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Lecture 5.2 art of explanation lecture student notes
- 1. Informative Communication Lecture 5.2 University ofAlberta ALES 204 Nancy Bray 1
- 2. Housekeeping Next week labs:Arts 118 2
- 3. Lecture Outline 1. Whatis informative communication? 2. The art of explanation 3. Learning a new genre (Example: fact sheets) 3
- 4. 1. What isinformative communication? 4
- 5. Beaufort model of writingexpertise Writing Subject process matter knowledge knowledge Discourse community knowledge Rhetorical Genre knowledge knowledge 5
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- 8. You will have to.. Give diabetics instructions on how to follow a good diet Explain ecosystems and conservation principles to tourists Instruct new employees on how to conduct food science experiments Explain complicated medical conditions to pet owners 8
- 9. Audience and goal Representation of real world Expert Lay Audience 9
- 10. Why bother? Textbooks writtenusing research-proven principles help students learn better By practising good informing and explaining techniques, medical professional are able to diagnose better 10
- 11. If it goeswrong... Mars Climate Orbiter 1999 Lockheed Martin engineers sent navigation information in “pounds of force” NASA computers were programmed for “newtons” Orbiter flew too close to surface and disintegrated 11
- 12. Types of informative communication Informatory = Explanatory = 12
- 13. Genres of informative communication Explanatory Informatory 13
- 14. Four components ofeffective instructions (informatory) 1. Desired state = 2. Prerequisite state = 3. Interim state = 4. Unwanted states = Based on Farkas (1999) 14
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- 19. 2. The artof explanation 19
- 20. Steps for aneffective explanation 1. Define concepts by their essential, not associated, meaning 2. Give an array of varied examples 3. Offer “non-examples”, i.e., closely related, but distinct concepts 4. Encourage learners to practice 20
- 21. 1. Essential meaning Explainwhat familiar, but misunderstood, concepts mean and don’t mean Example: 21
- 22. 2. Give avariety of examples Example: 22
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- 24. 4. Encourage learnersto practice Workbooks Online tutorials Apply a concept in different contexts 24
- 25. Things that cango wrong Source: LeFever (2012) The Art of Explanation 25
- 26. 4. Learning anew genre 26
- 27. What to thinkabout 27
- 28. Purpose and audience:fact sheet Representation of real world Expert Lay Audience 28
- 29. Expectations of genre:fact sheet Paper document (now can be found on web) Can be informatory or explanatory Combines texts and visuals Uses plain language 29
- 30. Organization Organization name & logo name & logo Title Title Sub-titles Sub-titles Copy / text Visuals Visuals For more information For more information 30
- 31. Organization name Every organization youwork for will have a style sheet on how to include its logo Don’t need this for your assignment 31
- 32. Title / Pointof Entry Visual starting point of the fact sheet Shouldn’t be empty, i.e. “fact sheet” Text near point of entry should explain why reader should care 32
- 33. Body Includes visual andtext elements Should not overpower title 33
- 34. Subtitles Short anddirect Should be able to understand the purpose of the fact sheet by looking at subtitles alone Should have some sort of order Can be used as a tool to “make it stick” 34
- 35. Copy / text Written in plain English Limited to only the essential Usually formal tone, but not impersonal Avoid large blocks of text 35
- 36. Visual elements Enhance message, butdo not overwhelm Draw in the eye so should tell the reader the topic of a fact sheet at a glance Need to be relevant 36
- 37. For more information Alwaysgive reader a place to get more information Can make this up for your assignment 37
- 38. Process: fact sheet Write copy & Revise Test Design consider Finalize copy visuals Proofs Publication 38
- 39. Take away What isinformative communication What is the difference between informatory and explanatory Elements of good instructions and good explanations Steps to follow when learning a new genre Elements of a fact sheet 39
- 40. Photo Credits Aristotle fromWikipedia textbooks by greenasian doctor by edenpictures Mars Climate Orbiter from Wikipedia Explanation by Wonderlane ag inspectors by CIMMYT man at computer by Victor1558 40