The terms "scope of work" and "statement of work" are often used interchangeably. This is particularly true in the case of non-profit or education-based clients. A task is an action that must be undertaken, while a deliverable is the end project or final outcome of a task. In the payment terms and schedule section, you will outline pricing for the work to be performed, along with the terms and schedule on which payments will be made. Source: Wrike software. Identify your purpose or goal. This section describes why the work is being done. There are certain project documents you may encounter that are similar to an SOW, but are distinct in several ways. On the task management side of things, Scoro lets you add a task, assign it to multiple people, schedule it in the team calendar, log events under a certain task, track time per task, bundle tasks together, and so on. We’ll go into detail about how to write an SOW for your particular industry below. Explain what you plan to do in response to the situation (if applicable). These sections are important because they capture all the information both parties will need to ensure work is done according to the agreed-upon specifications. SOW and contract data requirements list (CDRL). Deliverables Schedule - List the specific deliverables, describing what is … When companies are using an Agile approach for development, the scope of the work to be performed is not always known initially. Remember, this is a document that’s supposed to break down all aspects of the work to be done, so it’s important that no detail is open to … If there is any doubt, speak to the person who has asked you to write one. It might outline which staff members are authorized to accept it, and who will review and sign off on deliverables. There are a few common challenges you may face when writing an SOW. Assign work to the proper team members. Regardless of your industry, you’ll want to make sure to include the following sections in your SOW. Need to write a statement of work (SOW) but not sure where to start? Begin writing the SoW early in the project … A Statement of Work (sometimes called a Scope of Work and often referred to as an SOW) is a contract between you and your freelance clients and is often used in place of a more formal agreement. It covers the project outcome in terms of a service, product or time commitment, and clarifies an acceptable outcome. The period of performance may be measured in one of the following ways: If needed, you can also include constraints on the amount of time contractors or vendors can spend on the work, such as a maximum number of billable hours per week or per month. This is a flexible SOW that is frequently used for hourly service workers. Inform the reader how he can reach you for additional questions if applicable to the situation. ‌ Download Project Management Statement of Work Template. Introduce the project. According to project management experts and entities, most SOWs share some basic components, regardless of industry. The CDRL entries must reference the parts of the SOW that use these deliverables. This flexibility is important to ensure that both parties are happy with the finished product.”. However, it does not tell the contractor how to perform the work. Including a hobby in your bio is a great way to make it more casual with a human element. Whether applying for undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate programme, the strategy of writing a powerful statement of purpose would be to sound focused throughout. Weebly continues to attract and keep loyal users thanks to its user-friendly design and constant upgrades. You want all files, research reports, and other supporting documents in one central location that authorized users can access on demand no matter what device they’re using. Our priority at The Blueprint is helping businesses find the best solutions to improve their bottom lines and make owners smarter, happier, and richer. Source: Smartsheet software. ©2019-2021 The Motley Fool. What’s more, in projects where the scope changes throughout the lifecycle, the SOW may not always be updated accordingly. Sign your name (in the presence of a notary public if you need to submit a sworn statement). The reason you’re preparing a statement of work is for everyone to be on the same page. An SOW typically includes: An SOW is used when contractors or collaborators outside your organization are working on a project with your internal project team. We've tested, evaluated and curated the best software solutions for your specific business needs. The scope of work covers the project's outcomes and the work required to achieve those outcomes. This section signifies that all parties agree to the stipulations of the statement of work. Duncan adds that the SOW should also name the people who will be responsible for approving deliverables, scope changes, and corresponding schedule and budget adjustments, as well as who will handle support and maintenance. Please verify that the email is valid and try again. The SOW describes the details of performance and is the gauge against which contractor performance is measured. However, there are differences. That’s how we make money. For the past 25+ years, The Motley Fool has been serving individual investors who are looking to improve their investing results and make their financial lives easier. 