Alan G on how to write completely!

Writing completely can be a very difficult skill, but with the right amount of practice anyone can master it!

Always remember to proof read your work and make sure it flows well, check for errors in grammar and punctuation, as well as over use of technical terms. Make sure every point you want to cover is discussed in your writing and that the reader knows what they will get out of reading your work.

I learned a great deal from this blog and I hope you all did as well!

Mika W 's Guide to a Killer Cover Letter

Recently I was flipping through a reader’s digest magazine and came across this on the magazine's at work joke section:

“My friend had been pounding the pavement in search of a job with no luck. Frustrated, she asked her dad to look at her resume. He didn’t get much further than the first line of her cover letter before spotting the problem.

“Is it too generic?” she asked.

“I doubt it,” said her father.

“Especially since it’s addressed ‘Dear Sir or Madman.’” (Melanson 41)

Humor aside a cover letter plays an important part in landing that job of a life time. Your prospective employer will see hundreds of cover letters, perhaps for just one opening. So you have to make your cover letter stand out. Think of your cover letter as a piece of advertisement that will help sell your product. Put yourself in the employer’s position, would you want to meet the person who wrote the cover letter? Would you feel that they are right for the job?

To make your cover letter stand out -

• Make a good first impression – Your cover letter will serve as a sample of your writing skills for the prospective employer.
  
• Provide space between the introduction, body and the concluding paragraphs. Use simple typeface and limit your writing to a page.
  
• List your job, education and other experiences from present to past - focus on the value you added and the skills you gained. Draw out any examples of creativity, problem solving or entrepreneurialism.
  
• Include ex-curricular activities and interests to give a rounded view. Employers are looking for people, not just a set of qualifications and work experience.
  
• Have a friend or colleague read the cover letter too. Check for spelling errors, grammar and sentence structure.
  

Remember that a good cover letter will be well presented and skillfully crafted. If you invest the time, follow the guidelines I provided and use the information in following the YouTube video you will be able to deliver an engaging cover letter.


Reference:

Melanson, Giselle. "@ work ." Reader's Digest Jan. 2009: pg 41. Print.

Bobrin, Sidney, Christopher Keller, and Christian Weisser. Technical Communication in the 21st Century. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2008.

Jenna G's - Role Instant Messaging has in Workplace

Instant messaging (IM) allows workplace writers to communicate in "real time". It is a form of synchronous communication-- communication with the sender and receiver transmitting and receiving in the same moment.
I find that instant messaging is extremely convenient, easy to use, and of course fast. Although I can not say I have any experience using an instant messaging program while in a place of work, I can say that I understand how convenient of a tool it is just through experiencing it in my personal use. Now a days, even most phones are connected to the Internet and have access to instant messaging programs. So, not that it wasn't already, but now it's even more convenient. It is a great way to share files with fellow colleagues, suppliers, and partners. Also, the service can be a lifesaver when trying to fix a technical program on a computer. The conversation and given directions can be accessed right there on the screen. And according to an article on ScienceDaily, instant messaging proves useful in reducing workplace interruptions. (#1) It talks about most colleagues finding it easier and less disruptive to IM versus picking up the phone or having a face-to-face chat. Plus, best of all, most of the providers are free of charge.
Overall, I think instant messaging is a popular growing trend in the workplace world. With technology coming out with the next most convenient device/program we can count on business communication only getting better from here on out.

Sources:

#1 Sciencedaily.org

#2 Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century (2nd Edition) Dobrin, S., Keller, C., Weisser, C. (2002)

So...Why do I need to Know How to Write Professionally..

Admit it, you guys have all thought that at least once. I'll even admit that I can be accused of saying that in the past. A lot of us don't actually think of the importance of the writing we do in our every day lives. Not realizing the impact of our writing can lead to a lot of potential losses.

Whatever our career choice is really has no impact on whether our writing should be professional or not. Whether we are writing to a potential client, our colleagues, or even in casual writing; grammar and syntax can never be over perfected. The appearance we could give off through such a simple mistake as spelling a word wrong, can never be fixed. That is why learning to write professionally will maximize every aspect of your career.

The video I posted below, will help you improve your writing and thus the way you appear, instantly. I encourage you to take a few minutes to watch it.

Mike P on Team Projects

Team projects offer students many benefits as well as challenges. Team projects can help a student learn the skills necessary to collaborate effectively in the workplace. A team project usually consists of several phases including: planning, scheduling, collaborating, and reviewing.

