C h a p t e r 2 1
Classified Ad
A
classified advertisement, commonly called a classified ad, appears in a news-
paper or magazine for the purpose of selling goods or services or recruiting
employees. Because the cost of these ads varies according to the number of words,
the ad writer aims for brevity. Unlike other kinds of writing we have examined, the
classified ad relies on incomplete sentences and phrases, uses abbreviations, and
follows an unusual organization.
cHaracteristics
A classified advertisement usually includes
-^ a word or phrase concisely naming the goods or services offered for sale or
sought,
-^ words or phrases to form a concise description of special features of the goods
or services, especially those features that set this product or position apart
from similar ones,
-^ the price of the goods or services, and
-^ the phone number or address to which interested persons should make
inquiries.
Process
The following steps can help you plan and compose a classified advertisement:
STEP 1: Prewriting—Selecting the Name
In most cases, the name of the goods or services will be evident. For instance, if you
are selling a used sofa, the name is obvious: sofa. If you are seeking someone to fill
the position of night clerk, the name is obvious: night clerk. In some cases, however,
the writer must determine a name.