By Dana P Skopal, PhD
Often we know our topic and material, but we get lost when trying to organise the key information for our reader. As writers we plan in different ways, but planning where to place the key information is important.
The most important information links to your key message and that should be up front, which is in line with the principles of plain language. A writer then needs to layer in sections what evidence / data a reader may need next – that is, once they have read that key message.
Once you have your mind map or summary notes, aim to unjumble your information and order it coherently for the reader by:
- knowing the big picture that you are trying to convey, ie in your message, what must your reader understand
- knowing the key (say five or six) stages / pieces of evidence that justify your key message
- linking your ideas (and document structure) with word/ discourse markers such as first, second, alternatively etc.
Remember that, as a writer, we need to work through the detail to come up with a recommendation or proposal. In contrast, our reader usually wants to know what the recommendation is, what they need to do with it, and then they may want to analyse the detail/statistics. Hence, is it important to organise a document in which the key information is easily accessible. This may also mean using key words in headings, as these can guide your reader through a longer document. So step back and make sure the big picture or key message is not lost somewhere in the middle of, or at the end of, your text.
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