Thoughts on Drafting

Before beginning the revisions on my Quick Reference Guide, I will address the guide to drafting presented in the Student's Guide to Drafting.

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What parts of the book’s advice on the above bulleted topics are helpful for writing in this genre?

The book presents a great model for creating a thesis statement, in which the thesis must address exactly what will be addressed in the following paragraphs while still being engaging to the audience.  A QRG might require a little less formal of a thesis statement, but it is still important that it directly addresses the subject and hooks the audience in with the pretext that the information is in fact personally important for them to learn.  The PIE format is also very useful in simplifying the structure of a paragraph.  One paragraph must discuss only a few ideas and stay focused on the topic.  The book also stresses the important of a well organized and engaging structure for the reader.  This is essential in a QRG, although the actual method of organization is different than that of the essay form discussed in the book.

What parts of the book’s advice on these topics might not be so helpful, considering the genre you’re writing in?

A QRG is much more fast paced and required to be engaging 100% of the time.  An essay has more leeway in that if it presents enough information with a solid argument it can keep the audience reading.  The paragraphs and a QRG can not exactly follow the PIE format, as they do not have to limit the discussion of one idea to a single paragraph.  The idea, instead, can be broken up into many smaller paragraphs analyzing various perspectives of the issue.  The bulk of the most important or interesting information also has to be somewhat concentrated in the beginning to keep the audience emotionally invested.  In an essay, that particular distribution of information would not be as effective.  The organization is the most dramatically different as the QRG requires the use of white-space, images, and short enough pieces of information to keep the audience reading.  An essay needs a solid presentation and ordering of information, but it does not necessarily have to be as graphically pleasing.

REFLECTION:

Andrea's blog had some very similar points to my own while Elliot's included thoughts about the conclusion that I had not previously thought about.  The conclusion really is a lot more focused on the future than a formal essay.  I wrote my QRG and specifically the ending in much more of an essay mindset.  Looking at my own QRG after seeing the different perspectives on drafting will result in the following changes;

1. Eliminating any excess information that is not really related to the main topic of my issue, Obama visiting Alaska and why it is causing a kerfuffle.  I also need to make that information much more clear and specific to the topic.
2. Keeping the organization the same, but spending more time addressing the specific subheadings I chose.
3. Focus more on the audience and what information is actually relevant and important to them to learn.