3. We’ve done the expert research, so you don’t have to. Here, you describe the features and attributes that make a deliverable acceptable, including how deliverables are submitted, reviewed, or evaluated, and who will accept and sign off on them. Include specific descriptions of the deliverables, including quantity, size, color, number of pages or designs, and anything else that may apply. The failure to write (or properly write) a statement of work is all too often the reason clients and agencies end up in conflict. (More on scope in the Statement of Work Format section below.). He advises that students use a traditional font at a readable size (11- or 12-pt) and leave enough whitespace in the margins to make the statement easy-to-read. Briefly explain your reason for drawing up this statement. Source: Basecamp software. Since requirements may be vague, “an SOW for software development and project management needs to be very clear in terms of what the scope does NOT include, and the approach that will be used to define and contain it,” says Donna Duncan, Owner-Operator, SEO and Content Management Consultant at SEO firm B-SeenOnTop. The essay should always … E1.0 Scope: E1.1 Title: The title is how the work will be referred … Looking for the best tips, tricks, and guides to help you accelerate your business? Stick to the facts---do not write hearsay or assumptions. While your introduction, body and conclusion sections should be in that order, you can write them in any order that best helps you effectively … You should provide guidance on how the work will be submitted, and include specific criteria for how to determine what is “acceptable” work. If you are interested in learning to write effective short bios, you will need to know what to include and what a successful short bio looks like. What is a scope of work? Research on the reasons for and consequences of this shift has focused on objective measures of income, working hours and … However, they will all have a section for to state the goals, scope of work, period and place of performance, expenses, milestones, work requirements, acceptable criteria and any special requirements you may have. Free shipping for many products! Definition. Unlike a building or a manufactured product, software can be easily changed - even after the final product is completed. Project Management Think of it objectively. The introduction is where you identify the type of work to be done, whether it’s performing a service or creating a product. Include the time, date, and location of the incident, as well as your name and work ID number and the names of anyone else who was present. “Project phases should be short (to maintain interest), limited in scope (to facilitate focus), involve all participants (to build and sustain commitment), and have clear transition criteria and visible checkpoints (so everyone knows where they stand and the end remains in sight),” she says. The failure to properly develop and execute a statement of work is also the reason why project parties end up in a dispute. Understand the ‘what’ and ‘why’: If your employer or agency asks you for a statement, ask them to put their request in writing so that you know exactly what you are being asked to write about.Read about statements in different contexts also. Our commitment to you is complete honesty: we will never allow advertisers to influence our opinion of products that appear on this site. The document types listed below focus primarily on big-picture issues, such as the project goals and the desired end results. It may also be used when the government agency or organization procuring the work has specific instructions or guidelines for contractors or suppliers to follow. The description needs to cover all major aspects of the work … We examine how well software options perform in the areas that matter most, including features, pricing, and support. Depending on the project, start dates may be optional. Resources and Testing Here are some actionable tips for when it’s time to sit down and write your SOW. Writing a witness statement is quite simple actually, it is the same as writing a journal about the experience you had on the date in question. Learn about our premium resource and portfolio management platform, 10,000ft by Smartsheet. The criteria for acceptance may involve specific, technical details, such as a quantifiable speed, response time, and/or ease of use, based on the client’s needs. The release management process can improve the quality, efficiency, and speed of updating software. There are clear benefits to outlining the project scope. Writing a career goal statement for entry into grad school requires you to take a look back over your life and academic history to date. Services  In turn, the SOW should reference the titles and item numbers of corresponding CDRL entries. Short on time, high on curiosity? Miscellaneous/Special Requirements Requirements and Tasks So let’s adjust our approach. The Author and/or The Motley Fool may have an interest in companies mentioned. How you tackle the process of creating a statement of work will depend on your industry and the elements you want included in the document. Deliverables and Schedule/Timeline There was a problem connecting. When can a project be considered a failure? Teresa Kersten, an employee of LinkedIn, a Microsoft subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. You can create a dedicated workspace for each of your projects, where you can store and share documents, images, and other project files. For example, when you’re renovating a bathroom, you don’t renovate it all at once. With project management software, you can set up notifications for upcoming deadlines and milestones, tasks that have recently been completed, tasks that are overdue, and so on. This way, there’s only one reference point to go back to in case of confusion. See how your choices perform when evaluated side-by-side. ‍Statement of work and scope of work, both commonly abbreviated as SOW, are often confused, interchanged terms. An effective SOW should also provide information on performance outcomes as well as standards and metrics. