13
Criminal Justice 2011 Just the Facts Chapter 4: The Rules of Narrative Writing
Criminal Justice 2011
Just the Facts
Chapter 4:The Rules of
Narrative Writing
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
Facts and Opinions
Facts-Things that can be proven
Opinions-Beliefs, someone’s viewpoint, a guess
2
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
The Rules of Narrative Writing
Agency differences• There are many methods used to write reports• Some systems are controlled by the automated reporting
system requirements• Face sheet and other fill in the blank reports may have
specific requirements
3
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
The Rules of Narrative Writing
A workable method• A continuous, free-flowing, narrative style of writing with no
subheadings, sidebars, labels or other text dividers
This method will work for all investigative writing needs
4
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
First Rule
Write in the First Person• Refer to yourself as “I “or “me”• Clearly identifies you as the writer• Clean and simple
5
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
Second Rule
Past Tense• Events you are writing about are part of history• You can’t change them so write about them in past tense• This is verb tense most commonly used to write about things
that have occurred
6
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
Third Rule
Active Voice• Shows who is doing an action• Tells who is doing the action before describing what the action
is• Usually clearer and more informative• Usually a shorter way of writing than using the Passive Voice
7
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
Fourth Rule
Chronological Order• Start all Narratives with the date, time and how you got
involved• Starting a report can be the most difficult part• This provides a consistent way of getting started• Allows multiple reports to be compiled in a time line• Not all reports have face sheets-this allows everyone to begin
the same way• Clearly establishes the reason the investigation has been
started
8
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
Fifth Rule
Short, Clear, Concise and Concrete words• Abstract vs. Concrete words
• Abstract words can have multiple meanings• Concrete words have a clear meaning and little or no
misinterpretation of their use
• Pick short words-the shorter the better
9
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
Other Considerations
• Spelling• Abbreviations• Last Names• Radio Code and Jargon• Use of Quotes
10
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
Use facts, not opinions
Start the narrative of all reports the same way
Avoid using abbreviations
Refer to people by their last names
Avoid using titles such as Mr. Mrs. And Ms.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
Write in the first person
Use the past tense
Start with the date, time and how you got involved
Use the active voice
Use short, simple, concise and concrete words
CHAPTER SUMMARY
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
© 2012 by Pearson Higher Education, IncUpper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
4.11
4.12
Keep radio code and jargon out of the report
Use direct quotes only when needed
CHAPTER SUMMARY
