Question and Answer Format

[Distribute hand out from my book. Let students read it and debate its virtues and vices.]

Many modern readers first encounter Q&A format through FAQs. [What do students think of FAQs.]

The first question should be an overview sort of question. You can ask more detail-oriented questions later.

Q&A forces you to think of the questions that users might ask.

Q&A lets you lead the dialog. You become the playwright of a two-character play. You can give the Q and the A two distinct personalities, if you like. Q&A forces a somewhat more conversational tone, which is good for some of you.

You can end an answer with a new term, then use the next question to ask what that new term means.

Keep your answers short. A paragraph is ideal, though sometimes you'll have to go longer. Never go over a page; if you do, readers will forget the question. If your answers are getting too long, you need to divide them up into "smaller" questions. If many of your answers are too long, you might need to consider an approach other than Q&A.

One of the great advantages of Q&A format is that it helps you organize your thoughts. If you have trouble organizing a paper, you might consider writing it first in Q&A format, then converting the Q's to headings for your paper.