CUFE, Gen 600, 2014-2015

Outlining & Organizing

Technical Texts

Topic Outline
Phrases, incomplete meaning
A reminder of a thought
Written hastily
Require rephrasing
sentences.

Sentence Outline
Complete sentences,
complete meanings.
Reminders of thoughts
Need to be Written
Do not require rephrasing.

Sample from Daily Drilling

Reports
CONT' CIRC HOLE CLEAN

POOH TO/8510' ,HAD TIGHT SPOTS

@8817',8809',8679',8642', 8540 , WORKED
ON SAME W/PUMPING OUT @700 GPM AND
MIXING 2000 BBL'S O.B.M)
RIH BACK TO BOTTOM @ 8900' W/ WASH
DOWN @ 700 GPM
SWEEP HOLE W/ 50 BBLS HI-VIS PILL &
CIRC. WHILE PREPAIR AND MIXING OIL
BASE MUD
PJSM , PUMPED 40 BBLS DIESEL SPACER
AHEAD , DISPLACE HOLE W/ 11.0 PPG OBM @
300 GPM
CIRC. COND. MUD
POOH FOR CORING
TO/7265'(PRECAUTIONARY PUMP OUT &

Sample from Daily Drilling

Reports
(special jargon)

Continue circulating hole clean

POOH to/8510', had tight spots at 8817', 8809',
8679', 8642', and 8540, worked on string while
pumping out @700 gpm and mixing 2000 bbl's
O.B.M
RIH back to bottom @ 8900' while washing
down (mud rate 700 gpm)
Sweep hole w/ 50 bbl. hi-vis pill & circ. while
preparing and mixing oil base mud
Held PJSM , pumped 40 bbl diesel spacer ahead
, displaced hole w/ 11.0 ppg OBM @ 300 gpm
Circulating and . Conditioning Mud
POOH to/7265 for coring (precautionary pump
out & back ream tight spots f/8680' to/8200',
pump out f/8200' to/7450')

Topic
Outline
Technical
Writers
Being a
Successful
Technical
Writers
Requirement
s for Being a
Successful
Technical
Writer

Topic Sentence
A good technical writer
needs strong language
and teaching skills and
must understand the
conventions of modern
technical
communication.
------------------------------------

A good technical writer

should have strong
language skills

One of English-teaching objectives

Show effects of language and arrangement
The ability to visualize the features of a text, and
how those features are arranged is vital to
understanding when reading.
Visualizing features
improves understanding
Controls texts at a much deeper level
Control comes
Through visualizing a text type
Understanding construction and meaning
This understanding is fundamental to reading and
comprehension.

Language Functions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Paraphrasing
Summarizing
Quoting
Defining
Comparing and Contrasting
Generalizing
Classifying
Agreeing and Disagreeing

Source: Leonardo da Vinci program, European Commission

Writing in English: A Practical Handbook for Scientific and Technical Writers

The Processes of Writing

1. Define SMCR+(OFST).
2. Collect Ideas.

3. Outline.
4. Organize.
5. Field check.
6. Write /Type text.
7.
8.

Revise.
Field check.
Edit /Proofread.

P
I
P
P
C
I
C, Im
C, Im

9.
10. Print, Bind, Distribute.

C, Im

11. Collect

C, Im

feedback. 12. Improve.

The writing Process

1. Define SMCROFES.

2. Collect data.
3. Outline ideas.
4. Organize outline.

5. Write.
6. Revise text.
7. Field-check.
8. Edit.
9. Dispatch.
10. Get feedback.
11. Evaluate. Improve.

Sentences & Paragraphs

Introduction
Body
Conclusion
Way-to-begin
1. Develop the sub-topic
into effective
sentences. Way-todevelop
2. Conclude paragraphs.

3. Write transition
between paragraphs.
4. Write the last
paragraph.

Outlining is representing
ideas in short, general terms.

helps remember major ideas.

helps organize thoughts and
writing plans.
saves writer's time.
imposes control on writing.

Types of Outlines
History (one word)
History of smog in Greater Cairo (phrase)
Collect information related to History of
smog in greater Cairo. (sentence)
Nuisance of smog
Nuisance caused by smog
Nuisance caused by smog in Greater Cairo
during fall seasons
Smog has caused many problems to
handicapped people. Gather information
about types of nuisance, who suffers,
extent of sufferings, etc.

