MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

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

• Stasis 2: Definition (what is a rain garden, briefly, by two functions)
  • Stasis 2a: Classification (what type of technology is this? Hint: low impact development and storm water management)
  • Stasis 2b: 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
  • Where is Stasis 3 concerning causality? Is dispersed within form and function that is a cogntive frame that binds all of the memo together. TBD. Preview--how does the rain garden work?
• Stasis 4: Evaluation (is this good or bad?  Use Dr. Davis' research as you do not have authority to evaluate based on your expertise)

I would think you need about one source per these paras: classifying, illustrating, evaluating.  We will discuss but: 

1. The first paragraphs will use thoughtfully curated links as hypertext citations sometimes called user-active annotations.; yet
2. The last paragraph -- Evaluation paragraph that makes a claim using expertise as evidence with use (author, date) citation from APA guidelines. Include a works cited section in this memo, also.

Now, a COGNITIVE FRAME for this memo-->

Audience scenario for this memo: Here is Jane, our boss. She asked for the memo at the end of our last staff meeting (we are pretending, here). Hint: use your rhetorical triangle of Audience/Context/Purpose

irst up! What is a memo?  

A memo is a genre or document type that readers+writers use for cognitive efficiencyBy 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?

Now, WRITING CRAFT mini lesson-->

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!)

Content area: read online for about fifteen minutes about rain gardens, bioretention, low impact development.  Note how different Google is now for searching. TBD more on Wednesday.

Visual about stasis theory from slide set linked above o linger on-->

Hierarchy of directional stasis theory steps

Linked under this clip is the Purdue OWL web exhibit on stasis theory.  Worth a look at the trusted (high ethos) source that is a true community service to all writers and especially students.