Clarity

“In the work place you do not write for a grade, you write for a living”
Jim Frank, electrical contractor

Confusion is a great detractor to writing. Without a logical development of your thoughts from background to problem to solution and then to conclusion, the reader is not going to be informed or convinced.

Unity of thought requires you to take one topic and treat it with a singleness of purpose that disregards any unrelated or loosely related paths. This idea of unity requires preparation. This requires an organizer it may be an outline, a graphic prewriting organizer or just a list of ideas the important goal is to create a logical sequence of thought.

Clarity requires you to have a beginning, middle and an end. The bridges between these elements require the use of transitions. As you edit your paper, you need to look for these elements. If they are not clear, change what you have written. I know this process requires multiple versions of the same material, but to be clear and communicate clearly it is essential that you take this time to learn how to do this well.

Point of view establishes the person through whose eyes you viewing the information. Literature writing it is usually in third person. Technical writing frequently uses the first person.

Word choice is necessary to understood what is written.

Vague words, cliché will distract the reader or create the impression of being informal when you want to create a serious or formal environment.

Conciseness takes the obscure and makes it to the point. The writer needs to keep in mind the intended audience is at all times. If the audience is knowledgeable then you do not need extensive qualifiers and background.

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