Writing Process
Perhaps you can see how the PAD mnemonic complements the rhetorical canons. That’s no coincidence. Thanks, again, Aristotle!
Plan (Invention)
- Purpose: Ask questions about goals, purpose and organizational context
- Audience: Ask questions about audience(s) and knowledge
- Design: Determine what the final deliverable is and how it will be delivered and make preliminary design about what that deliverable should look like
- Research: Gather information and begin to consider questions you need to ask subject matter experts (SME’s) or other members of your technical team
- Schedule: Find out or set project deadlines and assign pre-liminary tasks
Organize (Arrangement)
- Outline. Let your design help you
- Formulate a style sheet
- Arrange information. Determine if holes exist
- Assign secondary tasks. Interview or follow-up with subject matter experts (SMEs) or meet again with your team
Revise (Style)
- Edit content, arrangement, logic, and style
- Check consistency
- Request another review
- Check for mechanics, documentation, and style
Publish (Delivery)
- Present your work to your audience
Discussing process benefits you any time you must complete a project. Knowing your process helps you:
- Approach a large task systematically
- Use a reliable process
- Segment the task in manageable increments
- Make steady progress (while still having a life)
- Deliver an effective product (document or another project)
- Complete the task on time
