Memorandum

To:
From:
Date:
Subject:

Professor Jennifer Hawk

Cody Ream
September 13, 2015
Writing Readable Pros Style

This memo is the analysis of one piece of writing that was written a year ago. The following
concepts will be applied to this writing to show that I can use them effectively; being direct,
being precise, ect This writing was from a Forestrys class and written as a professional paper.
Being Direct
This means cutting out unnecessary words and comments. If a word does not directly get to
the point then scratch out from the passage. This includes cutting out to-be verbs, words
ending in ed, and the word is.
Original:
Both indigenous and people of European ancestry have used the force of fire for their
personal gain. Much of the methods and reasons did come from the Natives Americans
however. Many of these uses are quite similar in regards to motives. Large areas were burned
in order to make rangeland for livestock by those who immigrated to the North America.
Natives to the same area used that practice to make hunting big game more efficient. Clearing
land in order to plant crops is also another parallel between these two groups today. Another
major similarity of the use of prescribed burned is for fire-proofing an area. By burning an area
the undergrowth and dead plant matter is discarded before it has time to accumulate. Native
people would burn around their villages in order to prevent a future fire from taking hold and
destroying their home (United, 2000). Similar to how people burn today, in this same fashion in
order to protect their home and property from a catastrophic fire that would spring up if the
landscape was left unchecked. This is one of the main reasons for conducting prescribed burns
in todays society. Another reason is to promote diversity within an ecosystem (United, 2005).
Some plants such as mountain pine and pitch pine depend on the heat from fire in order to
release their seeds. Without this natural accuracy these plants are unable to replace their
numbers in the forest.
Vs.
Revised:

Project 1
Both indigenous and people of European ancestry have used the force of fire for their
personal gain. Much of the methods and reasons did come from the Natives Americans
however. Many of these uses are quite similar in regards to motives. Large areas were burned
in order to make rangeland for livestock by those who immigrated to the North America.
Natives to the same area used that practice to make hunting big game more efficient. Clearing
land in order to plant crops is also another parallel between of these two groups today.
Another major similarity of the use of a prescribed burned is for fire-proofing an area. By
burning an area the undergrowth and dead plant matter is gets discarded before it has time to
accumulate. Native people would burn around their villages in order to prevent a future fire
from taking hold and destroying their home (United, 2000). Similar to how people burn today,
in this same fashion in order to protect their home and property from a catastrophic fire that
would spring up if the landscape was left unchecked. This is one of the main reasons for
conducting prescribed burns in todays society. Another reason is to promote diversity within
an ecosystem (United, 2005). Some plants such as mountain pine and pitch pine depend on the
heat from fire in order to release their seeds. Without this natural accuracy these plants are
unable to replace their numbers in the forest.
Changing Big Words
Words that are large and may be complicated for some people to read or understand need to
be taken out for greater readability. The general rule is to try to use words of only one or two
syllables.
Original:
For decades wildfires have been extinguished within hours of lighting in the United States in
order to prevent damage to wilderness and human civilization. This fire suppression has hence
caused more harm than good in regards for the forest and other wildlife. By not letting fire
take its natural course, the western scientific method of protecting the forest has led to a buildup of fuel for future fires as well as inhibits forest regeneration.
Vs
Revised:
For decades wildfires have been extinguished put out within hours of lighting in the United
States in order to prevent damage to wilderness and humans civilization. This fire suppression
has hence caused more harm than good in regards for the forest and other wildlife. By not
letting fire take its natural course, the western scientific method of protecting the forest has led
to a build-up of fuel for future fires as well as inhibits forest regeneration regrowth.

Project 1
Being Precise