BIENVENIDOS A CABO BLANCO
Anexo 3. Guía de entrevista a los colaboradores de la Oficina de Turismo
Formal and informative headings
Usually, it helps if you make generous use of headings and sub-headings.
Headings break text into manageable sections, and help by increasing the ‘white space’ around the blocks of type, especially when the type is single-spaced. They also act as signposts, pointing out what is to be found in each section. Formal headings such as Problem, or Experimental, or Discussion are neither informative nor useful, because they do not focus attention on the essence of the following paragraphs. Better headings, such as Updating Operation Flow Charts or The Influence of Sunlight on Linings, convey real information about the content of the section.
In word-processed text, there are four ways in which the relative hierarchy of the headings can be shown:
• numbering;
• indenting;
• using capitals and lower case letters;
• bolding (use of heavy type). (In typewritten texts, underlining has to take the place of bolding.)
To ensure that readers grasp the relationships at a glance, documents that use all four systems are best.
The usual hierarchy of size and letter forms is:
1.CAPITALS BOLDED (OR UNDERLINED) 2. CAPITALS NOT BOLDED (OR UNDERLINED) 3.Lower Case Bolded (or underlined)
4. Lower case not bolded (or underlined)
A decimal numbering system helps further, but note the effect of the following layout:
7. FIRST LEVEL HEADING
7.1. SECOND LEVEL HEADING
7.1.1 Third Level Heading
7.2.1.2 Fourth level heading
Because a number like ‘7.2.1.2’ is longer than the single ‘7’ it seems more important. So it is preferable to use indenting as well, in order to complete the visual representation of the hierarchy of sections. Some writers (or their typists or managers) will not use indentation because they believe that progressively increasing left-hand margins wastes paper. We think that nothing is a waste of paper that helps the reader. In any case, if the indentation is only two or three spaces each time, the margins never get very wide. But if managers insist that indenting the text is wasteful, a good compromise is to indent the headings only, leaving all the text on the margin. The use of decimal numbering, differing weights of type, and indentation for the headings shows the reader the ‘shape’ of the information. Examples of an indented and a ‘left-justified’ (non-indented) system in a typescript are shown in Fig. 5.1 and 5.2.
Systems of numbering
Three systems of numbering are widely used in business, industrial and research writing:
• the decimal system;
• mixtures of numbers and letters;
• the HMSO system.
The decimal system is generally accepted as the clearest numbering system available. In this system, the headed sections and sub-sections only are numbered, not every paragraph. There can be any number of paragraphs in a section or sub-section.
When you have sub-divisions, your first sub-division number and heading should always come immediately after the division number and heading.
Numbering to three or four places of decimals is usually a sign that grouping and sub-division of ideas need to be reviewed.
If you wish to set items in a list within your sub-sections, use simple numbers.
Remember that the decimal numbering system is for headings only. Lists within sections are not headings, and should be given a simple sequence of numbers or letters, an example of this is in section 7.2.1 of Fig. 5.1.
A numbering system which mixes Roman numerals, Arabic numerals and letters of the alphabet is often confusing: ‘…as in Section IV(g) 3(ii)…’
Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (HMSO) in the UK frequently numbers every paragraph of the text in a sequence from beginning to end. Headings are not
numbered and stand outside the paragraphing system, but a sub-heading may be included in the first line of the paragraph. This system can be confusing when there is much mathematics in the text.
The great virtue of the decimal system is that it constantly reminds readers of which major section they are in. A system which mixes Roman numerals and letters of the alphabet is often puzzling. Readers may arrive at a section labelled simply (g), but recall having read a section (g) a few moments ago; they become confused about how the information has been organized since that time and where they are now.
Fig. 5.1 Non-indented text with indented headings.
2. BASIC FACTORS AFFECTING MIX COSTS 2.1 Water
The water content of concrete is fundamental to all economic considerations. Concrete strength is directly related to the ratio of the weights of water and cement: consequently it may be possible to achieve a specified strength with a lean mix having a low water content. However a mix of this type may have a very low workability and the savings in material costs may be negated by increased plant and labour costs.
2.2 Cement
A specification may well contain a minimum cement content requirement to ensure the durability of the concrete. In some cases this minimum cement content may be greater than that which would be required when considering compressive strength alone. The estimator must therefore read the specification or bill carefully and make appropriate adjustments to the cost estimate if a minimum cement content is called for. Ready-mixed concrete suppliers must also be informed of any such requirements before being asked to submit quotations.
2.3 Aggregates
2.3.1 Maximum sizes The maximum size, particle shape and surface texture of aggregates have a major influence on workability and hence on the cement content of the concrete.
Aggregates for concrete are usually processed to comply with BS 882: 19743 and full description of aggregates covering such characteristics as particle shape and surface texture are given in BS 812: 19654.
Coarse aggregates, ie larger than 5mm in size, generally comprise gravels or crushed rock. Gravels are naturally occurring deposits of rounded or irregular particles having generally a smooth surface texture, whereas crushed rock is the product formed by the processing of bedrock formations and is usually angular in shape and of a rough texture.
Fine aggregates, which are smaller than 5mm in size, can be either a natural sand or a crushed rock fine.
2.3.2 Costs
The maximum size, particle shape and surface texture of aggregate affect the mix costs.
A concrete mix containing an angular coarse aggregate with rough surface texture will require more water to produce a given workability than a smooth rounded gravel of similar size. The larger the maximum size of a coarse aggregate the less water is necessary but the maximum size selected depends on many factors such as reinforcement spacing and depth of cover.
7 THE USE OF HEADINGS AND NUMBERING 7.1 Formal and Informative Headings
Usually, it helps if you make generous use of headings and sub-headings.
Headings break text into manageable sections, and help by increasing the
"white space" around the blocks of type, especially when the type is single-spaced. They also act as signposts, pointing out what is to be found in each section.
Formal headings such as PROBLEM or EXPERIMENTAL or DISCUSSION are not as useful as informative headings that genuinely focus attention on the essence of the following paragraphs.
Emphasise the relative importance of the divisions and sub-divisions by careful use of capital and lower-case letters in your headings, and by moving successive sub-divisions further to the right.
Make your headings stand out from the text by underlining or by using a bold typeface.
7.2 Systems of Numbering
7.2.1 The range of systems available
Three systems of numbering are widely used in business, industrial and research writing in Britain:
1. the decimal system;
2. mixtures of numbers and letters;
3. the HMSO system.
7.2.2 The decimal system
The decimal system is generally accepted as the clearest available. In this system, the headed sections and sub-sections only are numbered, not every paragraph. There can be any number of paragraphs in a section or sub-section.
When you have sub-divisions, your first sub-division, number and heading should always come immediately after the division number and heading: there should be no paragraphs apparently floating unattached.
Numbering to three or four places of decimals is usually a sign that grouping and sub-divisions of ideas need to be reviewed.
If you wish to set items in a list within your sub-sections, use simple numbers (as in 7.2.1 above).
7.2.3 Mixtures of numbers and letters
Systems which mix Roman numerals, Arabic numerals and letters of the alphabet are often confusing: "…as in Section IV (g)3(ii)…"
7.2.4 The HMSO system
Her Majesty's Stationery Office frequently numbers every paragraph of a text in a sequence from beginning to end.
Headings are not numbered, but a sub-heading may be included in the first line of a paragraph. This system can be confusing when there is much mathematics in the text.
8 PRODUCTION OF TYPESCRIPT
Typists should take care that the typescript is produced with careful attention to the details of layout. The author’s directions
Fig. 5.2 Indented decimal numbering.