PREParation
No, this post is not about preparation. Most members of
Toastmasters will recognise PREP as a format for speaking. Everyone else may
recognise it as getting ready (preparation). But PREP is also great for writing
blogs or essays. Having just finished a degree, I should have been using PREP
at the start of my course. It’s as easy as:
Point: of view or idea
Reason: why
Example: of the point in action
Point: restated
Why is this acronym getting so much attention in this
blog? Because it is so much better than the one a particularly youthful
lecturer uses. Every single class taught by this person at university were
reminded the same rule: alter it before telling your younger siblings about it.
Is it unprofessional, or just mucking around? Remember to read this one
vertically:
Statement: of the point of view or the idea.
Explanation: of why the point matters or why the idea
will work.
X-ample: or example, to illustrate how the idea would
work in reality.
Your point
There are alternatives. As good as they are, I would like
to simplify it more. Tam
suggests a new acronym in her blog with some help from Prezi. However, it looks
a bit more complicated than PREP. “SKEEPSGG”stands for statement, keyword,
explanation, example, personal statement, generalisation, globalisation.
“SKEEPSGG” looks quite helpful. And this blogger knows more about learning. But
there are other options. Then Bored
of Studies lists a couple more options “PEAL (Point, Evidence, Analysis, Link), PACT (Purpose,
Analysis, Context, Techniques)”. They’re great too – but why remember two
acronyms when you can use one? Let’s keep it simple.
In the spirit of keeping it clean and understandable,
don’t get bogged down in jargon. Just PREP (and prepare too).
Comments
Post a Comment
You are very welcome to post any friendly comments after blog posts. Both sides of all discussions are welcome. Keep it nice and constructive and join the conversation.