1. GEB 3213 Lecture 4: Clear Writing Good News Messages Lecture Outline

2. 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 ____________________________________.

3. Passive verb ≠ Passive construction Can you have active construction with a passive verb?

4. Clarity Active sentences are _____________________________. Active sentences _____________________________. Active sentences are _____________________________.

5. Clarity 1 Golden Rule 1: _________________________________.

6. 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 ____________________________.

7. Clarity 1 To make a passive sentence active:To make a passive sentence active: 1. or 2.

8. Clarity 2 Golden Rule 2 ___________________________Golden Rule 2: ___________________________ ____________________________.____________________________.

9. Clarity Principle 3 3. Whenever possible, _________________________________.

10. What Makes a Good Sentence? Ideally, each sentence should contain _________________________________.

11. What Makes a Good Sentence? Active verbs and active construction will help only if your subjects are ______________________, rather than ______________________.

12. What Makes a Good Subject? Think of your subjects as _________________________________.

13. What Makes a Good Subject? When you can’t find a person or thing that is acting in a situation, use a ___________________.

14. Clarity Corollary Avoid Nominalizations ____________________.Nominalizations = ____________________.

15. Hey, where’d you get the verb? Nominalizations usually _________________________________. To provide your verb(s), turn any nominalization _____________________.

16. Clarity Corollary For your grammatical subjects, avoid using isolated pronouns like __________ ____________

17. Clarity Corollary Avoid using _______________ or ______________in your sentences. Avoid using _______________ or ______________in your sentences. These constructions make for _______________________________. They also _________________________________ for your sentence.

18. Clarity Corollary Place your subjects and verbs ______________________________.

19. 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 _______________________________.

20. Types of Business Writing Informative and Positive Messages

21. Positive Messages Share good news ______________. Give _______________________. Explain ________________________. Use _____________________, shifting focus away from ___________ to ______________.

22. Subject Lines Make subject lines _________________. Make subject lines _______________.

23. Reader Benefits! Always stress _____________________________. Take focus away from institution or business and onto _______________.

24. Closings What are three problems with standard closings like “If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call me”? 1. 2. 3.