Higher Order Concerns (HOCs) and Lower Order Concerns (LOCs)
This handout discusses the common Higher Order Concerns (HOCs)
and Lower Order Concerns (LOCs) in writing. Last Edited:
2013-03-01 08:38:34 When you are revising your papers, not every
element of your work should have equal priority. The most
important parts of your paper, often called "Higher Order
Concerns (HOCs)," are the "big picture" elements such as thesis
or focus, audience and purpose, organization, and development.
After you have addressed these important elements, you can then
turn your attention to the "Lower Order Concerns (LOCs)," such
as sentence structure and grammar. Keep in mind, however, that
moving between HOCs and LOCs might be a natural process for you.
Experienced writers may begin with HOCs and dip into the LOCs as
they revise. Inexperienced writers may revise systematically
through the HOCs and then the LOCs. In addition, LOCs, such as
punctuation and spelling, may affect HOCs. For example, if the
first sentence of your intro