One of the main challenges that teams may face when working together are time management issues. It is important when working on a project to dedicate plenty of time for setting guidelines and for planning. Team members need to be sure to have each other contact information and schedules to ensure that time is used most efficiently. Frequent communication is key to producing an organized and quality project. Many times when working in groups you have the group member or members that barely contribute to the project. It is important to have frequent evaluations of each group member’s performance to fix these types of problems quickly.

If people work together on a team properly, they can sometimes produce better results than just an individual effort. Working on a team means sharing information and collaborating on ideas. This is not only helps create a better quality project, but enhances the learning experience of all members involved. Working on a team can improve on a person’s social skills and time management skills. On top of all this working as a team if organized and executed properly can be much more enjoyable and rewarding than working alone.

Here is a helpful video:


Sources:
http://www.ableweb.org/volumes/vol-22/mini.12.perry.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNG2mlkzkCI

Mika W.’s Writing a Complaint Letter for Dummies

So you have a complaint? Then you know the feeling of wanting to write a letter to someone and give them a piece of your mind? You just want to let them know to get their ducks in row, or to get their act together or to go to you-know-where, but especially in the professional writing arena its best to keep your writing genial, and not let your inner demons come out. There is no need to add fuel to the fire; rather it’s better to just kill it with kindness, and here is how:
Avoid leading with negative information – no need to attack the reader, ease into the issue at hand.

State Facts – assigning blame is not going to help, instead focus on the facts.

Be sincere and thoughtful – don’t forget that your writing is still directed towards an audience.

Keep their feelings in mind.

Keep your negative tone in check – it’s important to express your frustrations while controlling your emotions.

Apologize – If an apology is needed then don’t think twice to apologize.

Be positive – Use a positive tone as much as possible. Use words and phrases that will make your reader want to fix the problem.

Be polite – politeness will get you far.

Fix the problem – let the reader know what they can do to help fix the problem. Is there a discount that can be offered? A free trial...etc

Last, but not least check for content and sentence structure, correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, format, and mechanics; and analyze whether the message achieves its purpose. There is plenty more to complaint letter writing, so don’t forget to check out this great video!



Reference:
Bobrin, Sidney, Christopher Keller, and Christian Weisser. Technical Communication in the 21st Century. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2008.

Mike P on Using Graphics and Imaging Software in Writing

Writing can be interesting and descriptive when necessary, but when it comes to getting your information or point across to your audience, using graphics can really give your writing that extra zing. Graphics can consist of certain items such as charts, graphs, tables, pictures, animation, video or anything else that visually helps get your point across. When choosing graphics for your writing, there are a few important things to keep in mind: Does your graphic support any important objectives or points in your writing? Can your graphic be easily deciphered and connected with your writing?

These are some examples of graphics that may be used in a document:

Bar Graph:


Pie Chart:


Diagram:


Imaging software consists of tools and programs that help you create graphics for various purposes. Software such as Microsoft Paint is an easy and free program that allows you to create basic graphics which can be used to facilitate your writing. Other more advanced programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Flash, and Fireworks allow you to create and edit graphics and even animations with much more flexibility. Videos can be created using programs such as Windows Movie Maker, and for the more advanced user, Adobe Premiere Pro. Using a popular word processing software such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, these graphics can be easily brought together to create a completed document or presentation.

Example of a document with graphics:


Sources:
http://teachers.greenville.k12.sc.us/sites/ekrezdor/Blinkies%20and%20Graphics/bar%20graph.gif
http://www.jpowered.com/php-scripts/pie-chart/images/pie-chart-small.png
http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/fstone/images/general/car_diagram.gif
http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/flyer_web.gif

Alan G's Tips on Technical Writing in Business

Before I get into the tips, I'd like to clarify exactly what technical writing is. When I first started research for this topic, I was unaware of what types of writing was considered "technical." After some review of our previous chapters the answer was quite simple: technical ad professional communication go hand in hand and are used in every type of writing we've learned about to date.

I'm going to focus mainly on one specific type of technical writing that, I believe, is most commonly found in the business world. business reports. These reports allow you to keep your investors, clients, employees, and consumers well informed with the progress of your company.

