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Ah, Wordiness
May. 7th, 2007 04:27 pmCouncilor: Now, what seems to be the problem?
Patient: Well, Doc, I have trouble with taking too many words to say things.
Councilor: (Nodding) Ah, wordiness.
Patient: (Distressed) See!?
This week my thesis adviser asked me to give her an explanation of how data fusion works. Again. I should have just printed off the same report that I gave her last time, but it occurred to me that (1) my work ethic wouldn't be satisfied with such a half-fast job, (2) if she didn't understand it the first time she wouldn't understand it a second, and (3) assuming she hadn't just forgotten that we've been through this she might be upset with me for being pretentious.
So this time I tried to step through it a bit more clearly and, on top of that, I decided to give an "executive summary" at the top, so she could see from the start what my main points were. I am aware, as are many of you I presume, that I have a way of going on and on (and on and on) when I write.
In the end I had my summary to four lines, but I kept having to restart my summary as my previous attempt spiraled off into a full-blown report! O.o
*sigh* I hope she's satisfied with this. I don't know how else to explain it. I'm not an academic.
Patient: Well, Doc, I have trouble with taking too many words to say things.
Councilor: (Nodding) Ah, wordiness.
Patient: (Distressed) See!?
This week my thesis adviser asked me to give her an explanation of how data fusion works. Again. I should have just printed off the same report that I gave her last time, but it occurred to me that (1) my work ethic wouldn't be satisfied with such a half-fast job, (2) if she didn't understand it the first time she wouldn't understand it a second, and (3) assuming she hadn't just forgotten that we've been through this she might be upset with me for being pretentious.
So this time I tried to step through it a bit more clearly and, on top of that, I decided to give an "executive summary" at the top, so she could see from the start what my main points were. I am aware, as are many of you I presume, that I have a way of going on and on (and on and on) when I write.
In the end I had my summary to four lines, but I kept having to restart my summary as my previous attempt spiraled off into a full-blown report! O.o
*sigh* I hope she's satisfied with this. I don't know how else to explain it. I'm not an academic.
