Energize Your Prose with the Power of Three Article by: David Priess Presented by: Raymond Wong

Objective “How to avoid the pitfall of monotony while honoring the ideal of succinctness”. “How to avoid the pitfall of monotony while honoring the ideal of succinctness”. Succinctness Succinctness -Pertains to the ability to express a great deal through the use of few words -Concise

What is the “Power of Three”? The Power of Three The Power of Three Words, Phrases, and Sentences Words, Phrases, and Sentences Innate rhythm Innate rhythm Example (Goldilocks and the Three Bears) Example (Goldilocks and the Three Bears) Mama Bear’s porridge was too hot Mama Bear’s porridge was too hot Papa Bear’s porridge was too cold Papa Bear’s porridge was too cold Baby Bear’s porridge was just right Baby Bear’s porridge was just right

Tense, Tenser, Release Julius Caesar Julius Caesar “Veni, Vidi, Vici” …”I came, I saw, I conquered”. “Veni, Vidi, Vici” …”I came, I saw, I conquered”. Winston Churchill Winston Churchill “Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals”. “Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals”. “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning”. “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning”.

Having a Strong Premise Take a strong statement Take a strong statement Follow it up with a supporting contrast or a quote that supports the first statement Follow it up with a supporting contrast or a quote that supports the first statement Create a rhetorical ending or conclusion Create a rhetorical ending or conclusion

Simplification using the “Power of Three” Ex. Ex. “I wish I could handle what life throws at me-and take action when it’s called for but not waste energy on things outside my control!” Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”.

Conclusion The “Power of Three” technique helps convey information in a memorable and sometimes poetic way. It is economic in the sense that it is efficient and holds many literary benefits such as: The “Power of Three” technique helps convey information in a memorable and sometimes poetic way. It is economic in the sense that it is efficient and holds many literary benefits such as: Shorter sentences (often desired in technical writing) Shorter sentences (often desired in technical writing) An immediate and attention drawing way of expressing an often complicated point An immediate and attention drawing way of expressing an often complicated point The ability to simplify an otherwise complicated expression. The ability to simplify an otherwise complicated expression.