Explain how the placement of an idea affects its emphasis. ...

[cdr_15]

Explain how the placement of an idea affects its emphasis. Discuss how much emphasis each section of a message receives, and provide examples of what types of information should be placed in each section.

Question 2

Describe the levels of emphasis conveyed by (a) a simple sentence, (b) a compound sentence, and (c) a complex sentence.

[jointhecircus]

Answer to Question 1

The reader pays the most attention to the first paragraph, so the writer should present the most important information there. Good news or general requests are usually stated in the first paragraph. Placement in the last paragraph also confers emphasis, but less so than placement in the first paragraph. The last paragraph should contain information that the reader is likely to remember, such as motivation to respond or deadlines. Placement in the middle paragraph confers the least emphasis. Supporting details or explanations are placed there. Negative news should be placed in the middle paragraph to subordinate it.

Answer to Question 2

a. Simple sentence. Conveys the most emphasis because it expresses only one idea.
b. Compound sentence. Must contain two related ideas that bear equal emphasis. A compound sentence is less emphatic than two simple sentences with the same information.
c. Complex sentence. Contains subordinated information in the dependent clause and emphatic information in the independent clause.