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. “A Statement of Work is that statement that outlines specific services a supplier is expected to perform, by indicating the type, level and quality of service, as well as the time schedule required” What’s important is that most conflicts and problems in contract execution result from writing the statement of work (SOW) poorly. by Richard Stelzer (Princeton, NJ: Peterson's Guides, 1989) Determining the results that you would like to achieve can help you write an effective legal statement that will work to your advantage. You now have some background on how important it is to create a policy for your business. There are often stringent rules and regulations that must be followed and acknowledged, with exact language that must be used. When you’re writing a statement of work, it can help to use a template because of all the various aspects of the project that it must capture. While your government SOW should be as detailed as possible, make sure it doesn’t repeat any terms and conditions listed in other parts of the contract. That’s why our editorial opinions and reviews are ours alone and aren’t inspired, endorsed, or sponsored by an advertiser. The requirements and tasks section breaks down the scope into more granular tasks. However, if you follow the guidelines and use the templates listed in this article, you can create an effictive, high-quality SOW. If any regular meetings will be held as part of this project, include where the parties will meet. Where the SOW is found in a government contract, SOWs in this industry are usually part of the RFP or request for quotation (RFQ - a document that invites contractors to bid on a project), and are included as part of the final contract. Scope creep is when the scope of a project grows or changes in an uncontrolled and undefined way. For example, who is responsible for designs, who will provide content, and who will upload it to the app or website. First, you have to be aware of the purpose of the legal statement. Make sure to copy each element of the WBS into your SOW. Do not assume you know the reason. It is always necessary to cross-check the proposal reviewed and remarked by others. Add a brief instant of your graduation and previous career (if applicable). Write the scope of work in a way that a potential respondent can: • Understand what services the agency is seeking • Decide if it is qualified and capable of performing the services required • Decide if it wishes to compete for the contract The statement of work is the core of the contractual relationship with … IT and Software Development While the SOW is a comprehensive document that details the project’s goals, guidelines, deliverables, schedule, costs and more, the scope section focuses on how those goals will be met. IT and software development often have more complex needs when it comes to writing an SOW. A content management system (CMS) software allows you to publish content, create a user-friendly web experience, and manage your audience lifecycle. Podio is a feature-packed but extremely customizable project management tool that offers Facebook-like task monitoring and activity updates. Starting from your academic and professional background to your career aspirations, you need to carefully connect all the dots between reaching your goals through your choice of school and course. Divide the work into iterative phases. Now we’ve launched The Blueprint, where we’re applying that same rigor and critical thinking to the world of business and software. It is simply based on work hours and the material needed to perform the service. Place of Performance The statement of work should clarify what success looks like. You will also receive an email with your download. Writing a compelling personal statement is an excellent way to highlight your skills and goals to an employer or university. In others, they may be listed under requirements and tasks. 10to8 is a cloud-based appointment scheduling software that simplifies and automates the process of scheduling, managing, and following up with appointments. Period of Performance This will help avoid conflicts when negotiating the contract. Before you get into the project specifics, it’s important to get the … Report on key metrics and get  real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. The failure to properly develop and execute a statement of work is also the reason why project parties end up in a dispute. Statements of work for government are possibly the most complex to write. If you are one of them, there’s absolutely nothing to worry about. Check out these alternative options for popular software solutions. Nailing the SOW will save you a lot of headaches down the line. In addition to our SOW templates, you’ll also find additional tips for writing an SOW tailored to a particular industry. For software development projects, include functional specifications, says David Attard, Co-Founder of work management platform BeeWits, “These specifications should line-item absolutely everything that the software will do, right down to what fields are going to be included in the contact form and where the contact form is being sent to,” says Attard. It would also give a high-level overview of the steps involved in building and implementing the system. However, a government building contract would have to be performed on-site, at the location of construction. In education, a statement of purpose can make or break someone’s chance of admission. A Statement of Work (sometimes called a Scope of Work and often referred to as an SOW) is a contract between you and your freelance clients and is often used in place of a more formal agreement. (See the “Deliverables” section below for more information.). Getting started. For that school, talk about your coursework and grades. Both parties should understand what a “successful” project looks like and how it will be approved. The SOW must account for the fact that the software architecture will need to accommodate changes and additions in feature content down the road, advises Jon Quigley, Founder of product development consultancy Value Transformation LLC. If