Having used the systems approach to develop a solid design for writing, the writer must then turn his or her attention to the implementation. In the systems world this is analogous to putting together the very best components to do the job of expression. Most readers will at once recognize …

In our last post we looked at making a high-level system design for a paper about a project, arguing that a proposed design change would make it impossible to complete a hypothetical project by its original due date. The design called for a four-paragraph structure that flowed as follows: P1 …

All writing, especially expository writing, is about using a system design. In a pattern familiar to any systems engineer, the writing project begins with high level requirements that will decompose to lower level requirements, a functional map for meeting those requirements and a particular physical implementation. The effective author begins …

Every year at Christmas I am reminded of the systemic nature of music. Music is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I sing bass in several different choirs during the Christmas season and every year I get to sing the same parts in the basic repertoire of traditional Christmas …