Organizing Information

Three Principles of Organization

• Analyzing your Audience and Purpose
• Using Conventional Patterns of Organization
• Displaying your organization prominently

Analyzing Audience

• Define an acutal audience
• Determine why you are writing this document -- what is your ultimate goal?
• Consider Multicultural Issues

How is the Information Presented

• Chronological
• Spatial
• General to Specific
• Based on Importance
• Compare and Contrast
• Problem - Methods - Solution
• Cause and Effect
• Classification

Chronological

• Defines a situation by when the events occurred - first to last

Spatial

• Top to Bottom, East to West
• Consider how a spatial arrangement relates to the information

Based on Importance

• Recognizes if the audience wants to know the bottom line
• Think of an accident report or a report for investors

Compare and Contrast

• Describes and evaluates at least two items or concepts
• Cause - Effect/Effect to Cause
• Determine the Criteria
• Avoid the Faulty Comparison Fallacy

Classification

• Assigning items to categories and sub categories
• Feasibility Report

Problem - Methods - Solution

• Reflects the logic of carrying out a project
• What's not working?
• Confirm the analysis - How are you approaching this?
• Was the analysis correct? Define the Solution

Cause and Effect

• Cause to Effect vs Effect to Cause
• Remember, the information is subjective, you are determining the factors being discussed