VSNC Framework: Speak and Write to Persuade and Inform

How do you make complex ideas stick?

Patrick Henry Winston, the legendary MIT computer science professor, taught a famous lecture explicitly on this topic for over 40 years. His core philosophy was simple:

Your success in life will be determined largely by your ability to speak, your ability to write, and the quality of your ideas, in that order.

He developed the VSNC Framework in his book, Make It Clear: Speak and Write to Persuade and Inform, a guide designed to help readers enhance their speaking and writing skills. He wants to ensure his students could command a room. It moves beyond "storytelling" into "structured persuasion."

The book emphasizes the importance of clear and structured communication, essential for persuading and informing audiences effectively.

The VSNC Framework focuses on four key elements:

• V - Vision
• S - Steps
• N - News
• C - Contributions

Vision

Begin with a clear and engaging vision of the outcome or objective. This gives your audience a sense of purpose and direction.

Your vision goals should include the problems people care about. Remember, you are not the only one who is passionate about the issue, you should also get your audience interested.

Hints:

• Propose different visions and goals for different groups.
• Determine the title of the speech according to a specific group. It does not have to be framed as a “goal.” A challenge, an opportunity, or a bold hypothesis can work just as well.

Steps

In order to convince your audience, you need to show that you have a well-thought-out plan, which will give credence to the idea that you are wise and capable enough to solve the problem.

Outline these steps with a structured roadmap (refer to Outcome-based Roadmap). The steps here could be the actions you've taken or the plan you are going to carry out.

Hints:

• It is not necessary to list all the details
• The process of creating the plan is more important than the plan itself

News

The latest progress regarding the Steps you defined.

Tell us about the work you have recently accomplished. Provide accomplishments (preferably with data) and then explain how you achieved them.

Hints:

• Don't just rehash previous work, but also get your audience excited about what you plan to do in the future.

Contributions

Summarize the output and outcome of your work. Emphasizing how they make a meaningful impact.

The VSNC Framework isn’t just about improving your communication skills, it’s about creating meaningful connections with your audience. Whether you’re a student, professional, or speaker, applying these principles can make your ideas truly shine.