Keywords Expanding and Collapsing Gilberto Berros Departamento de

Keywords, Expanding, and Collapsing Gilberto Berríos Departamento de Idiomas Universidad Simón Bolívar April 28, 2003

Keywords—A definition A keyword is a word that “opens the door” to other words.

Keywords Appropriate keywords will: Summarize main point(s) F Visually collapse lots of information F Serve as reminders for oral expansion F

Keywords Appropriate keywords will help you paint the picture in the minds of the audience

Keywords—An example Read this situation: You must meet a friend who’s flying from Miami. You’ll leave from the airport to take her to an unexpected formal meeting with no time for a rest.

Keywords—An example You could send your friend a message: I will meet you tomorrow at the airport, next to the chocolate shop at 6: 45 in the evening. Wear a business suit. What if you had to telegram it?

Tomorrow airport, chocolate shop, 6: 45 pm. Wear business suit.

Keywords—Another example Imagine the following situation: You’re driving quietly and a truck swerves dangerously into your lane.

Keywords—Another example If the driver is not driving responsibly, please dial 979 -5569 978 -5564 909 -4563 AOM 024

Keywords—Another example Unfortunately. . . If the driver is not driving responsibly, please dial 979 -5569 978 -5564 909 -4563 AOM 024

Keywords—Another example …speed reading won’t help!

Collapsing information If the driver of this vehicle is not driving responsibly, please dial 979 -5569, 9785564, 909 -4563 F Better: Careless driving? Call 979 -5569 978 -5564 909 -4563 F

An exercise When collapsing information, we must be careful to choose keywords. F Usually, we will first write longer texts. Then we analyze the text to decide which words refer to information that is essential. We then delete unessential words and leave (or find substitutes for) essential ones. F We are left with a shorter text that can be more readily processed by the audience. F

An exercise When collapsing info, choose keywords F First write longer texts F Analyze text for essential words F Delete unessential words F Result = shorter text F – readily processed – overall picture better understood

It’s up to you