The Old/New Contract
Linguistic theory suggests that readers comprehend information best and perceive writing as
most coherent when sentences begin with information the reader already knows (old
information) and end with new information.
Let's break this down a bit. A sentence can be divided into two parts. In the first part (the topic
position), readers expect to see the context for understanding the sentence. They want to know
the topic of this sentence and *also* how it relates to what they have just read. By contrast, in
the second part (the stress position), readers expect to see the most exciting and informative part
of the sentence. They therefore focus most of their interpretative effort on understanding this
latter part of the sentence. Thus, the old/new contract suggests that backward-linking old
information and the main subject of the sentence should appear in the opening topic position
while new, emphasis-worthy information should appear in the ending stress position.
Take a look at the following examples to see how coherence has been improved by moving
around old and new information:
1a. Light rock-and-roll can be as comforting to a college student as classical music can be to a
professor. Most radio stations play light rock-and-roll. Themes about sex, alcohol, and violence
come up in the lyrics of light rock-and-roll. But country music deals with sex, alcohol, and
violence too.
1b. Light rock-and-roll can be as comforting to a college student as classical music can be to a
professor. Light rock-and-roll is played by most radio stations. The lyrics of light rock-and-roll
bring up themes about sex, alcohol, and violence. But these themes come up in country music
too.
2a. The 5-year plan does not indicate a clearly defined commitment to long-range environment
research. For instance, the development of techniques rather than the identification and
definition of important long-range issues is the subject of the plan where it does address longrange research.
2b. The 5-year plan does not indicate a clearly defined commitment to long-range environment
research. For instance, where the plan does address long-range research, it discusses the
development of techniques rather than the identification and definition of important long-range
issues.
Now you try. Note the sentences in the following paragraphs that fail to deliver on the
old/new contract and revise these sentences to better meet readers' needs:
1. Some astonishing questions about the nature of the universe have been raised by scientists
exploring the nature of black holes in space. The collapse of a dead star into a point perhaps no
larger than a marble creates a black hole. So much matter compressed into so little volume
changes the fabric of space around it in profoundly puzzling ways.
2.
Research Writing is probably the most valuable course for college students. The assignments for
this course are three short expository essays and two long research papers. Thus the course
requires a great deal of students' time, often too much in their view. But future success in college
is almost synonymous with passing Research Writing. Some of the benefits of the course are
gaining greater familiarity with the library and developing organizational skills, analytic ability,
and smooth writing style. Some of its disadvantages are cramped fingers, bloodshot eyes, and
irritability before deadlines. Only first-year students may take Research Writing.
3. People are injuring themselves at home, work and out in public from slipping and falling.
The material of the shoe sole, the material of the floor surface that the individual is walking
across, and a contaminant, like water or oil, that may decrease friction between the two materials
all contribute to slipping.
4. This chapter was written to introduce you to the basic concepts of Alain Badiou's theory of
ethics. A thorough explication will also be presented, situating Badiou's philosophy in the
context of other contemporary approaches. Furthermore, three arguments that suggest new
avenues for philosophical inquiry will be outlined, challenging Badiou's fundamental concepts.
POTENTIAL ANSWERS
1. Some astonishing questions about the nature of the universe have been raised by scientists
exploring the nature of black holes in space. A black hole forms when a dead star collapses
into a point perhaps no larger than a marble. So much matter compressed into so little
volume changes the fabric of space around it in profoundly puzzling ways.
2. Research Writing is probably the most valuable course for college students. The assignments
for this course are three short expository essays and two long research papers. Thus the course
requires a great deal of students' time, often too much in their view. Passing Research Writing
is almost synonymous with future success in college. Some of the benefits of the course are
gaining greater familiarity with the library and developing organizational skills, analytic ability,
and smooth writing style. Some of its disadvantages are cramped fingers, bloodshot eyes, and
irritability before deadlines. Only first-year students may take Research Writing.
3. People are injuring themselves at home, work and out in public from slipping and falling.
Three main factors contribute to slipping: the material of the shoe sole, the material of the
floor surface that the individual is walking across, and a contaminant, like water or oil, that may
decrease friction between the two materials.
4. This chapter was written to introduce you to the basic concepts of Alain Badiou's theory of
ethics. This theory will be thoroughly explicated and situated in the context of other
contemporary approaches. Furthermore, Badiou's fundamental concepts will be challenged
by three arguments suggesting new avenues for philosophical inquiry.