Bow Tie Kreative Writing System
Run the engine

Rules / structure

STR-005 Context default layer: paragraph

Use transitions that name the relation

IF adjacent paragraphs have a meaningful but unstated relation, THEN add a transition that expresses that relation ELSE retain.

Why the rule exists

A transition should encode logic, not merely occupy the opening.

Condition

The rule fires when this evaluates true. Paths marked below must be present in the fact base; the engine reports the rest rather than guessing them.

  • ALL
    • paragraph.previous exists
    • paragraph.relation_to_previous neq "none"
    • paragraph.relation_signaled eq false

Facts this rule reads

PathSource
paragraph.previous You supply it
paragraph.relation_to_previous You supply it
paragraph.relation_signaled You supply it

Then

  1. insert — target paragraph.transition, value from paragraph.relation_to_previous

Else

  1. retain — target current_text, No triggering condition is present.

LAKA

Smallest sufficient intervention
Yes
Primary axes

Sources

  • On Writing Well — William Zinsser
    Clarity, simplicity, voice, and nonfiction craft.
  • Handbook of Technical Writing — Gerald J. Alred; Charles T. Brusaw; Walter E. Oliu
    Grammar, mechanics, formats, and workplace documents.
The raw rule record

Verbatim from 10-paragraph-document-rules.json. Also available at /v1/rules/STR-005.

{
  "id": "STR-005",
  "name": "Use transitions that name the relation",
  "domain": "structure",
  "layer": "paragraph",
  "strength": "context_default",
  "human_logic": "IF adjacent paragraphs have a meaningful but unstated relation, THEN add a transition that expresses that relation ELSE retain.",
  "when": {
    "all": [
      {
        "path": "paragraph.previous",
        "operator": "exists"
      },
      {
        "path": "paragraph.relation_to_previous",
        "operator": "neq",
        "value": "none"
      },
      {
        "path": "paragraph.relation_signaled",
        "operator": "eq",
        "value": false
      }
    ]
  },
  "then": [
    {
      "action": "insert",
      "target": "paragraph.transition",
      "value_from": "paragraph.relation_to_previous"
    }
  ],
  "else": [
    {
      "action": "retain",
      "target": "current_text",
      "reason": "No triggering condition is present."
    }
  ],
  "unless": [],
  "because": "A transition should encode logic, not merely occupy the opening.",
  "diagnostics": [],
  "examples": {},
  "source_ids": [
    "BK-013",
    "BK-025"
  ],
  "laka": {
    "smallest_sufficient_intervention": true,
    "primary_axes": [
      "scope",
      "depth",
      "magnitude",
      "reversibility"
    ]
  }
}

Other structure rules

  1. STR-001 One controlling move per paragraph IF a paragraph performs more than one unrelated rhetorical move, THEN split it at the move boundary ELSE retain. Context default
  2. STR-002 Expose the paragraph point IF the paragraph’s controlling point is absent or recoverable only after rereading, THEN state or move it to a strategic position ELSE retain an intentional delayed reveal. Heuristic
  3. STR-003 Support consequential claims IF a paragraph makes a consequential factual claim, THEN provide evidence, cite it, qualify it, or remove the claim ELSE retain. Hard constraint
  4. STR-004 Keep evidence beside the claim IF evidence is separated from the claim it supports by unrelated material, THEN move it closer or label the relation ELSE retain. Context default
  5. STR-006 Delete orphan paragraphs IF a paragraph neither advances the purpose nor supports another necessary move, THEN delete or relocate it ELSE retain. Heuristic
  6. STR-007 Section answers one reader question IF a section answers multiple unrelated reader questions, THEN split and label them ELSE retain. Context default
  7. STR-008 Heading predicts content IF a heading does not accurately predict its section, THEN rename the heading or repair the section ELSE retain. Hard constraint
  8. STR-009 Maintain heading hierarchy IF heading levels skip or reflect visual size rather than logical nesting, THEN repair the hierarchy ELSE retain. Hard constraint