Organizing for the Reader

1
Organizing for the Reader

• You organize for yourself (outlines, etc.), and
  you organize for the reader.

2
Learn to frame whats important
3
Organization is more important than grammar!

• Grammatical errors are not good, but for the
  reader theyre not as bad as these problems
• illogical sequence of ideas why am I reading
  about all these details when I dont yet know the
  big picture?
• no pattern of organization is this section
  moving from most important to least important
  ideas, or not?
• no flow of ideas I feel as though Im starting
  over again with each new sentence.

4
Cluster information and keep purpose clear. Is
this paragraph successful?
The State of Texas does not appropriate funds to
maintain and/or build surface parking lots,
parking facilities, or parking garages. All
parking on campus, including surface parking and
the parking garage, is operated and maintained
from the parking system revenues. Revenues
include the annual parking permit fee, incomes
from citations issued by The University Police,
and fees charged to use The University parking
garage. The construction of a second parking
garage is necessary. To meet the required
funding to construct this parking garage, it will
be necessary to increase the campus parking
revenue by raising the annual parking permit fee.
The parking permit fee will increase over a two
year period to accomplish this.
5
Keep Purpose in front of reader

• Bottom line on top
• of document, of paragraph
• at beginning of sentence

6
Organize to Highlight

• Keep the trail markers coming
• Where are we in the document?
• Which are major points?
• Which are supporting points?