•

Chapter
  Three

Writing styles and techniques

School of Computing
NAMEand Informatics,
OF THE Computer
INSTITUTE, Science Program
PARUL UNIVERSITY 1
 Cont’d...
•
“The purpose of good writing style is to affect the
reader in precisely the way that you intend”, Gowers
(1973).

 Good style means choosing ways of expressing

points that will communicate your ideas clearly.

 Your readers should not have to struggle to make out

the meaning of what you write.

 Be brief; be clear; be human.

School of Computing
NAMEand Informatics,
OF THE Computer
INSTITUTE, Science Program
PARUL UNIVERSITY 2
Good practices in report writing
•
 Four general requirements to produce good reports:

 clarity,
 conciseness ( quality words)
 continuity, and
 objectivity.

School of Computing
NAMEand Informatics,
OF THE Computer
INSTITUTE, Science Program
PARUL UNIVERSITY 3
 Clarity
•

 Report must convey your exact meaning to the

reader.

 Clear and unambiguous from the reader’s point of

view.
 Readers may not tolerate confusion, so, you must
re-examine your rough drafts with reader’s critical
eye.

School of Computing
NAMEand Informatics,
OF THE Computer
INSTITUTE, Science Program
PARUL UNIVERSITY 4
 Conciseness
•
 Some of your intended readers may be busy.

 Use fewest possible words and illustrations.

 Readers will be interested in your conclusions and

the supporting evidence.

 Be clear to them what you are describing and

why you are describing it.

School of ComputingNAME
and Informatics, Computer
OF THE INSTITUTE, Science
PARUL Program
UNIVERSITY 5
 Continuity
•
 Tell a complete story as logically and interestingly
as possible.

 Between succeeding sentences, paragraphs, and

sections.

 No idea collision among paragraphs

School of ComputingNAME
and Informatics, Computer
OF THE INSTITUTE, Science
PARUL Program
UNIVERSITY 6
 Objectivity
•
 Be honest with your readers.

 Tell your readers frankly what your assumptions

were.

 Confess when your errors are detected.

 Don’t use egoistic sounds to hide your doubt.

 Write to express, not to impress.

School of ComputingNAME
and Informatics, Computer
OF THE INSTITUTE, PARULScience Program
UNIVERSITY 7
 ?
School of ComputingNAME
and Informatics, Computer
OF THE INSTITUTE, Science
PARUL Program
UNIVERSITY 8