• Before beginning to write your business report, you MUST remember to keep your report rhetorical and audience centered. You want to convince the readers to act, but at the same time, you must write in a way that the reader is going to understand.

• As with all other types of writing, it is necessary to use proper grammar and punctuation. It is also still a business document and needs to be clear and concise, adding only relevant information shows your readers you value their time as much as their business.

In short, there are three simple steps to ensure a successful report: Draft, Review, Revise

Here's a short video I found on Youtube which goes over some of the above concepts in a little bit more depth.

Jenna G.'s Thoughts on Finding and Obtainig Employment

While in high school, living at home with Mom, if I lost my job it wasn't the end of the world. Now, on my own, that is not the case. From age 15 I jumped around from retail stores to restaurants and everywhere in between. Unfortunately, just recently I did in fact loose my job of 2 years- my job that pays for all my bills now that I don't live with Mom anymore. Scary is an understatement. Finding a new job was a huge struggle. Driving around aimlessly, filling out one application after the next only to sit by my phone that never rang once with a call back. I felt like not one place was hiring in this town. After weeks passed my confidence was shot, not to mention my bills were piling up too. Luckily, a couple of weeks ago I finally found a job and things are turning around. However, I can not say that I enjoy serving tables, dealing with crappy people and their inability to tip appropriately. With that being said, I am in college and hope to one day soon hunt for a job that I actually want. I want to get through my years of working at these dead end jobs and prepare myself for a job that I will enjoy, be good at, make a living at, and feel secure with. I know that to reach this goal, it will take more than a degree though. There are steps to follow prior to graduating college that will guide you to your ultimate destination. Below I have made a list mapping out some of these steps along with other key tools that are great aids for any job seeking scenario.

• DO YOUR RESEARCH- Gather information on the job you are looking for. Sources such as websites, books, magazines, etc. can give you great insight on the career and/or surrounding fields.
• TALK TO THE EXPERTS- One of the best ways to get current, reliable, straightforward information about a career is to interview an expert in that field. It is important to let the person know that you are there simply for information, not a job. Go to the interview fully prepared. Make a list of questions/topics to talk about and avoid jotting down answers- carry out the interview as a conversation.
• GET INVOLVED- Interact with professionals and people in your community. It can also be beneficial to apply for career-related training or volunteer work- there is so much experience provided through involving yourself with work-study programs, internships, and related volunteer work. Plus, experience always looks good on a resume!
• PREPARE AHEAD OF TIME- Gathering letters of recommendation and references is extremely significant. If you are a student, professors are great resources for obtaining recommendation letters. Other references could be, previous supervisors, leaders of organizations in which you participated, close family member or friend if appropriate, etc. Provide references that fall into the following categories: character references, who speak to your integrity, and professional references, who speak to your professional abilities.
• DOSSIER'S AND PORTFOLIO'S- A dossier contains the basic credentials/materials needed for most job applicants. It includes documents such as college transcripts, letters of recommendation, other certificates, letters, achievements records, etc. A portfolio consists of documents and visuals that represent your best work. Both dossier's and portfolio's are key components in the job hunting process.
• CREATING DOCUMENTS- Recommendation request letters, letters of inquiry, resumes, and cover letters are among some of the employment related documents that go along with applying for most careers. It is important that you take the time to format and edit these documents appropriately to insure you are presenting yourself correctly and most importantly that they serve there purpose, to impress.
• THE INTERVIEW- I find it helpful to conduct mock interviews before the "real deal" comes along. Gather important information, collect and make copies of your employment documents, and last but certainly not least, prepare physically-get a good nights rest, eat a good breakfast, and dress to impress. Be sure to smile, and show whoever is conducting your interview your personality, what you can bring to the table.

I know it can be a lot to think about, especially if your new at this like me, however it can be done, and taking these steps are well worth the time. The competition is heating up, how are you going to set yourself apart from the rest and prove to your next potential boss that he should pick YOU.

References:

Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, Second Edition By Sidney I. Dobin, Christopher J. Keller, Christian R. Weisser Copyright 2002

Mike P on Writing Formal and Informal Reports:

--Formal Reports--
Formal Reports are used very often in the workplace. The three main kinds of formal reports are recommendation reports, feasibility reports, and evaluation reports.

Recommendation reports:
Basic recommendation reports are used to recommend a specific choice of action in the workplace. Recommendation reports normally are necessary when a company or organization recognizes a certain issue or problem that needs to be addressed in one way or another. Recommendation reports tend to follow the same problem solving goals: Recognize the audience, understand the problem, and Recommend the best choice or choices.