Types of Outlines
Sentence outline (SO)
In SO, ideas are complete sentences.
SO formulates clear ideas.
SO remains clear if left for a long time.
SO may become cumbersome.
Topic outline (TO)
Using phrases to express ideas
Advantages: shortness
Disadvantages: lack of clarity
Mixed outlining (MO)
For major topics, use sentence outline.
TO for minor topics.

Sample of an outline

I. Purpose: Write an essay on outlining

Outlining is a tool in the process of writing
Specific
Organizing ideas
Presenting material in a logical form
Showing relationships among ideas
Sequencing overview of writing.
======================
II. The Process of Writing
Determine purpose.
Determine audience.
Develop thesis.

Outlines should show balanced structures

Coordinated lists: equal significance.
Correct coordination
A. Word processing programs
B. Database programs
C. Spreadsheet programs

Faulty coordination
A. Word processing programs
B. Advantages of Microsoft PowerPoint
C. History of animation audiovisual presentations

2. Division/Subordination: Different levels

Faulty
A. Word processing programs
B. Word, Excel
Correct
A. Word processing programs
Microsoft Word Software
WordPerfect Software
Faulty division
A. Computers
B. Mainframe
C. Floppy disk

For Numbering
Alphanumerical
I

A.
1.

a.
b.
Decimal
1.0
1.1
1.2.1
1.2.2.1

Outline the following paragraph

1. The two processes, speaking and writing, are not identical.

2. Writing is not simply speech written down on paper. 3.
Learning to write is not just a natural extension of learning to

speak a language. 4. We learned to speak our first language

at home without systematic instruction; whereas, most of us
had to be taught in school how to write that same language.

5. Many adult native speakers of a language find writing

difficult. 6. A speaker speaks to a listener who is right there,
nodding or frowning, or interrupting or questioning. 7. For
the writer, the reader's response is either delayed or
nonexistent. 8. When one looks at these differences and there are
few more we can see that the students will not just pick-up writing as
they learn other skills in classes.

Outline

9. We have to teach them writing.

Write

Reverse Outline.

Sentence Outline
Speaking and writing, are not identical.
1. Writing is not written speech on paper.
2. Learning to write is not learning to speak.
3. We learned to speak at home and to write in
schools.
4. Writing is difficult.
5. The speakers and listeners are present.
6. The reader's response is absent.
7. The writer has one chance to hold the readers'
attention.
8. Students will not pick-up writing alone.
9. We have to teach them writing.

Topic Outline
Differences between speaking and writing
Writing not speech on paper
Different from learning
Speaking at home
Writing in school
Difficulties of writing
Presence of listeners feedback
Absence of readers feedback
Chance to hold readers' attention
Need for learning how to write
We have to teach students how to write
(sentence outline, this is a main idea).

Organizing
Follows three orders
Natural
Logical
Psychological
1. Natural Orders
Time and space (spatial order)
Introduction, Body, & Conclusion
Alphabetical Order
Size, chronological

Could be imposed by the subject

2. Logical Orders
Climactic Order: interest
General-to-Specific Order
Specific-to-General
Cause-to-Effect Analysis
Condition-Result
(Argument)
Other ways: familiarity, complexity,
usefulness, utility, cost, impact,

3. Psychological Orders

To satisfy the reader using emotional

reactions:
Acceptability
Dominant impression
Fear
Anxiety
Hesitation
.
Prevails in advertisements

Organizing Information in Reports

Ascending Emphasis
importance increases as reading
advances.
Reverse Climax
important ideas are placed at the
beginning.

Mixed order
summary + introduction + the
body (details) + conclusions.

Summary is descriptive If
integrated with the text .
If summary is independent, it is
informative.

Introduction
details

Three Ways for

Organizing Texts

conclusions
summary

Emphatic Style
Reverse Emphasis
summary

summary

Introduction
Body
(details)

Introduction

Conclusions

conclusion

&R

details

Mixed Style

Sample of an Organized Outline

I. Major Steps in the Writing Process
A.Outlining/Organizing
B. Writing
C. Evaluating
D. Revising
II. Use of Word Processors
A. Programs & Relationship to Writing
1. Handling Thought
2. Word Processors
a. Use in writing b. Use in revising
B. Pros & Cons of Word Processors
1. Positive features
a. Less time spent b. Greater flexibility, .
2. Negative features .