h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Alaska

Thank you for editing the Viscose entry. http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A593732

Having the author make comments on your editing must be a sub-eds nightmare, but here I am.

I thought a lot about the structure of the entry, and I specifically wanted to end up with that sentance which ran along the lines of 'next time you see something soft and floaty in a shop which made of 'viscose' or 'tencel' remember that it probably started life as a tree.'

It brings the piece round full circle, and re-iterates the counter-intuitive point made at the beginning of the piece. My whole objective in writing about viscose is the fabric-wood dichotomy.

So this is a request that the original sentance - or something like it - is restored.

Anyway - thanks again for editing it. I appreciate your work.

Regards

Ben

Ben,

Thanks for your comments. This isn't a nightmare at all. In fact, I rarely hear from the editees - either because they are disgusted beyond response with my editing or they have somehow died.

Yes, I remember that sentence. I removed it basically because of the "encyclopedia" nature of this format, rather than a "persuasive" essay format. I thought you already made it abundantly clear throughout the article that viscose comes from a tree. Generally, at the end of encyclopedia entries, there is no need for a "summary statement."

Encyclopedia entries normally start out with a general "catch", then a brief description, then a detailed description, then possibly some examples, then possibly some asides, and then it is done. Persuasive essays do often require a sort of all-encompassing sentence at the end to tie the whole piece together, but I didn't see the need here. Surely, the audience has a full picture of the "nature" of viscose by the time they arrive at the end. You did a good job!

Encyclopediac rather than persuasive... Hmmm. Interesting concepts.

My motive for writing the entry was not so much to give someone 'an interesting and little known fact' more to get them to feel 'hey wow!' The difference between - nerdy voice: "I didn't know you could make fabric from wood" and - amazed voice: "wow! you mean my super-slinky bias-cut vamp dress started out as a *tree*?!?!?!"

So I did not just want to inform, I wanted to enthuse as well, and the entry may not need the summary in the final paragraph, but I do!

I'll leave it with you.

All the best, and thanks for taking the time with it

a girl called Ben