Feasibility reports:
Feasibility reports are used to present a situation and decide on whether the proposed solution or solutions are “feasible” or possible. Feasibility reports are very important in the workplace and are crucial steps in the decision making process.

Evaluation reports:
Evaluation reports usually used to assess the value of something. Evaluation reports are one of the most common reports used in the workplace. While the other two formal reports mentioned above concentrate on future actions, an evaluation report usually look back at previous actions to determine whether they were worthwhile.

SAMPLE FORMAL REPORT

--Informal Reports--
Informal reports are common documents in the workplace. Informal reports can be used to notify a client of a problem, explain a new company policy, provide lab results to a coworker, or even detail an investigation to authorities. Informal reports are usually less comprehensive than a formal report and are much more lenient as far as their content and format. The audience is usually made up of both Internal and External audiences.

Informal reports can be:
Informative
Explanatory
Persuasive
Analytical
Recommendatory

Common types of informal reports are: Memos, Letters, E-mails, Presentations, Progress Reports, and Lab Reports.

SAMPLE INFORMAL REPORT


Sources:
Dobrin, Sidney, Christopher Keller and Christian Weisser. Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. Upper Saddle River: New Jersey. Prentice Hall, 2009.
Image: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/110/250858608_0a1c651a24.jpg

Alan G's Review of a Business Writing Article

I searched through many articles on many different topics until I came across Brian Konradt's article on effectively writing copy for a company blog. The article is titled "How To Write Effective Copy For Your Company's Blog." I chose this article because it deals with our group project we've been doing for the past three weeks.

Konradt covers 6 main points in his article:

1. Write Conversationally
2. Tell Stories
3. Make it Personal
4. Update Frequently
5. Adhere to Company Rules
6. Write Grammatically

Konradt starts off the article by giving a brief history of what a blog is and how it is used and misused in the business world. After his introduction he talks about how crucial it is to be yourself in the blog, saying the personal touches are what attract and maintain the readers attention.

His second point can be summed up in this quote, "They [readers] want to know what the products, services, people, challenges, and innovations in your organization are really like. If you give them a glimpse of the inner workings, express your opinions boldly, and tell engaging stories, you will foster reader interest and loyalty."

Konradt believes that these personal touches greatly increase the chance of the reader's lifetime loyalty to your company and are the downfall of many business blogs which are strictly devoted to impersonal product marketing.

In the article Brian Konradt talks about how frequently updating your blog gives readers the impression that your company is very alert and active, as opposed to inactive blogs, which portray the image of a stale and tired company.

The next paragraph talks about respecting the company and the employees of the company. Avoid personal attacks, complaints, discussion about revenue, share price, or any other financial figures. This is dangerous territory and may give readers the wrong impression.

Finally make sure to proof read the blog post and correct any grammatical errors. Your writing directly reflects on your company and readers may consider poor grammar to be a lack of professionalism in the company itself.

Source:

Konradt, Brian. "How To Write Effective Copy For Your Company's Blog." Style Writer (2009):
n. pag. Web. 23 Nov 2009. .

Jenna G.'s Overview of Professional Writing Conferences

I was not quite sure what all was involved with writing conferences and how they operated when I was first assigned this topic. After doing researcher, I was able to understand how common and seemingly effective these writer gatherings can be. If you plan to make money at your writing or improve on the writing you presently have, and wish to successfully sell more, a professional writing conference is something you should consider. I'm not sure about the requirements of each individual conference, however for the most part everyone from beginning writers to those fine tuning their novels, are welcome to attend. I did some researcher on writing conferences in Florida and came across several that are scheduled in the upcoming year. I also did a little hunting online and found an article (#1) on the Annual Sanibel Island Writers Conference. It is unfortunate that I didn't post this a few weeks ago because this event passed just last week. It was held at the BIG ARTS on Sanibel Island hosted by our very own FGCU. The conference offered a variety of workshops, panel lectures, and readings. Workshops include topics such as journalism, fiction, memoir, poetry, and more. This particular conference is on a first come first serve basis with a maximum of 150 attendees. Writers interested have to fill out registration forms as well as pay a fee of $350.00 to attend. Conferences such as these are held across the country all year long offering great advice and experience for professional writers. All it takes is a little research and you can find the right conference to invest in for you and your writing.
Below I listed a couple websites on researching writing conferences...
Shawguides.com (#2)- click on Writers Conferences and Workshops. From there you can -further refine your search within your area.
Floridawriters.net (#3)- A great sourse for a little insight on an annual writing conference in our area.


