USMC85 · Écriture | Pierre Lévy

USMC85 - 3. Writing

Writing

Introduction

Writing is the act of creating a persistent representation of human language (Wikipedia on writing). It is both a cognitive and a social activity
Writing is a means :

to create durable traces of content,
to transmit information over time,
to externalise one’s thoughts for reflection.

Structure

A text is usually composed of paragraph, in which are sentences, in which are words.

the text demonstrates a point on a topic (to be convincing).
the paragraph brings an argument to the demonstration.
The sentence provides an information (not two) useful to bring forth the argument.
The word specify the elements involved in the piece of information (either being an object or an action).

When you write, or more importantly review a writing you have done before submitting it, check each sentence asking yourself if:

is this sentence useful for the argument I am trying to provide. If not, remove it and read again the paragraph.
are the words the proper ones, or are there better ones. If not, look for better ones.
is my argument is clear. If not.. do it again.

Paragraphs

One paragraph, one argument:

topic sentence - states the point of the paragraph
evidence - data, facts, examples that support the point
analysis - explains why the evidence supports the point
link - one sentence connecting to the next paragraph

Writing styles

The plain style focuses on clarity, directness, and simplicity. It avoids unnecessary ornamentation, complex vocabulary, and elaborate sentence structures in favor of straightforward language that delivers information efficiently. Common in technical writing, journalism, and everyday instruction, its primary purpose is to be immediately understandable without drawing attention to the craft of the writing itself.

The middle style balances functional clarity with moderate aesthetic appeal. It uses a varied vocabulary, polished phrasing, and engaging sentence structures while remaining accessible to a general audience. Typically found in popular non-fiction, essays, and standard literary prose, this style aims to inform and entertain without becoming overly informal or aggressively grand.

The grand style (or high style) is designed to evoke strong emotion, express lofty ideas, and inspire awe. It relies heavily on elevated vocabulary, complex rhetorical devices, rhythmic phrasing, and rich imagery to create a majestic tone. Frequently used in epic poetry, formal speeches, and solemn historical texts, its primary goal is to move, persuade, and elevate the reader’s state of mind.

Writing plainly

omit needless words (Strunk & White, 2000): shorter is clearer
one idea per sentence - place it where the reader expects it (Gopen & Swan, 1990)
prefer the active voice: “we measured the temperature” rather than “the temperature was measured”
hedge honestly: “suggests”, “may”, “in most cases” - qualify what you cannot guarantee
signpost the structure: “first”, “however”, “as a result”, “in contrast”

EXERCISE : Working on the structure of the language

Write a sentence including a relative pronoun (that/which/who) in your own native language. If your native language is English, write it in your second most fluent language.
Write the same sentence in English WORD BY WORD (even if it does not make sense). If the word does not exist in English, write 3 dashes (---).
Write the same sentence in a form that makes sense in English.
Write the same sentence in English in plain style. You may add a remove elements, while not changing the meaning of the core information of the sentence.
Write the same sentence in English in middle style. You may add a remove elements, while not changing the meaning of the core information of the sentence.
Write the same sentence in English in grand style. You may add a remove elements, while not changing the meaning of the core information of the sentence.

Examples for students’ work

Chinese
1. 我的家乡有一座古老的桥，那是许多人都会来参观的地方。
2. My hometown has a very old bridge, that is many people all will come visit --- place.
3. My hometown has a very old bridge, which is a place many people come to visit.
4. There’s an old bridge in my hometown that many people like to visit.
5. In my hometown stands an ancient bridge, a place frequently visited by many.
6. In the heart of my hometown rises a venerable bridge, a cherished landmark that draws countless visitors to marvel at its enduring beauty.
Arabic
1. الكتاب الذي قرأته كان مثيراً للاهتمام
2. The book that I read was hot attention.
3. The book that I read was interesting.
4. I found the book I read very interesting.
5. The book I read turned out to be quite fascinating, holding my attention from start to finish.
6. The book that I had the privilege to delve into was a masterpiece, captivating my imagination and leaving an indelible mark on my thoughts.

Proposition of a structure of text

Decision guide: which document to write?

What is your PURPOSE?
│
├─ INFORM (present facts, data, findings)
│  ├─ Technical report → detailed analysis, methodology, results
│  ├─ Lab report → experiment documentation, observations, conclusions
│  └─ Documentation → user manuals, specifications, procedures
│
├─ PERSUADE (convince audience to accept an idea or take action)
│  ├─ Project proposal → justify need, request resources/budget
│  ├─ Research paper → argue for contribution to the field
│  └─ Recommendation report → advocate for specific course of action
│
├─ EXPLAIN (make complex ideas understandable)
│  ├─ Tutorial/guide → step-by-step instructions
│  ├─ White paper → educational content on technical topic
│  └─ Presentation slides → visual explanation of concepts
│
└─ DOCUMENT (record what happened or was decided)
   ├─ Meeting minutes → decisions, action items, attendees
   ├─ Design log → evolution of design decisions
   └─ Incident report → what went wrong, why, how to fix

Ask yourself:

Who will read this? (experts, managers, general public)
What do they need to know? (background, details, just conclusions)
What action do I want them to take? (approve, understand, implement)

IMRAD papers

There are many ways a text can be structured, especially depending on the style (plain, middle, grand). Yet here is a proposition for a safe (i.e. classic) structure:

