Reading Reflection Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Composing Written Messages

This chapter continues developing phase two of the writing process. Once your outline is complete, begin composing your message. Set aside enough time to complete your composition. Choose a writing location where you can complete your thoughts and have a clear mind. Gather all the materials needed to finish composing your message. Follow these three steps to complete the composition:

1. Clarify Your Purpose: Keep in mind the main purpose of the message. Create a working title to keep your work focused. Once the composition is complete, review your writing to ensure it matches the title.

2. Follow an Appropriate Pattern: For short messages, consider the appropriate layout of the message. For routine messages use the opening, agenda, body, closing (OABC) format. This is used as follows:
   1. Opening: This should present the context of the message to the reader. It may contain background information, justification, an attention getter, etc. Bad news should begin with less emphasis on who made the decision.
   2. Agenda: This is a preview of the body of the message. The agenda should:
   ~Quantify: Tell the number of key content units
   ~Identify: Specify the subject matter that follows
   ~Organize: Explain arrangement of content units
   ~Symbolize: Create a visual mental image
   3. Body: This is the largest portion of the message. Information should be clear, correct, complete, and compelling. Include the best content possible and classify it in a logical way.
-Informative Messages: These must be written so material is clear. This can include information that evaluates, illustrates, instructs, defines, etc. They should be brief and can be organized around one or more 5W2H factors.
-Persuasive Messages: These are written to generate response from the audience. These messages are used to claim an action and demand a response. Think of a win-win outcome. Consider possible rejections.
   4. Closing: This should summarize the key points in the message. The conclusion should match the ratio of the length of the body. For example, longer messages should have a longer conclusion.

3. Strengthen the Content: After the message is composed, review the strength of the content. Use the following tools to determine this:
   1. Write with power: Use creativity in how you frame your message. Consider the audience and write directly to and for them. Be clear, concise, and direct. Give the most important ideas first. Use visuals. Highlight and contrast the differences in opposites or alternatives.
   2. Avoid Logic Fallacies: Your argument should be strong and exclude any errors in facts. The argument should be based on clear, unbiased, and careful reasoning.
   3. Compose Effective Paragraphs: There are three different types of paragraphs: introductory, body, or concluding.
   4. Coherence: Make sure the content flows logically from one sentence to the next. Make sure all ideas follow one another sensibly.
   5. Length: Avoid writing lengthy paragraphs and sentences.
   6. Development: Give adequate detail supporting the topic sentence. These should vary in type and length.