Explanation/Suggestion/Guides
Find a model.
There are different styles of writing for different situations. This might be thought of as a framework. By choosing a model, you will be able to tailor the content, choose an appropriate topic, narrow the focus, follow the layout.
Remember the design of the “50 Lesson’s” article? Did it look the same as other articles you read? You can take the idea of finding a model beyond this assignment. Writing in the style of an experienced person is a skill. Use this skill to your advantage.
“It really depends on the genre of work I’m doing–I always try to keep models in mind, though the model will change depending on what I’m working on. For the book on Cato the Younger, Jimmy Soni and I were constantly referring to Tom Holland’s book on the Roman Republic, Rubicon; for our book on Claude Shannon, to James Gleick’s The Information and Sylvia Nasar’s A Beautiful Mind. For my academic work, people like Danielle Allen are great models.”
— Rob Goodman, congressional speechwriter and co-author of A Mind at Play and Rome’s Last Citizen: The Life and Legacy of Cato, Mortal Enemy of Caesar
Choose a topic:
You have a thought. You have many thoughts. You were asked for a title for a future article earlier in the semester when you posted in the 50 Lessons’ discussion board. You could write that article. I am not going to tell you the topic. You choose.
What you should consider.
You will need to make a judgement about the word choice, as well as what information to include and what to leave out. Make sure you review multiple examples of your model for guidance. Pay attention to how your popular model references its sources: they will not use MLA, but will provide guidance or a link to where sources were obtained.
If you paraphrase it, or summarize it. You cite it!.
This assignment requires sources. How many and what kind is another decision for you.
Look for cues: how do your models hook the audience? How do they entertain while informing? What kind of conclusions do the models present? How is it formatted? Sub-headings? Different size font? (You must use Arial)
I could continue. However, there are popular articles that tell you how to write a popular article. You can type it into a Google statement. Some of them are not bad. Go read and skim some examples. I have a few linked below.
I encourage you to both read the content and observe the layout of WikiHow. It is advertisement heavy, but the article is written by an expert and was updated in 2020. That means, it would pass the basic CRAAP test.
American Scientist has an amusing look at writing for the public from a different angle. Their content is relevant and they make a good model.
Should you find a guide to writing popular articles and wish me to include it in this book, please send me the link and a sentence explaining why you recommend that source.
Click “next page”