Title: A clear, engaging title that encapsulates the project. A good title is memorable and tells well what we will read.
(Bonus, yet not easy: A good spoiler engages well the reader and empowers the rhetoric. The reader should be strongly engaged and motivated/curious to know more.)
Abstract: the whole text in miniature - one paragraph covering problem, method, result and implication. Write it last, once the text is stable.
Keywords: 3-5 terms that allow others to find your work.
Contextualising the project: Providing a brief overview of the current state of the field, the place and the context of the project, the related issues helps to figure out why it matters. Discuss the societal, ecological, technical, or cultural motivations behind the research. Why is this work necessary? What gaps does it address?
Research Problem/Challenge: Clearly defining the specific problem or question your research will tackle structures all the approach you will take and underline the significancy of the project in relation with the context.
Objectives: Outlining the primary goals of the research creates a link with the problem/challenge and will support the choice of the
Methodology: Be brief on explaining what is to be done, what the technology involved, what the measurement/analysis approaches. Be specific (plain style).
Output: Briefly describe what you expect to find.
Outcome: Reopen the discussion by describing the potential implications of your findings for society, ecology, technology, or culture.
Conclusion: One or two sentences to get from the problem/challenge to the contributions to the field or to the society.
References (if applicable): Include key literature or prior research that supports your project.

Tools

Free and open-source tools

LibreOffice - full office suite (Writer, Calc, Impress)
OnlyOffice - compatible with MS Office formats
Obsidian - markdown note-taking and writing (free for personal use)
Logseq - open-source knowledge management
VSCodium - open-source VS Code (great for markdown)
Overleaf - online LaTeX editor (free tier)
Pandoc - universal document converter
** Zotero ** - free reference manager (and its AI plugin - ARIA)
LanguageTool - open-source grammar checker

Tips for non-native English speakers

Start with your native language if it helps you organize your thoughts, then translate
Use simple sentence structures - subject-verb-object is always clear
Avoid idioms and colloquialisms - they don’t translate well and may confuse readers
Use online dictionaries wisely: WordReference for context, Linguee for real-world examples
Grammar checkers: Grammarly (free version), LanguageTool (open source)
Read your text aloud - if you stumble, your reader will too
Ask a peer to proofread - fresh eyes catch errors you miss
Common errors to avoid: article usage (a/an/the), prepositions, word order in questions

Writing process - step by step

Understand the assignment - re-read the instructions, identify the audience and purpose
Brainstorm - write down all ideas without filtering (5-10 minutes)
Outline - organize ideas into main points and supporting details
First draft - write quickly without worrying about perfection
Take a break - step away for at least 30 minutes
Revise for content - check logic, evidence, structure
Revise for language - improve clarity, fix grammar, simplify
Proofread - final check for typos and formatting
Submit - double-check the deadline and submission requirements

References

Referring others’ work that is used in your text is important for multiple reasons:

contextualise your work
contribute to a community of work
validate the depth of your work
acknowledge others’ work
specify your own contribution
Repository: Cnam Library!
Use a consistent citation style - e.g. APA 7th edition - and include DOIs when available.

Publishing

Determine your public and select the places they access.
For scientific publications, you may refer to the impact factors of journals (e.g., SJR) and of conferences (e.g., Conferenceranks).

Impact Factor

The impact factor (IF) or journal impact factor (JIF) of an academic journal is a scientometric index calculated by Clarivate that reflects the yearly mean number of citations of articles published in the last two years in a given journal, as indexed by Clarivate’s Web of Science.
As a journal-level metric, it is frequently used as a proxy for the relative importance of a journal within its field; journals with higher impact factor values are given the status of being more important, or carry more prestige in their respective fields, than those with lower values.
While frequently used by universities and funding bodies to decide on promotion and research proposals, it has been criticised for distorting good scientific practices. (from wikipedia on impact factor)

Writing assignment

Revision checklist

Before submitting, verify each item:

Structure & Logic

Clear title that reflects content
Introduction states purpose and context
Each paragraph has one main idea (topic sentence)
Logical flow between paragraphs (transitions)
Conclusion summarizes key points, no new information
Arguments supported by evidence/examples

Language & Style

Sentences are concise (one idea per sentence)
Active voice used where appropriate
Technical terms defined on first use
No jargon without explanation
Consistent tense throughout
No unnecessary words (cut filler)

Grammar & Mechanics

Subject-verb agreement
Articles (a/an/the) used correctly
Prepositions correct (in/on/at/by/for)
Punctuation correct (commas, periods)
Spelling checked
Numbers formatted consistently

Formatting & References

Consistent formatting (headings, fonts, spacing)
Figures and tables numbered and captioned
All sources cited in text
Reference list complete and APA 7th format
Name and registration number included
File format and name as required

Topic

Topic: a brief yet comprehnsive introduction the Meshtastic technology, including an historical perspective, a technical explanation, and its social/political implications.

Due dates:

for IoT: october 13 th at 09:00
for MECA: october 6 th at 09:00
for TLC: october 27 th at 09:00

The format can be either in markdown or LaTeX or simple text. There is no format imposed, but do not hesitate to propose one (no need to justify unless necessary to understand the document itself). Diagrams, illustrations and tables are not allowed. If necessary, quantitative data should be integrated in the text.
There is no limitation of text. The more concise the better! If it is half a page and does the job, that is fine.

The file has to include your name a registration number at Cnam.

Assignment process:

Use the text written in class (250 words max)
Ask AI to do the same (250 words max)
Compare and discuss the AI output from your perspective (250 words max)
Based on this reflection, instruct AI to improve its text
Iterate points 3 and 4 as much as necessary.
Take the best of what AI provided, finalise it with your own touch. The more concise the better!

Deliverable: all the texts, all the prompts, and your quick reflections, all organised in a timelychronological order.

You are assessed on your reflections, the apparent construction towards the construction of a better text, so I can understand why the last one is best. The exercise should not take more than 1 h.

To be submitted @ pierre.levy@lecnam.net with the following title for the email and for the document: USMC 85_writing-<your SISCOL number>-<your Name>

USMC85 · Écriture