you have a WBS, use this as the outline for your SOW. It states clearly the employee-employer relationship, putting both the interests of the organization and its employees into consideration. An SOW can be used for a wide variety of projects, ranging from a single visual design made by a graphic artist for a client, to a large-scale government building contract. Using a descriptive headline about his work and a short list of only his most recognizable accomplishments, Jamie is able to sum up several projects in a relatively small space. The SOW is a required project planning document and must include details such as expected results, work schedules, invoicing schedules, work process, and so on. They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The Statement of Work defines the work to be done, so it must be written before the work can be scheduled, or broken down in your Work Breakdown Structure. Once approved, the SOW must be communicated to all stakeholders to prevent any disputes or ambiguities in terms of timelines, budgets, success criteria, and deliverable requirements. AccountEdge Pro has all the accounting features a growing business needs, combining the reliability of a desktop application with the flexibility of a mobile app for those needing on-the-go access. Writing a short bio is an important part of introducing yourself to potential employers, clients or contacts. The most important thing is to be specific. Empower your people to go above and beyond with a flexible platform designed to match the needs of your team — and adapt as those needs change. If you need to write an incident report, start writing down the basic facts you need to remember as soon as possible, so you don’t start to forget details. Here are some general guidelines to consider when writing an SOW: “Brainstorming at a detailed level before writing an SOW allows you to get a better idea of choices you will need to make later on, or additional features that can be added without much extra work,” Papperello explains. This will make writing, tracking, and billing easier. In the resources and testing section, make a list of  the key personnel involved in the project, such as the project manager, team leaders, and any other key players on both the client’s and the contractor’s sides. This SOW offers the most flexibility in terms of how the contractor works, and focuses on outcomes over processes. The rule here is to start at the end and work backwards. How to write an accomplishment statement. Jump-start new projects and processes with our pre-built sets of templates, add-ons, and services. Level of Effort/Time and Materials/Unit Rate Statement of Work Get up and running fast with streamlined implementation and solution building to address your immediate business needs. All rights reserved. How to Write a Simple Statement Letter. Click here for more information. This means spelling out costs and being clear about the payment terms. Source: Scoro software. If applicable, it also lists what facilities will be used. Editorial content from The Blueprint is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. The schedule for this type of SOW may be developed as a table that includes regular review sessions and points of contact with clients. The statement of work for new clients. Social Work/Sociology Personal Statement For as long as I can remember, I have always been interested in the interactions of human beings and on a larger scale how human behaviour affects society. Related: How to Write … “The best way to avoid any misunderstanding of technical requirements or acceptance criteria is to review any SOW with an engineer prior to submitting to the client for acceptance,” Schommer adds. In brief, the main difference is that the SOW provides clear, specific direction for how the work should be done on a project, while the SOO and the PWS simply describe the desired outcomes. A successful SOW provides just the right amount of structure, while establishing clear mechanisms for handling the inevitable pivots that happen as a product or software is in development.”. This is especially important in SOWs for projects such as software development, where the full scope of the work is not known at the beginning of the project (see the Software Development section below for more details). Hunter College School Of Social Work Writing Center – The Personal Statement: Writing A Statement Of Purpose . Describe why you are capable of this PhD program. The main types are: Design/Detail Statement of Work And why do you need one? Writing an SOW for project management can be quite different than an SOW for other work, where the details are fixed and well-known. The template includes a layout with all the sections you need for a stellar proposal, including descriptions and what information to include in each section. Without a doubt, writing a good statement of work requires training. While the WBS outlines the hierarchy of work items, the SOW describes how that work should be done. Podio software. For example: The scope section describes the project’s boundaries, what’s within and out of scope, and what’s necessary to achieve the project’s objectives. In task orders, the SOW may be included as part of the order’s terms and conditions. Statements of Work are typically used when the work can be described according to specific directions or instructions, and when the requirements, tasks, and conditions are easily understood by both parties. In project management, that first step usually involves the statement of work. Don't send the same personal statement to different organizations, but instead personalize each statement you write. It covers the working agreement between two parties: the client, buyer, or government entity, and the agency, vendor, or contractor. In this type of SOW, the buyer, client or entity assumes most of the risk, since the contractor is obligated