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Motivating coherence

In her insightful talk, Katherine McGee explores the concept of "motivating coherence" in academic writing. Learn how shared context, problem identification, and solution presentation can engage readers effectively. McGee highlights common pitfalls in introductions and provides practical strategies for identifying problems—both practical and conceptual—and offering compelling solutions. Through engaging hooks and strong conclusions, writers can foster a connection with their audience and enhance understanding. Discover actionable tips to improve your writing and make readers care about your topics!

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Motivating coherence

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  1. Motivating coherence Presented by Katherine McGee

  2. Today I will talk about motivating coherence.

  3. Boring, right?

  4. So, how do we fix it? • Shared Context • Problem • Solution

  5. Shared context • Provides background • Qualifies or rejects a “truth” • “Literature review”

  6. problem • “But,” “However” • Two parts • Condition, situation, or recurring event • Consequence/Cost • Two kinds • Practical – a problem that makes people unhappy • Conceptual – something we don’t know or understand

  7. Conceptual problems • “Cost” = “something more important that we do not understand but want to, because we do not understand the first thing” (Williams 90). • Solve with information • Explain what your readers don’t know and what they should want to know • Tell your readers why they should care

  8. solution • Offer a solution • For practical problems, encourage the reader to take action • For conceptual problems, tell the readers what you want them to understand or believe

  9. The “hook” • A quotation • A Startling Fact • An Anecdote

  10. Diagnose and revise • Is the problem practical or conceptual? • Where does your introduction end? • Can you identify the shared context, problem, and solution/claim? • How did you transition from shared context to problem? • Can you identify the condition and cost? • Have you answered the question, “So what?” • Can you identify your claim?

  11. conclusions • Restate your main point • Re-answer “So what?”—ideally in a new way • Suggest that, even if solved, there will still be problems • Tie back in to your “hook”

  12. Thus . . . In academic writing, we often struggle with how to introduce our topics. However, there is a solution. In Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace, Joseph M. Williams offers us a way to begin papers by “motivating coherence.” Through establishing a shared context with our audience, setting up a problem, and then offering a solution, we can get our readers more involved with our topics by helping them to care about our content.

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