ClearTips: Riveting reports

Conclude with the point after introducing the subject

Occasionally, put the point at the end of a paragraph to build suspense. One way to conclude with the point: introduce a subject, discuss it, then make a point about it at the end.

Imagine that a mad scientist went back to 1950 and offered to transport the median family to the wondrous world of the 1990s, and to place them at, say, the 25th percentile level. The 25th percentile of 1996 is a clear material improvement over the median of 1950. Would they accept his offer? Almost surely not-because in 1950 they were middle class, while in 1996 they would be poor, even if they lived better in material terms. People don't just care about their absolute material level, they care about their level compared with others.

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