't
think about how we're speaking. Deanna Sellnow directs the NDSU
Public Speaking Fundamentals course and suggests a preparation
outline to plan informative speeches.
Introduction
I. Attention catcher
II. Listener relevance link
III. Speaker credibility
IV. Thesis statement
V. Preview of speech
Body
I. First main point
A. Supporting point
1. Data
2. Data
B. Supporting point
1. Data
2. Data
Transition
II. Second main point
Supporting point, data, transition, etc, through major points
Conclusion
I. Restatement of thesis
II. Summary of main points
III. Clincher
When we feel comfortable with a topic, we too often just stand up
and talk, forgetting to think about what our thesis is and the
three or four major points.
Structure your oral presentations so they have logical flow and
transitions between a few major points. Remember, your listeners
can't go back if they missed something like readers can.
Restating your thesis and main points may sound redundant to you,
but it will help your audience remember what's important.
LET'S COMMUNICATE
If you have questions or comments, or would like to submit information or
make a suggestion, contact:
Agriculture Communication
Attn: Becky Koch
7 Morrill Hall
Phone: 231-7875
FAX: 231-7044
e-mail: bkoch@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Go to Let's Communicate Index
|
