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Lesson 2 of 10

7 min

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Twelve example answers fit "Write about Sports Day." Only one is what you meant.

"Write about Sports Day." Twelve answers could fit.
Step 1 of 4
  1. "Write about Sports Day." Twelve answers could fit.
  2. Say who it is for, how long, and what shape.
  3. Visitors only: 4 answers left.
  4. Add length and shape: 1 answer left.

Flip the switches below. Watch the twelve answers shrink.

Loading lab…

The rule

Say who it is for, how long, and what shape. Each switch rules out answers that fail it. The readout counts what survives.

The readout is the number that shows how many answers are left.

Context is who the answer is for, and what for. A page that names no reader has little context. One line that names the visitors has more.

This is a picture of the idea. A real tool does not list twelve answers.

Three switches
SwitchWhat it decides
WhoWhich readers the answer must work for
How longHow much room the answer has
ShapeA rule list or a paragraph

Flip the switches in any order. Each one removes the answers that fail it. The same one answer is left.

Twelve answers come from 3 readers, 2 lengths and 2 shapes. That is 3 × 2 × 2 = 12. Choose the reader, and 2 × 2 = 4 answers are left. Choose the length, and 2 are left. Choose the shape, and 1 is left.

Try the lab to finish this lesson.