Tips, Hints & PracticeDr. Peter M. Smudde, APR

Associate Professor & Coordinator, PR Program© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

Basics• Use like an encyclopedia or

dictionary• Think nonlinearly • Mark your most used stuff• Memorize rules by using them• Look for patterns in the rules• Expect manuals change• Realize many more style manuals

© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

• The standard for public relations writing• Focus is journalistic writing• PR organizations may choose to not follow all or

some rules, even have their own style manuals• Available in print and as an app for iPhone, iPad,

iPod Touch, and Blackberry• Updated annually – CRITICAL • Limited online help – VERIFY EDITION• Practice…

© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

• The standard for communication field• Focus is academic/scholarly writing• Helpful in PR primarily for research writing

conventions and source documentation• More than just rules for documenting sources• Updated occasionally – CHECK EDITION USED• Many online help websites – VERIFY EDITION• Be wary of reference formatting apps• Practice…

© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

• Major works:– The largest kind of publication or production that contains minor

works– Examples: books, journals, magazines, newspapers, websites,

albums, television shows, movies, plays• Minor works:– Smaller, self-contained parts of major works– Examples: book chapters; articles in journals, magazines,

newspapers; webpages or articles on websites, blogs, wikis, and social media; songs from albums; poems and short stories in collections of either; episodes or acts in television shows, movies, and plays

• How do you tell the difference?

Sources

© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

SourcesBook or Article? Source data?

SourcesBook or Article? Source data?

Sources

• Basic Structure– Introduction– Body (including transitions)– Conclusion

• Sections & Subsections• Tone• Grammar

Expository Writing

Basic Structure• Introduction—frames the entire paper and maps

what will be covered– Broad subject– Project’s relevance—topic’s importance and fit in the

broad subject– Thesis—your idea (i.e., point of contention) around which

your paper revolves (NOT a purpose statement)– Approach or analytical framework to be used

(theory/method)– Content preview (major sections)

© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

Basic Structure• Body—the very substance of your argument– Major sections of your topic broken down to

develop your thesis– Content must be driven by your project and its

purpose (back up claims with evidence)– Transitions between sections are necessary– Possible content:

• Review of relevant literature• Analytical framework summary• Case example(s) description• Interpretation and evaluation of the case(s) based on

analytical framework

© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

Basic Structure• Conclusion—summarizes the paper’s content;

brings closure; looks forward– Review what was done to prove the thesis and

rephrase the thesis– Answer any formal research questions in terms of

the evaluation/findings– Cover your work’s impact in the big picture (i.e.,

theory and practice)– Argue for the project’s value– Address the project’s limitations– Propose next steps for more work in this project’s

area

© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

Basic Structure• Sections & subsections

– Outline or otherwise view your paper’s content in discrete chunks that flow logically

– If you have one section/subsection, you must have at least one more

– Think of sections as mini papers that must have the same structure as the whole paper—intro, body, conclusion

– Every section and subsection MUST have an introductory paragraph

– NEVER have a subheading follow a heading without an introductory paragraph between them

– Follow APA style for proper heading structures

© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

Tone• A characteristic of writing that reveals a writer’s

particular attitude and maturity toward the subject, audience and project

• Influenced by purpose and audience• Realized in word and phrase choices

– Informal – INAPPROPRIATE & UNACCEPTABLE• “That theory doesn’t do it for me.”• “Having said that, I like to think…” [transition]

– Formal – APPROPRIATE & EXPECTED• “Patriarchy promotes inequities between genders that are largely

inappropriate and irrelevant today in many cultures.”• “In contrast to patriarchy, egalitarianism offers…” [transition]

• REMEMBER: Write to express, not to impress

© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

General Writing Process Prescription• Review an assignment carefully, especially between the lines. • Come up with your answer to it, and write it in a single sentence. This is

your THESIS, and you can revise it.• Outline several major topics to support your thesis, and add supporting

points for each of your topics.• Write the body of your paper first. Incorporate any sources/evidence you

need to.• Write the conclusion, but move it to become the introduction and revise

it so it works that way.• Write a new conclusion.• Put it all away for some time.• Go back a few more times to your text and revise it to make the

argument the very best it can be.• Correct grammar, style, spelling, formatting and other errors to prepare

the finished manuscript to turn in.© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

The Write Stuff

Correct grammar and formatting do not make good writing, but good writing requires proper grammar, formatting and more.

© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

The Write Stuff• What are some markers of good writing?

– Counterpart to reading– Purposeful– Audience-centered– Clear– Focused– Interesting & important/relevant– Logical & well-structured ("readable") – Proper grammar & punctuation – Proper, reader-friendly formatting – Correct spelling – Accurate & timely– Supported (examples, data, evidence, visuals) – Compelling or insightful – Proper length (words or pages)– Effective & appropriate writing style & English usage ("voice")

– Hard work!© 2014 Peter M. Smudde

Recommended Sources

Tips, Hints & PracticeDr. Peter M. Smudde, APR

Associate Professor & Coordinator, PR Program© 2014 Peter M. Smudde