A teaching tip from Cooley's Research & Writing faculty:

» Professor Mark Cooney: Before I teach a new writing technique (case analysis, for example), I give my students a poor sample.

We create a list of "frustrating flaws", noting each flaw that makes the sample hard to read and understand. In the lecture that follows, I teach alternative approaches that solve the problems on our list.

Rather than an abstract discussion, the lecture is a practical how-to session that helps my students avoid frustrating their readers in the same ways that they were just frustrated. And it helps them stay focused on their readers' needs.