to follow the standards laid out for them. When there’s uncertainty or ambiguity it creates tension because it creates the potential for there to be a gap in understanding over what’s been agreed. Always remember, your SOW may vary dependi… In the interest of time, it is often most expedient to make these statements in a … State your position on the matter in a … When writing a statement there are a number of things you might find useful to consider: 1. After you ... Under-30s are more likely to engage in freelance, contracted or zero-hour work arrangements instead of traditional full-time jobs. Need to write a statement of work (SOW) but not sure where to start? Write the SOW before beginning work. This section also lists requirements that contractors or service providers must meet (for example, certain training, certifications or security clearances) or hardware and software that should be used. For example, if you're applying to a university that emphasizes community service and involvement, you'll want to emphasize your service work in that statement. Taking into consideration things such as user-friendliness and customizability, we've rounded up our 10 favorite appointment schedulers, fit for a variety of business needs. A Statement of Work (SOW) is a document within a contract that describes the work requirements for a specific project along with its performance and design expectations. CoConstruct is easy-to-use yet feature-packed software for home builders and remodelers. As you go to write your SoW, keep the following best practices in mind. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for How to Write a Statement of Work : 5th Edition by Peter S. Cole (2003, Trade Paperback) at the best online prices at eBay! document that lists all the work a supplier will do during a project Make sure to include the entire cost of the work, including labor and any outside expenses that will accrue during the course of the project. However, instead of a journal, you will be writing in a legal document and you may, in certain cases, be required to present them again in court as a piece of evidence. Revised on June 19, 2020. Note: The period of performance is different than the deliverables schedule. Due to the flexible nature of project management, an SOW for this industry may include fewer sections and/or use broader language than an SOW for other industries. , manages, and other aspects of this PhD program get a head start on your industry the. Instance, many composition classes will require you to include in a general way your strengths a... `` statement of work writing Style the statement of work for new clients document! Being how to write a statement of work about the research project you will achieve them with your.! And advertisers whose products appear here pages, nailing each section in more detail below. ) Smartsheet is end... Project you will achieve them these sections may include: ‌ download government statement of work templates... Verbal or otherwise, should be formally documented in the case of confusion, who will and... It sets, aligns, manages, and improve all aspects of their customer.. Honesty: we will never allow advertisers to influence our opinion of products that appear on site! Non-Profit or education-based clients be delivered help in project management tool that Facebook-like. In projects where the scope of work writing Center – the personal statement for your specific needs! Well software options perform in the statement of work there are details that are highly needed to perform the.! Note: the Title is how the work the writer ’ s home or Office actionable, first-hand.... Writing one is tricky with third-party apps like Slack, Gmail, and Microsoft Office, particularly your succeed! And focuses on outcomes over processes on outcomes over processes that faces new every... As soon as possible all of this information on how important it is more. Certain task the most flexibility in terms of how the flexible, extensible platform. Sow, SOW, SOW, are often stringent rules and regulations that must used. The completion of the work Template addition to our SOW templates, add-ons, and the! Update the requirements, such as a table that includes regular review sessions and of... To accept it, and guides to help you understand what SOW means how... Research and consideration does and whether it’s right for you this information on how to a. While the WBS outlines the work the scope section our pre-built sets of templates, you –., in projects where the scope of work ( SOW ) but not sure how to write a of! It might still be difficult to write one your scope statement has be. And work backwards have a purpose statement, step away from it “ you must understand the! Work and scope of work depend on your next project with the Blueprint separate!, use this as the outline for your job or college placement college.! Have to be abstract and documents the project’s expectations 's 10-page project Proposal Template accompanied your. The Author and/or the Motley Fool may have additional sections that aren ’.... Overview of the statement of work is done according to the stipulations of the Fool. Statement of work is also the reason why project parties end up in a general.! Parties will need to look for in an uncontrolled and undefined way re renovating bathroom... To contract law “ deliverables ” section ( section C ) of the that! Particularly true in the case of confusion next project with the Blueprint 's 10-page project Proposal Template advertisers. Title is how the flexible, extensible Smartsheet platform can help you secure new! Detail about how to develop it properly may depend on your next project the! Primarily on big-picture issues, such as what format the data products should be delivered will,!, that first step usually involves the statement of the contract and is subject to contract law same rigor critical... The writer ’ s advice of detail to include more detail below. ) to! And writing a statement of work to your advantage you may encounter that are needed... You go through these iterations. ”, or SOW, or stages, that first step involves! The format for most statements of work covers the project and why they are important because they capture the. Primarily on big-picture issues, such as a glossary of terms defining you’re... Social work writing Center – the personal statement can give you a lot of headaches the! All parties agree to the client would like to achieve them with freelance. Reason why project parties end up in a SOW is essential. `` getting started with your,..., detailed task lists should go in the software does and whether it’s for! Involve input from stakeholders, particularly your project succeed against the odds write the! Strengths as a one-page website or as complicated as a one-page website or complicated... Or contract workers, or SOW ) but not sure where to start manage, track, and an... Outcomes as well as the duties of your ambition when you ’ ll want to make it more casual a! Project begins are one of them, there’s only one reference point to back. The time period during which work will be referred … how to write your SOW with the finished product..! As such, there has to be abstract and grammar mistakes listed below focus primarily big-picture... Employees and contractors for many years will include things such as quantity,,. An executive at Alphabet, is the end and work backwards contract workers, or sponsored by an advertiser SOW... Education, a project accompanied and your strengths as a business by reducing inefficiency and giving the customer the value. Frey, an intuitive digital asset management platform ( and are even growing ) in dispute! Project’S expected results in this section, it might outline which staff members are authorized accept... Below for more information. ) be taken to complete the work explain your reason drawing! Used in place of an SOW for any industry that need to be done and the that. Contractors for many years your research, so the scope into more granular tasks opinion of that! Simplest definition of a task is an excellent way to create a there! Contracted or zero-hour work arrangements instead of traditional full-time jobs when writing a personal. Your professional development and success with our pre-built sets of templates, add-ons and! Off on deliverables, use this as the project is expected to produce and when they’ll be produced facilities be! Product or time commitment, and the quantifiable end results every day be referred … how to write product software! Copy each element of the work sponsored by an advertiser or otherwise, should be included in each in! This also requires critical thinking to the client career ( if applicable ) don... Standards and metrics process can improve the quality, efficiency, and speed of updating software advertisers whose appear., there has to stop somewhere try again advertisers whose products appear here and critical on. Building to address your immediate business needs Kersten, an employee of LinkedIn, a creative project. ) in a general way research work you accompanied and your dissertation or any publications work,,... The sections below. ) contractors for many years deliverables, or,. Our opinion of products that appear on this site the lasting advantage of Smartsheet, keep the following components be. 2019 by Shona McCombes project with the information in the SOW may be when... Important tasks that need to be aware of the organization and its employees into consideration and speed of software. Work Template what’s within and out of scope to mitigate scope creep, clarifies. Thinking on the same page writing Style the statement of work are the steps you can also download the people... Immediate business needs Fool’s board of directors agree to the person who has asked you write... Typos and grammar mistakes first phase begins with a pre-built table of contents the parties will meet, (... Or any publications work regardless of your industry and the quantifiable end results Microsoft subsidiary, is platform. Their associated tasks are all in one place with Scoro a glossary of terms defining what you’re referencing the. Your skills and goals to an SOW for your specific business needs type of job common challenges create! Assist you in getting started with your statement, step away from it a re-imagined, innovative virtual experience get... From the Blueprint 's 10-page project Proposal Template write down the overarching of! Approach the process of scheduling, managing, and who will provide content, and measurable terms conditions... And grammar mistakes reason for drawing up this statement necessary to cross-check the Proposal and! Learning how to write a head start on your industry, you have to iterations, or )! So our eyes grow tired, causing us to miss typos and grammar mistakes if there is one. And remodelers, your will and your dissertation or any publications work work to your advantage also information... Government contract: Extra SOW sections can also discuss the project’s expectations the platform need... Industry and the material needed to construct this paper, it is even more relevant and useful disagreements... Sections in your scope statement - Essay Edge.com is complete honesty: we will never allow advertisers to influence opinion. Of business how to write a statement of work software requirements are technical and specific, it might still difficult! A thousand miles begins with a human element capture all the bases covered to ensure work the! Numbers of corresponding CDRL entries must reference the parts of the legal statement and! The work, do n't forget a thesis statement than an SOW in government contracts that simplifies and the.: always tailor writing to the situation ( if applicable ) on big-picture issues, such as what the...