77 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
77 lines
2.8 KiB
Markdown
# Drafting Crisp Non-Fiction Paragraphs
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## A Quill Quick-Reference (1,200 words)
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### 1. Core Rule
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One paragraph = one idea. If you cannot state the idea in one sentence,
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the paragraph is doing too much.
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### 2. Structure: Claim → Evidence → Link
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| Element | Role | Typical Length |
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|---------|------|----------------|
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| Claim | The sentence the reader must remember | 1 sentence |
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| Evidence | Data, quote, or observation that supports the claim | 1–3 sentences |
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| Link | Bridge to the next idea or implication | 1 sentence |
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### 3. Sentence-Level Defaults
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- Subject–Verb–Object first, modifiers last.
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- Lead with the actor: "The model failed" not "A failure occurred."
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- Use concrete nouns and active verbs. Delete adjectives that repeat the noun.
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- Example: "large size" → "size." "final outcome" → "outcome."
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### 4. Paragraph Openers
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Aim for one of:
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1. Assertion: "Adoption stalled after Q3."
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2. Contrast: "Initial gains reversed in July."
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3. Question: "Why did latency spike?" (use sparingly; one per section max)
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### 5. Paragraph Closers
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Every paragraph must end with one:
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- Forward bridge: "That shift changed the failure mode."
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- Summary: "Net result: 22% drop in throughput."
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- Pending question: "The cause is still unknown."
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Never end a paragraph with a reference or a quote; paraphrase instead.
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### 6. Length Targets
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- Web: 40–90 words per paragraph.
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- Report: 80–150 words per paragraph.
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- Academic: 100–250 words per paragraph.
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If a paragraph exceeds target, split at the last natural break.
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### 7. Transition Discipline
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- Never use "However," as the first word of two consecutive paragraphs.
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- Never open a paragraph with "In conclusion," unless it is the actual conclusion.
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- Prefer named connectors: "Similarly," "By contrast," "That said."
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### 8. Revision Checklist
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- [ ] Can the paragraph's idea be stated in one sentence?
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- [ ] Does every sentence support that idea?
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- [ ] Is the opener a claim, contrast, or question?
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- [ ] Is the closer a bridge, summary, or pending question?
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- [ ] Does the paragraph stay within its length target?
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### 9. Before/After Example
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Before:
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"The system was observed to have a large size and a final outcome that was not
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good, which meant that there were issues with performance."
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After (Claim → Evidence → Link):
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"The deployment exceeded the memory limit by 34%. Logs show 512 MB paged
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to disk every 12 minutes. That swap pressure caused the throughput drop."
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Word count: before 28 words, after 26 words. Information density doubled.
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### 10. Authoring Cheat Sheet
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- Write hot, then cut.
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- First draft goal: ideas on paper, not polished prose.
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- Second draft goal: one idea per paragraph.
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- Third draft goal: sentence-level defaults applied.
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- Fourth draft goal: length target and transition check.
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---
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Artifact: quill-paragraph-draft-guide.md
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Created: 2026-10-23
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Lane: Draft — fast writing and drafts.
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