Composition: THE GENERAL AND THE SPECIFIC: When to choose?

THE GENERAL AND THE SPECIFIC

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IN AN OFFICE conference I was asked about when to be specific and when to be general. As you know by now, there are no absolute rules. Sometimes one needs to be general and at other times specific. However, since students usually err too much on the general side, it's better to err at being specific.
    Probably the best test is to use the Communication Triangle and, as a reader of your own writing, find out if all your questions are answered by the text you have written. Then you can decide for yourself if there are too many details or not enough.
    Here are some examples:

    1. I cracked my tooth on a nut.
    People probably don't care what kind of nut it was.

    2. She called attention to herself by wearing an odd dress.
    People probably do care what kind of dress it was.

    3. She overdosed on cold medication and ended up in the hospital.
    People probably don't care what kind of cold medication it was.

    4. He was playing music so loud on the bus another passenger started a fight with him.
    People probably don't care what kind of music it was.

    5. She stays home most nights and waits for the telephone to ring.
    People probably don't care what kind of telephone it is.

    6. Carol's friends ridiculed the telephone installed in her home.
    People probably do care what kind of telephone it is.

    7. She's very intellectual and reads famous Russian novels.
    People probably don't care about the names of these Russian novels.

    8. She had a deep religious experience while reading a Russian novel.
    People probably do care about the name of the novel and even the passage that caused her religious experience.

    9. She's getting fat on high calorie cakes.
    People probably don't care what kinds of cakes they are.

    10. She's very gifted baking her favorite cake.
    People probably care what kind of cake it is.

    11. He stays home drinking beer and watches television all day.
    People probably don't care what kind of television shows he watches.

    12. She ran home to watch her favorite television show.
    People probably care what television show this is.

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