Understanding the Primacy and Recency Effects in Writing
The serial position effect demonstrates that people recall the first and last items in a series best. Writers can leverage this by using techniques like short sentences at the beginning and end of paragraphs to enhance reader memory. This effect is not only applicable in fiction but also in advertising and social contexts. The provided examples and analysis further illustrate how primacy and recency play a crucial role in writing styles.
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On the Serial Position Effect (Primacy and Recency) Altan T. Haan Edward C. Y. Kok Moritz L. Wendt Rahman T. Mohamed
Definition The Serial position effect is the tendency of a person to recall the first and last items in a series best, and the middle items worst. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_position_effect "Serial position" by Obli (talk) (Uploads) - Obli (talk) (Uploads). Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Serial_position.png#mediavi ewer/File:Serial_position.png
Implications The primacy and recency effects imply that writers can use the readers memory to alter and/or enhance the perception of portions of writing. For example, some writers employ the writing technique of short sentences at the beginning and end of paragraphs. This way, the ideas of the paragraph are more concentrated on and consolidated by the short sentences.
Applications - Analogies The effects of primacy and recency are also taken advantage of outside of fiction. In advertising many companies would try to schedule their advertisements to either appear at the beginning or end of commercial breaks, as studies have shown that viewers tend to remember the contents of those advertisements more. Also, primacy often has a major effect on the perceptions one has of another in social contexts. One would try to fill in the gaps, or stereotype, the others based upon their appearance or other factors.
Examples in Writing And so I searched the records of the time. Granted this was after I graduated, and began to work with Professor Calvin Hoffman, the almost-as- great figure at the forefront of the search. But alas, the records were far too vague, and no conclusion could be drawn a pity. A large pity. Even more than large. For the revelation to dawn upon us that our search was futile and that our many years work was mostly useless cannot be described with words. It was devastating many members of the team have retired from the field entirely, refusing to attempt anything, for it is all futile; it is but a quest for a nonexistent sword, a battle without a conclusion, a bombing carried out above nothing but the wide ocean. There was no purpose. -Extract from The Truth by Edward Kok This is a long sentence This is an unnoticed short sentence This is a short sentence
Analysis of Writing While this piece of writing was not specifically intended for the purpose of short sentences, much rather the opposite (the author has stated that his main inspiration for sentence structure was Machiavelli, a political writer known for his long-winded, elaborate sentences), but this paragraph does provide examples of the short sentence principal of primary and recency. One of the most apparent things at first glance are the two short sentences at the beginning and end. There is a large amount of emphasis on these two sentences, and thus the educated writer can use them for linguistic effect, and the educated reader interpret them. One of the most effective ways to increase the emphasis of the short sentence is a long sentence near it as shown in the extract. Pacing is key in writing, and sentence length variance provides the necessary tempo. Turn your attention to the short sentence in the middle. If I had not pointed it out, would you have noticed it? Probably not. This is a prime example of incorrect use of a short sentence. It does not matter how well composed the sentence is, it will not be noticed as it is in the middle of the paragraph, surrounded by other words. Remember, primary-recency is key to sentence length variance.
Examples cont. Mother died today. Or, maybe, yesterday; I can't be sure. The telegram from the Home says: YOUR MOTHER PASSED AWAY. FUNERAL TOMORROW. DEEP SYMPATHY. Which leaves the matter doubtful; it could have been yesterday. The Home for Aged Persons is at Marengo, some fifty miles from Algiers. With the two o'clock bus I should get there well before nightfall. Then I can spend the night there, keeping the usual vigil beside the body, and be back here by tomorrow evening. I have fixed up with my employer for two days' leave; obviously, under the circumstances, he couldn't refuse. Still, I had an idea he looked annoyed, and I said, without thinking: Sorry, sir, but it's not my fault, you know.- Extract from the stranger by Rahman Mohamed
Analysis cont. Immediately you take notice of the two opening sentences Mother died today. Or, maybe, yesterday, I don t know. as it has two components that makes it stand out one of which is the shortness and the evidently clearness of it. The other is how the second sentence connects with the first as we are instantly confronted with the death of this man s mother, but we are shocked and intrigued by his apparent lack of remorse or grief. And how the narrator is so distant and isolated from his mothers death. This distance tone is set in the readers mind within these few words. As well as the first sentence the last sentence equally stands out. As the last sentence Sorry, sir, but it's not my fault, you know. suggests that again he does not really care about his mothers death and has no sympathy for her death. It even implies that he thinks his mothers death could not be helped and it was inevitable. The middle section is not as noticed as it just talks about how his mother was in a nursing home and how he has to get there before night fall. This part can be perceived as useless information and not as informative as the first and last sentences. This is a perfect example of primary and recency.
Conclusion Based on the examples, we can thus conclude that primacy and recency is a key principle in the use of sentence length variance. Its main application is to apply emphasis or connotation to surrounding sentences or linguistic details. However for achieving the most effective emphasis and connotations you will need to use it in conjunction with other techniques notwithstanding.
