Weekly Response 1

Like a good journalist, Alton Brown begins with the most important information in his introduction to his cookbook.  He lists off the "engine parts" of baking, such as basic ingredients, time, and temperature in the second paragraph, while he discusses the way he abbreviated the measurements for this cookbook towards the end. 

He also illustrates his points with little anecdotes that give him more validity as an author and make the introduction more interesting to read.  For example, when explaining that baking must be done precisely, he talks about his grandmother's biscuits and how he couldn't replicate them until he realized he should pat the dough rather than knead it.  

The way he heads each section of the introduction is similar to the caption statement that reporters use as well.  In a short phrase or sentence, he sums up the basic idea of the section.  Headings like “Details: Don’t turn your back on them” and “Classifying the Results” quickly give the reader a basic idea of what information will be provided in the section.  Like a reporter’s statement, these headings are short and sweet, allowing the reader to quickly search for information they want to refer back to later on.