writing for sacs ann morris director, sacscoc fifth-year report panola college january 2014
TRANSCRIPT
Writing for SACSAnn Morris
Director, SACSCOC Fifth-Year ReportPanola CollegeJanuary 2014
Convert a word or phrase into a noun. When writing, focus on the REAL
verb in your sentence. Wordy: Academic deans provide an
evaluation of instruction. Nominalized: Academic deans
evaluate instruction.
Nominalize
How would you nominalize this sentence? Budget cuts constitute a
threat to faculty development programs.
Nominalize
What should the real verb be? Hmm…
Answer: Budget cuts threaten faculty development programs. You’re good!
Nominalize
Expletive Construction
Avoid beginning sentences with there, here, or it followed by a form of to be.
There is… It is… There are… Wordy: There are several
programs designed to provide academic support to students.
Better: Several programs provide academic support to students.
How would you revise this sentence? It is common for over
20 faculty to attend training seminars.
Expletive Construction
I think I should begin this sentence with…
Answer: Over 20 faculty commonly attend these training seminars. That’s easy enough!
Expletive Construction
Why is active voice preferred? Shorter, more direct statements Greater clarity (The reader knows
immediately who is doing what.) Sharper imagery
EXCEPTION: Passive voice is needed if you want to focus on the receiver of the action more than the actor.
Active vs. Passive Voice
Active vs. Passive Voice
We shouldn’t write in the passive voice for SACS.
Why not?
Passive voice is considered weak.
Active voice pushes the sentence forward!
Passive: All curriculum changes are authorized by the Curriculum Committee.
Active: The Curriculum Committee authorizes all curriculum changes.
Active vs. Passive Voice
First sentence - Reword the standard confirming compliance.
Next 2-3 sentences - Provide a road-map for the narrative.
Use headings if needed for multi-part standards.
Final sentence - Summarize by confirming compliance.
How to Get Started Writing
Did you notice? Ann used active voice.
“Tell ‘em what you are goin’ to tell ‘em, tell ‘em, and then tell ‘em what you done told ‘em.”
Or, remember what Bro. Freddy says about the ol’ preacher’s style…
And, try to use active voice and limited nominalizations, and when possible avoid expletive construction. –Whew!
Keep it Concise and Simple
Responsible persons (that’s us) write, rewrite, edit, and proofread our own standards and requirements.
An appointed proofreader edits OUR FINAL version.
The proofreader also lends the Interim Report its “one voice.”
Proofreader and One Voice
The Writer’s Handbook
Great Resource
I know what you’re dying to ask:How long should my response be?
I always told my students…
Apply Winston Churchill’s Speech Theory
SACS response