References:
#1- http://fortmyers.floridaweekly.com/news/2009-10-14/arts_ent/076.html
#2-http://writing.shawguides.com/
#3-http://www.floridawriters.net/

Mika’s Winning Job Interview Tips

When I think about my very first job interview I want to find a rock, crawl under it and hide. Everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong that day and instead of acknowledging the real issue behind my failure; I came out of the room swearing to myself that I will never ever go through another job interview again. Needless to say, I didn’t get the job. I was so traumatized by the experience I ended up passing off some great job opportunities that came my way, because I could not get myself to go through the interview process… no, actually the truth is I had no clue about the interview process or how to even prepare for one.

Once I figured out that I needed help, I sought out the local career center. A career counselor helped me guide through the interview process and gave me some tips on completing the interview successfully. By applying what I learned I was able to land a job of a lifetime. If you’ve had trouble in the past with sweaty palm, shaking knees and loss of words take a moment to go through the tips and the video at the end. Let’s see if I can help you turn things around.

Before the interview:

• Do some basic research to gather background information about the company, and the position you are applying for – it will show that you really are interested in being a part of their team


• Think about yourself, your strengths and what you will offer the company before the interview – this will help you answer questions clearly at the interview


• Practice interviewing with a family member, friend or a colleague – this will help calm your nerves at the interview

During the interview:

• Wear something conservative and comfortable – this will indicate that you are ready to go to work today


• Arrive for the interview with time to spare – rushing on the morning of an interview will only increase your nerves


• Do not fabricate information about yourself – answer the questions truthfully


• Try to remain calm as possible - don’t talk too long or repeat yourself

Comedian Mitch Hedberg ones said that “I had a job interview at an insurance company once and the lady said "Where do you see yourself in five years?" and I said "Celebrating the fifth year anniversary of you asking me this question” (peacefulprosperity.com). Now that is the self confidence you need to be successful at a job interview!

Check out this excellent video for more winning job interview tips:

Reference:

Dobrin, S. I., Keller, C. J., & Weisser, C. R. Technical Communications: in the Twenty-First Century, (2002). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Custom Publishing.

3 Easy Techniques to Own an Interview. http://peacefulprosperity.com/3-easy-techniques-to-own-an-interview/ Retrieved on 11/20/09

Michele H's Reasons why to use Humor in your Writing

I know a lot of us, including myself, want something that is going to be enjoyable to read. If a piece is dry and without humor, it is always harder to read. By the end of this post, hopefully you guys will realize the benefit of having humor in your writing.

One of the benefits of using humor in your writing is that it sets you apart from others. Whether you are writing a memo to your co-workers or writing an important document, the use of humor will always help your audience to remember and enjoy your writing. I admit that usually I get really bored with things I have to read and will stop reading half way though the document. I am way more likely to continue reading, if a funny story or joke is included in the piece.

You guys have all heard the quote "if you can make someone laugh you can make them do anything" before. This brings me to another benefit of using humor. A person is more likely to take action on something they read, if it catches their attention by making them laugh.

Michele H's Tips on How to Write Persuasively

Persuasive writing is important in almost every piece of writing in the world around us. Whether writing a business letter to apply for a specific job, writing on an essay, or just writing your opinion in an article; you will almost always be using some type of persuasion. So, what do we need to have in our writing that will better persuade our audience?

The following is a list of things to help your writing out:

• Before writing your essay or article, make a list of the different points and qualifications that are in favor of your position.
• Always consider the opposing side and make a list of what the arguments against your position on the topic are.
• Be sure to address the arguments in your piece, along with the reasons why you disagree with the opposing arguments.
• Remember, if you can prove valid information to prove the opposing arguments wrong, you will usually persuade the audience to your side of the topic.
• Provide examples or statistics in favor of your position on the subject.
• Always make sure that your writing is organized, grouping like points and qualifications in the same paragraphs.

