Improve Your Writing With P Quad

Some writers put important information up front so the reader can get to it quickly--you know, like writing to the 5 W’s. At the opposite extreme, some writers just toss information in the pot with no more form than alphabet soup and let readers swim around to find the important stuff. Everyone could improve their writing effectiveness with a unique, four-part formula we’ll call P Quad. By including the 4 P’s in the introductory paragraph, virtually every piece of writing can be improved. So, what are the 4 P’s? P is for picture--the big picture, the broad context of the communication. P is for pique--capture reader interest by telling what’s in it for them. P is for purpose--the reason for writing. P is for point--the writer’s thesis, main message. In sum, the 4 P’s: Picture. Pique. Purpose. Point. Where should the 4 P’s be used? One use of P Quad is in the introductory paragraph of a backstory. For example: (Picture) The state of the nation’s education system is deplorable. (Pique) A recent ABC World News segment ("Failing Grades," April 1) featured a report from America's Promise Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that showed 1.2 million students drop out of high school each year.Children without education are more likely to be unemployed, live in poverty, be unhealthy, be divorced, and be in prison. Failure to properly educate every child creates the likelihood for the country to fail in many other areas. (Point) At the center of education is the No Child Left Behind Act that everyone should know something about. Do we want to have a say in the nation's education policy, or do we want to leave it up to whoever is elected the next president. (Purpose) This backstory will bring you up to date on the act, how it started, what it has done for the country, and where it stands today. Another use of P Quad is in the introductory paragraph of a legislative alert. This example is from University of Oregon student Lindsey Carlson: (Picture) Early this spring the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions seeks to mark up a reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind/Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This reauthorization is dangerous to our nation’s students, and we believe that the federal government should create a new law that meets the criteria established in the Council for Exceptional Children’s Joint Statement and the Forum on Educational Accountability’s recommendations, which suggest a major overhaul of the federal law. (Pique) This is one of the last opportunities we have to make our voice and proposal heard for the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. (Point) It is vital that we reach as many senators as possible with our message. PLEASE take time now to contact your senator about this important issue! (Purpose) This legislative alert contains all the information you need, including a sample message, and e-mail addresses to make your contact. Another use of P Quad is in the introductory paragraph of an ordinary memo: [Picture] You have probably noticed that we have had an increasing number of visitors lately. That’s mostly because of our new contract with the government. (Pique) Federal officials have been coming to see the facility and some have been bringing cameras and asking to take pictures in the production area where you work. [Purpose] The purpose of this memo is remind everyone about our policy governing photography. [Point] In the production area we have customized, proprietary equipment which, for competitive reasons, must be kept secret. No images of any part of our production facilities are to produced by any means. Following are details of our policy. Another use of P Quad is in the introductory paragraph of, yes, even a media alert: [Picture] This is National Preparedness Month. Local emergency services units have been urging people to prepare for a bird flu pandemic. [Purpose] The purpose of this advisory is to call attention to an exhibit that will be on display at the Arc Exhibition Center provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. [Pique] Mayor George Byrd will arrive by helicopter to announce and describe the city’s emergency plan at the opening of the exhibit. [Point] Residents must get the message that home inventories for unanticipated events must be reviewed and replenished on a regular schedule. Where else could the 4 P’s be applied? I have examples of applications of the 4 P’s in a backgrounder, bio, speech, press statement, issue bulletin, blog, podcast, position statement, e-mail, and more. Earlier I wrote that P Quad is unique. Well, that’s not exactly true. For example, students must include 4 P information in the introductory paragraph of an essay in order to pass the writing section of the SAT’s. PR practitioners write with the 4 P’s but there are still some who let readers swim around in alphabet soup to look for them. So writing with the 4 P’s isn’t all that unique, except that when all four P's are included in the introductory paragraph of virtually any piece of writing, communication is vastly improved. Contact me for more examples. Better yet, take the P Quad Challenge and post your examples on this blog.