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Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 5 | 2
What Do We Mean by Style?
Style refers to the effectiveness of the words, sentences, paragraphs, and overall tone of your message.
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 5 | 3
Choosing the Right Words Write clearly
Be accurate and complete Use familiar words Use specific, concrete words Avoid dangling expressions Avoid clichés, slang, and unnecessary jargon
Not: Your recent letter … But: Your letter of January 21, 20_ _, … Not: I appreciate your interview last week. But: I appreciate your interviewing me last Tuesday
on Ball State campus.
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Use familiar words Prefer short, simple words
Not: To recapitulate, our utilization of adulterated water precipitated the interminable delays.
But: In short, our use of impure water caused the endless delays.
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Use specific, concrete words
Not: This notebook PC was out of order several times recently.
But: This notebook PC was out of order three times last month.
Not: I feel I’m the best candidate for this job. But: My academic achievements and work
experience enable me to immediately become a productive member of your team.
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Avoid dangling expressions Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address
while traveling to Gettysburg on the back of an envelope.
I had been driving for about 40 years when I fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident.
“Dr. Ruth to talk about sex with newspaper editors.”
Avoid clichés Not: As per your request, every effort will be made
to fix the problem. But: As you requested, we will try to fix the
problem.
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Write concisely Avoid redundancy
Not: Signing both copies of the lease is a necessary requirement.
But: Signing both copies of the lease is necessary.
Not: Young adults should plan ahead for retirement.
But: Young adults should plan early for retirement.
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Avoid hidden verbs and subjects Not: Both parties came to an agreement ... But: Both parties agreed …
Not: There was no indication that it is necessary to include John in the meeting.
But: No one indicated that John should attend the meeting.
Avoid wordy expressions Not: Let me know as to whether or not we can start drilling
in view of the fact that the problem has not been fixed at the present time.
But: Let me know whether we can start drilling since the problem has not yet been fixed.
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Writing effective sentences
Use a variety of sentence types.
Use active and passive voice appropriately.
Use parallel structure.
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Developing logical paragraphs
Keep paragraphs unified and coherent. One topic per paragraph
Use parallel structure.
Control paragraph length. Most paragraphs fall into 60 to 80 words or
18-20 lines
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Creating an Appropriate Tone Write confidently.
Not: I trust this schedule change will satisfy your needs.
But: This schedule change will enable you to remain at home each morning until your child leaves for school.
Use a courteous and sincere tone Not: You claimed that the order arrived three days late.
But: Your order arrived late because of the airline strike.
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Techniques of emphasis
• Short, simple sentences• Major idea first (or last)• Active voice• More space• Language that implies importance• Repetition• Mechanical means
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Emphasis—Example A
Dear Dad:
$chool i$ really great. I am making lot$ of friend$ and $tudying very hard.
With all my $tuff, I $imply can’t think of anything I need, $o if you would like, you can ju$t $end me a card, a$ I would love to hear from you.
Love,
Your $on
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Positive language
Prefer positive, vigorous language Not: We cannot ship your order until we receive
your payment. But: As soon as we receive your payment, we
will ship your order.
Not: We cannot replace your laser printer. But: We will be happy to repair your laser printer at
no charge.
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Stress the “you” attitude.Not: I liked your presentation at yesterday’s board
meeting.But: Your presentation at yesterday’s board meeting was
just great!Not: We are opening the new fitness center on May 1.But: You may begin working out in the new fitness center
on May 1.
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Creative Thinking & Problem-Solving Process Through 3Qs Integration
CQ
IQ
EQ
Creative Solutions & Outcomes
Findings:
Mess DataProblem
Ideas
Solutio
nsAc
cept
ance
Read
ing
Under
stan
ding
Applyin
g
Analyz
ing
Synt
hesiz
ing
Evalua
ting
Curiosity-Brainstorm-Persistence-Innovation
Communication-Empathy-Leadership-Teamwork-MGT
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Brainstorming in Creative Ways Having found the problem, you
are ready to brainstorm for Innovative ideas and solutions
Now you need to know whether you have appropriate thinking methods
Please write down your answer to this question: “What are your thinking
processes in finding and solving problems?”
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Nine Creative Thinking Approaches Having found the problem, you are
ready to brainstorm for Innovative ideas
You can brainstorm through these creative thinking approaches for solutions: Customer-centered thinking Imaginative thinking Connective thinking Combinational thinking Reversal thinking Transplantable thinking Interdisciplinary thinking Convergence thinking Subconscious thinking
Any other thinking?
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1. Customer-Centered Thinking Always Remember:
All innovations come from our discovery of the lacks or weaknesses in our life, and our desire for a better life or higher productivity… (Zhao, 2006)
Approach #1: Customer-centered thinking
Be open-minded, keep keen observation, go into customers’ mind to
identify their needs. What’s your inspiration? What’s your dreamed
innovation idea? e.g., product, service, …
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2. Imaginative Thinking"Imagination is more important than knowledge, for
imagination embraces the world.” Albert Einstein What’s your inspiration? What’s your dreamed innovation idea?
e.g., product, service, …
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3. Connective/Associative Thinking E.g., Starbucks = C/A thinking of McDonald’s What’s your inspiration? What’s your dreamed innovation idea?
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4. Combinational Thinking Outcomes: e.g.,
Combine farming machinery Timed bomb Computerized accounting and
finance Thermal-mugs Coke/Pepsi/Starbucks contract
with restaurants/airlines …
What’s your inspiration? What’s your dreamed
innovation idea?
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5. Reversal Thinking E.g., from broom to Vacuum and electrostatic cleaners
What’s your inspiration? What’s your dreamed innovation idea?
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6. Transplantable Thinking Transplanting thoughts and methods of one
discipline to another discipline E.g., Google transplants word processing,
spreadsheet, database from PC-based to Internet/Web-based applications
E.g., Music composition based on seven basic notes of tone: Transplanting music composition to business: Win-win negotiation = to create more value
for both sides
E.g., bad transplantable thinking from sports games to business: Zero-sum negotiation = to gain most at
others’ cost
What’s your inspiration? What’s your dreamed innovation idea?
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7. Convergence Thinking • Smart cell phone = mobile phone + camera + camcorder + wireless Internet/
WWW + text messaging + remote control of home computer, TV, stereo home-theater system, microwave oven, refrigerator, home security system, ….
• Swiss Army toolkit = knife + screw driver + saw + bottle opener + scissors + ….
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8. Interdisciplinary thinking E.g., Artificial Intelligence =
Computer Science * Psychology * Linguistics * Information Systems * ….
E.g., New Health Care = Computer Science * Medical Science * Information Systems * ….
E.g., TQM = Management * Statistics * Purchase * Production * Sales * Service * ….
E.g., biochemistry, criminal psychology, ….
What’s your inspiration? What’s your dreamed innovation
idea?
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9. Subconscious Thinking• All the previous eight thinking approaches
belong to conscious mental activities.• However, human beings also have the
subconscious brain activity.• Research found that some people are more
creative in sleep and dreams, in bathtub, or in other subconscious state.
• The subconscious could direct our thoughts and help accomplish tasks so intricate that no conscious mind has the capacity for.
• Be sure to explore your subconscious potential.