Along with all these things, the most important thing you can do to be persuasive in your writing, is to be knowledgeable on the topic you are writing on. If you as the writer are not familiar with your topic, you will most likely not be able to persuade your audience to your side. If you are knowledgeable, clear, and provide good reasons, you will always be able to persuade someone to think about your position on a topic.

Mika’s Tips on Revising, Rewriting and Editing

As a youngster I often rushed through my writing assignments and didn’t take the time for a second glance, because there was always that important game to play or the TV show to watch. The end result was that I often found myself coming home with a paper that was full of red editing marks. One day, my 9th grade English teacher pulled me aside and asked me “Have you ever heard of the expression that the job isn’t in the writing, it’s in the rewriting?” She helped me realize that revising and editing are essential parts of the writing process and that it is important to take the time to go over your work.

If you have suffered like me, and thought that revising, rewriting and editing was frustrating and/or traumatizing, I am here to share some tricks to help you make it through the editing phase smoothly.

• Put your work aside and take a break before editing


• Print out a copy of your work for editing


• Make sure what you wrote make sense – if it doesn’t make sense to you, then it certainly won’t make sense to others


• Make sure the ideas are well organized and easy to follow


• Use correct grammar, proper spelling and good sentence structure through out your work


• Omit unnecessary information or redundant phrases


• Pay close attention to your formatting choices – stick to reader friendly fonts and sizes


• If you included visuals make sure it is appropriate for what is being discussed in your work


• Look for common factual, punctuation and abbreviation errors


• Ask a family member, friend or a colleague for feedback


• Read through your work one last time before delivering your work
  

Although, my coming home with red mark covered papers are long over, as a professional writer I am never really satisfied. I often use these same tips to edit and rewrite, and I am perpetually revising my work.

Reference:
Dobrin, S. I., Keller, C. J., & Weisser, C. R. Technical Communications: in the Twenty-First Century, (2002). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Custom Publishing

Mike P's Tips on designing visuals in writing

Visuals are a very valuable tool when writing an effective document. By combining images with your writing it helps the reader connect with your information on a more visual level which can make your writing more effective. Visuals should be used to attract the reader’s attention and make it easier to grasp the concepts you are writing or presenting about.

Visuals should:
• Be clear and easily recognizable in the context of your writing
• Enhance the message in your writing, rather than detract from it
• Support any important objectives or points in your writing
• Use effective colors, formats, and layouts to establish a particular mood pertaining to your writing.

Visuals can include designing a layout to frame and organize your writing, using images or graphs to support your main ideas, or even using different fonts and text formatting to direct the readers attention. Using different colors or formatting in the lettering and layout of your writing can be very effective in drawing a reader’s attention to specific points or information. This can be accomplished by using various methods such as Bolding, CAPITALIZING, Underlining, Italicizing, etc… Visuals should be kept simple and easy to identify with. A rule of thumb would be one idea per visual; this way the reader can quickly associate the idea with its visual. In general visuals look more appealing when vertical and horizontal formats are not mixed together. Try to combine graphics with key words in your writing to help drive home your main points. A simple and efficient visual will be much more effective than a cluttered or wordy visual. If there is too much going on visually it can direct the reader’s attention away from your main points.

Example of visuals in a document:


Sources:
http://www.plu.edu/libr/media/designing_visuals.html
http://www.ua.edu/academic/oit/frc/resources/pdf/10tips.pdf
http://www3.uwstout.edu/lit/lts/graphics/upload/design.ppt
Image: http://www.tripwiremagazine.com

Alan G's Tips for Creating and Delivering Effective Presentations

A presentation is orally delivered information that often introduces, accompanies, or follows a document or visual aid, although some presentations are strictly verbal with no visual aids or accompanying documents. A presentation is different from any other type of workplace communication because it involves interaction between the speaker and the audience.

There are two main types of presentations: informal and formal.

Informal: Most work place presentations are informal. They can be spontaneous, improvised, or anything else that doesn't involve a great deal of preparation.

Formal: Generally longer and more complex than informal presentations. Formal presentations occur much less often and are given in set-aside areas to much larger audiences. Most formal presentations use visuals and other types of aids in the presentation.

9 Steps to a Successful Presentation

1. Recognize the different audiences you're going to be presenting to and prepare accordingly.

2. Assess the physical content (location of the presentation, parking at location, visibility and ability to hear from ALL seats during the presentation, etc.)

