Comparing Writing Environments Worksheet

Directions: After carefully studying each sample document at the beginning of Chapter 1, answer the
following questions to determine how they are different and how they are similar.

Technical Document Research Paper Personal Essay

Subject Subject:Mitral Valve Subject:advantages of Subject:A sad girl

Prolapse Porcine Values In Heart Presented:It was
What is the subject of
each document? Presented: Valve Replacement presented as if she
Surgery was telling a story
How is each subject Presented: Describe:There was
presented? no research required
because her story
Describe the research was about how she
required for each
was feeling.
document.

Audience
What does each writer
want from his or her
reader?

What has the writer

done to consider the
needs of the reader?

Organization
Describe the
organization of each
document.

In which document is
the organization
apparent at one glance?

Style
Describe the style (the
way an author uses
words and sentences) of
each document.
Tone
Describe the tone (the
emotional overtones) of
the document.

Special Features
Which document uses
special features such as
headings, boldface, lists,
and graphics?