A simple way to get your thoughts in order

PREP is a simple formula for getting your thoughts in order.
As a student you are often asked to sift through a lot of information and regurgitate it for others to read or hear. Many people don't have the patience to sit through a rambling incoherent discourse, so you need to be to the point and punchy, do you not?

When you are getting your thoughts together for an assignment, presentation , speech or exam you need to go through the process of 'gathering the facts' in your head and then sorting them out into a logical order.  If you know this already - bear with me - if you don't; you may just find the following helpful.

Years ago I came across a book that proposed a simple formula and I have found it helpful ever since - it is no secret - so it will be a reminder for some of you but here it is anyway:

After you have brainstormed or gathered all your facts, organise them in this order -

Point
Reason
Examples/Evidences
Point

We actually naturally do this all the time and may not be aware of it. It's a clear way of covering all bases in communication. People use it in speeches, in writing flyers, in conversation in describing an event, for study and other prose. It is a common way of communicating.

If you had just read that paragraph, you would have noticed that I just used PREP:

Point: "We actually naturally do this all the time and may not be aware of it."
Reason: "It's a clear way of covering all bases in communication."
Examples: " People use it in speeches, in writing flyers, in conversation in describing an event, for study  and other prose."
Point: "It is a common way of communicating."

That was a very simple example, but it can be used for each paragraph of an essay, or for a full page where you are quoting a lot of examples or evidences. It's not that hard, but from my experience it works.

Key words that can help you find where your information sits is:

"The ONE fact I am telling you is...............................(Point)"
"Because...........................(reason)"
"And here are proofs from real life or research that shows this point happening everywhere...........(Examples/Evidences)"
"So, rephrased I have told you that the one fact is ..................................(point)"


Hopefully that helps

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There is a slight update of PREP in some cases: PREPA is more for speeches where you need to ask people to 'do something'. Some directly persuasive prose or speech will require you to add an Action onto the end of PREP, so that it becomes PREPA.

Point: "We actually naturally do this all the time and may not be aware of it."
Reason: "It's a clear way of covering all bases in communication."
Examples: " People use it in speeches, in writing flyers, in conversation in describing an event, for study and other prose."
Point: "It is a common way of communicating."
Action: "So do yourself a favour and set out your very next assignment using PREP!"


If this interests you there are various sites on the 'net that explain this in different contexts too. Do a Search Engine search on "Point Reason Example Point", there is plenty out there.

Today after a quick search, I discovered an online PDF called "get to the point" that might explain this further if you are interested HERE.  There is plenty out there. God bless you with your studies!