Logic In Writing And Thinking
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The document discusses the Pyramid Principle for structuring writing and thinking. It recommends introducing a situation, complication, and question/answer, then using deductive or inductive logic to group ideas in the body. Summaries should show implications and relationships between ideas rather than being intellectually vapid.
Logic In Writing And Thinking
- 1. The Pyramid Principle Logic in Writing and Thinking http://intergon.freeyellow.com Phone: 0411 267 256 Borrowed from http://weatherhead.cwru.edu/degree/Pyramid/
- 2. Document Structure • Introduction – Situation – Complication – Question/Answer (Solution) • Body • Next Steps – Something the readers will not question if they buy your argument • Conclusion – Summary/Call to action/Emotion provocation
- 3. Introduction • Reminds rather than informs • Only what the reader will agree is true, plus your answer S--Your current system is X. C--It does not work. Q--How should it be changed? A--You need to….
- 4. Another example S--Your organization is growing rapidly. C--Your HR processes are not keeping up with your growth. Q--What should be done? A--You should…..
- 5. Creating an introduction 1. Draw a box and write down subject. 2. Decide the question the reader wants answered. 3. Write down the answer. 4. Describe the situation without controversy. 5. Develop the complication--Answer “so what”. 6. Recheck the question and the answer.
- 6. Creating an introduction 4 5 6 2 1 3
- 7. Body Controlling the sequence in which you present your ideas is the single most important way to make your presentation clear – Ideas at any level must be summaries of ideas grouped below them – Ideas in each grouping must always be of the same kind – Ideas in each grouping must be logically ordered
- 8. Ideas can be grouped inductively or deductively Inductive Logic Deductive Logic
- 9. • Japanese escalating drive for Chinese market – Deductive: That Americans are doing the same thing is sure to stimulate the Japanese further • Second point makes a comment on the first – Inductive: Americans are escalating drive for Chinese market • Second point is another of the same type
- 10. Argument first You must change WHY? HOW? What’s What’s Here’s what you wrong? causing it? should do A1 B1 C1 A2 B2 C2 A3 B3 C3
- 11. Action first You must change HOW? A3 B3 C3 WHY? A2 A1 B2 B1 C2 C1
- 12. If you can’t find the order in the grouping, your thinking has a flaw. • Deductive reasoning • Chronology • Structure • Comparison/classification/ranking
- 13. Poor Chronology • Strategic planning involves the recognition of a timing cycle – Perception of need – Development of strategy for creating responsive product/service – Implementation – Market acceptance and high growth – Slower growth/the onset of maturity – High cash generation – Decline/decay
- 14. Structure The objectives for the assignment as we understand them are: – To review and analyze field operations in maintenance and construction – To determine if adequate organizational and managerial flexibility exists to allow field engineers to properly respond to day-to-day operating problems and demands – To review and analyze the areas of preliminary engineering, road and bridge design, environmental process, right-of-way acquisition and traffic management – To review and analyze the organization structure of the Department – To identify the strengths and weaknesses within each study area
- 15. Classification The causes of New York’s decline are many and complex. Among them are: – Wage rates higher than those that prevail elsewhere in the country – High energy, rent and land costs – Traffic congestion that forces up transportation costs – A lack of modern factory space – High taxes – Technological change – The competition of new centers of economic concentration in the Southwest and West – The refocusing of American economic and social life in the suburbs
- 16. Better classification • New York’s decline is because of better alternatives elsewhere – New York is a high-cost city in which to do business – More attractive areas are springing up in the Southwest and West – Thus, when companies face the need to move, they choose to go south or west
- 17. Summary statements must show implications If there is no relationship, you end up with intellectually vapid assertions – You should have three objectives – There are two problems – We recommend five changes
- 18. Each type of grouping has a clear method of summarizing • Summarize action ideas by stating effect of carrying out actions • Summarize situation ideas by stating what is implied by their similarity • Summarize deductive arguments by leaning on the deduction
- 19. A summary that means nothing • Identify high-potential profit-improvement projects – Review background data • Define your key task • Collect data for the key task • Review events and trends affecting the key task – Identify possible projects • Measure profit impact of improved performance • Assess possible level of improvement and profit impact • Prepare a draft Profit-Improvement Project Plan
- 20. A summary you can visualize • To prepare a draft profit-improvement plan: – Identify a possible project • Select an operating activity where cost and investment are high • Look for evidence of poor performance • Measure profit impact of correcting poor performance – State the implications of pursuing the project • Determine the probable level of improvement • Estimate resource requirements to undertake project • Work out a timetable
- 21. I have a dream • Dreams include: – Sons of former slaves and slave owners sitting together – Character replacing skin color – Black and white children holding hands – Black men equal to white men • Freedom is scheduled to ring in: – New York, Mississippi, Georgia; Alabama, Tennessee, California