Thoughts on Drafting

In this post I will comment on the various ways that the advice in "Students Guide for First Year Writing" is relevant to the quick reference guide and touch upon the ways that it is not.

Littero, Anthony "The Power of Words" via Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0

Points that are relevant and helpful:

• Paragraphs in PIE format:  This is useful to the QRG, even though the format of the quick reference guide is different in many ways, following the PIE format ensures that information comes across in a meaningful and comprehensible way. Although the 'point' in the situation of a QRG is typically just the presentation of new information
• Writing introductions:  Most of the points made for writing introductions definitely apply to the quick reference guide. Grabbing attention, forecasting direction, a short 'thesis' and avoiding generalizations are all relevant to writing a successful QRG.
• Organization:  Organization is very important to the QRG, though not necessarily in all the same ways as an essay.  For the QRG the organization is significantly different because of the many areas that it has to cover and thus jumps around in some ways.  However, its structure has to remain "purposeful" as the guide states, which is extremely relevant to the QRG because it has to stay efficient in its giving of information or it is not effective

Not so helpful:

• Writing conclusions: Although the QRG has a beginning middle and end as an essay would, the entirety of a QRG covers a vast majority of the advice given by the guide and would be redundant and carry on far to long if a writer follows it exactly. 
• Drafting a thesis: Although in the QRG you need a definite introduction, a thesis as defined by the guide is not necessarily relevant to the QRG.  This is because the QRG is about a single subject that is quickly introduced to be expounded upon in the body of text, which does not need a thesis, although it does typically pose a question. 

Reflection:

Interestingly, my peers had answers that varied a reasonable amount, though all with valid reasons.  I think that I could have expanded upon my points slightly better, but I think also that it is important to keep them brief and organized.  That middle ground is where I am trying to reach with my blogposts.

Posts I commented on:
http://engl109hblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/thoughts-on-drafting.html?showComment=1442699480395#c4352357421496733055

http://snorrixeng.blogspot.com/2015/09/thoughts-on-drafting.html?showComment=1442699603270#c3940459510151148632