The web content writer must be fully aware of their reader’s needs and expectations. In general, readers expect that new information will be presented in the context of what is familiar to them. Familiar information encompasses something that has already been mentioned fairly recently in the surrounding text, or information which readers already know. The importance of this statement lies in the fact that good writers know to place what they can at least assume is familiar information prior to any new information. This particular placement of familiar information provides the reader with an orientation before unknown material is introduced.
Given-New
This sequencing is known as “given-before-new” and allows readers to more clearly see how each new piece of information fits into what they already know. Just as students would not take an advanced calculus class before they took a variety of other more basic math classes, the given-new principle works in the same manner. When new elements of information are introduced at the beginning of a paragraph, readers may not be able to comprehend what the article is really about, thus the necessity of the given-new principle.
Achieving Cohesion When Writing Articles
Assuming you are properly implementing the given-new principle, your articles should flow naturally due to the sequencing of information. Familiar information starts the sentences however this familiar information also incorporates your main idea or theme. New information follows with a goal of giving the reader the impression you are actually discussing something rather than simply introducing an unconnected series of ideas. Cohesion can be thought of as a veritable river of ideas which flows from one idea to the next in a very smooth, easy fashion.
Given-New vs. Topic-Content
The given-new principle is closely connected to the topic-content principle with the topic being the idea being discussed in the forthcoming text. Just like given information, the topic comes at the beginning of a sentence and encompasses an idea which is both familiar and anticipated by the reader. The topic in a sentence may be a repetition or paraphrase of something which was mentioned earlier, and gives the reader focus and clarity. The comment portion of the article comes toward the end of the paragraph, providing the reader with added information which is closely related to the main topic. Because of the manner in which most web users read, it’s important to keep the reader focused in order to ensure they make it to the end of the article. Web readers are busy people whose primary goal is to discover the answer to a question or problem in the most expeditious manner possible.
Article Progression
Beyond keeping the topic of discussion clearly focused in order to create an article which flows in a smooth and logical manner, writers must be cognizant of the thorough development of topics throughout the text. Topical progression is a term which essentially means to create bridges from one part of the content to the next. Each sentence leads naturally into the next, and each paragraph shows a logical progression of the topic or the theme. Readers are led naturally from one sentence to the next, and are not required to stop reading to try and figure out what they just read and how on earth it relates to the overall topic. Web readers need answers quickly and commonly skim articles in order to get that information. Writers who properly set up their articles, using the given-new principle and following good rules of article progression are more likely to hook their readers early and keep them until the end. Effective web writers are those who take note of the “rules” while still keeping their own particular brand of creativity and style in the game.
Tags: Lawyer Website Design
