MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

The structure and type of paragraphs you will write follow Aristotle's stasis theory (very much a system of analysis and action, like your scientific method steps):

• Stasis 1: Conjecture (two types:  query, OR line of inquiry that is settling)
• Stasis 2: Definition (Here, we have three subroutines, each with a separate paragraphy)
  • Brief simple Functional definition (what is a rain garden, briefly, by two functions
  • Classification (what type of technology is this? Hint: low impact development and storm water management) 
  • Description (Illustrative; give detail on the layers of soil and the type of plants) 
    • include two examples; consider the ones on campus
    • Where is Stasis 3?  TBD: hint -- practical causality -- this appears within the illustrative paragraph.  You can keep this within the illustrative paragraph OR separate out as form/function comment

• Stasis 4: Evaluation (is this environmental technology good or bad?  Use Dr. Davis' research as you do not have authority to evaluate based on your expertise)

We will leave Stasis 5 out of this memo as we are writing a brief, informative definition memo. You can close on a "hint" of policy or what ought we do, but let's take this up next class.

I would think you need about one source per these paras: classifying, illustrating, evaluating.  Use (author, date) citation from APA guidelines. Include a works cited page also.

Audience scenario for this memo: Here is Jane, our boss. She asked for the memo at the end of our last staff meeting. 

Topic Sentences: A list of qualities for you to strive for

•  Usually a short direct sentence (think announcement)

• Signals the topic in the paragraph (think preview)
• Hooks the reader by 1) raising a question or 2) provoking thought
• Can be placed anywhere, but early on in the paragraph is the best default strategy for most professional documents; in other words, at the beginning of the paragraph
• Contains an element of transition from the previous paragraph

Note:  topic sentences can be implied in tightly coherent prose (for now, leave this subtle technique to the professionals!)

Let's look at examples of topic sentences useful in the rain garden memo:

Rain gardens, or bioretention ponds, are a kind of low impact development.  Low impact development....

Rain gardens have two components:  layers of percolation material and carefully chosen plants.

Rain gardens protect the local environment by absorbing water run-off from impervious surfaces and by sequestering pollutants.

Dr. Allen Davis studies rain garden effectiveness.  Davis, a civil engineering professor, has been studying bioretention for more than twenty years.

Let's also think about sentences generally.  General advice to you?  Write shorter sentences than those you are familiar with in literature and many of your textbooks. 

Now, let's think about sentences: 

Sentence Patterns

Buffy and Sentences

Pitch the Verb

And, on to paragraphs:

Paragraph Definition: think Architectures

Paragraph Types

 By the way, the OWL website at Purdue is a fabulous resource for writing. Memos also have a standard format:  See the image to the left.  Also, look at the email heading in your software.  This electronic message is based on the memo format.  Bonus question:  what is the difference, traditionally, between a memo and a letter.

INVENTION: For sources, use the Low Impact Development Center, and a peer-reviewed article by Dr. Allen Davis at the University of Maryland.  You will also need the "Bioretention Manual" from the Prince George's County Department of Environmental Resources.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO FIND OTHER SOURCES.  You can read the Wikipedia entry as background BUT do not cite this source.  Finally, about visuals?  We will take this up next week but for now, you need to use text to write this memo.