3. Gather all the necessary information and materials for your presentation.

4. Determine the time and pacing of your presentation before hand.

5. Choose appropriate visual aids.

6. Organize the presentation.

7. Plan the speech to accompany the presentation.

8. Use appropriate body language and vocalization.

9. Answers any questions your audience may have after the presentation.

Jenna G.'s Book's, Magazine, and Video Recommendations on Professional Writing

After doing quite a bit of price comparison shopping online, I found a small collection of books, a magazine, and a video on the topic of professional writing. Although I have not personally read each recommendation myself, I did take the time to view the context and read over the customer reviews/ratings. The books I found are moderately priced and extremely knowledgeable on the topics and topic of professional writing.

The following are book's that I researched on Amazon.com and Half.com for subject matter, price, and ratings:

• E-mail: A Write It Well Guide--How to write and Manage E-mail in the workplace By: Janis Fisher Chan (paperback, 2008 Edition) Listed for Only $10.49 Excellent Ratings; 5 Stars (#1)
• How to Write and Design a Professional Resume to Get the Job: Insider Secrets You Need to Know (Book & CD-ROM) (paperback, 2008 Edition) New: listed at $21.86, Used: listed at $14.97 Also Highly Rated; 4 1/2 Stars (#2)

I also came across these recent Kindle Edition books, all under $5.00! However, none of these books had customer reviews/ratings:

• Business Correspondence: How to Write The Business Letter By: Business Writing Professionals (Kindle Edition, 2009) Only $4.88 (#2)
• A professional Approach to Resume and Cover Letters No Employer Can Resist (Kindle Edition, 2009) Only $4.95 (#2)
• How to Speak and Write Correctly By: Joseph Devlin (Kindle Edition, 2009) Only $4.95(#2)

As far as magazines were concerned, I found plenty for general Business topics, yet it was a challenge to find one focused on Professional Writing. However, I did in fact find one that has high ratings, good comments, a low yearly subscription rate, and what looks to be good writing advice for both professional and freelance writers.

• The Writer Published Monthly (12 Issues for $32.95) Received 5 star rating based on customer reviews. (#3)

Last but not least, I went on YouTube (#4) to find Professional Writing Video's that would be helpful for those searching and I came across a Program called VanWrite. Below is the video explaining the product in detail:

Software (...which I also read is tested to be safe for computers) runs a little over a hundred dollars or those interested could check out their website and/or book.

I know that teaching yourself (with a computer/video/book/etc.) about a topic can be challenging at times, but the above listed book's, magazine, and video are a good start for anyone looking to learn about and/or improve their professional writing skills.

References:

#1-- Half.com:
http://search.half.ebay.com/janis-fisher-chan_W0QQmZbooks

#2-- Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=how+to+write+professional

#3--Magazine.com http://www.magazines.com/product/the-writer

#4--Youtube.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeaK1MoQGCU

Alan G's Tips for Writing Effective Emails

Writing effective e-mails is crucial if you wish to succeed in clearly and concisely delivering your message. In this post I will go over each key part of an e-mail and the do's and don'ts for each.

Subject Lines:

The subject line should be concise and specific. This allows the recipient to determine which messages are the most urgent and which messages can be read at a later time. Subject lines should only be written in all CAPITAL LETTERS if the message is extremly urgent, otherwise it may be obnoxious to the reader.

Message Content:

"Brevity is the key to an effective e-mail." The purpose of the e-mail should be easily determined in the first sentence or two. Also, topic sentences are often used to allow the recipient to easily skim the message; most readers expect messages to be clear and direct. Try to avoid drawn out introductions, discussions, or analyses. If an e-mail becomes longer than a single screen it should be sent out as a memo or included as an attachment.

Paragraphs and Spacing:

Although there are a few exceptions when emails may become longer than a single screen, a paragraph in any email should NEVER be longer than a single screen. E-mails are typically written in black format with paragraphs that are two or three sentences long.

Formatting Issues:

"Italics, underlining, bolded text, bulleted and numbered lists, tables, graphs, and visuals can be problematic in e-mails." Some e-mail programs do not the above formatting and add unnecessary symbols, making messages difficult to read.

Signatures:

Every e-mail should have the senders name at the bottom of the message. This is called a signature. Some e-mail programs can create signatures that include your contact information, like a business card, and are added to the end of every e-mail. Signatures should avoid large graphics or long quotes. Long signatures can lengthen the message and become annoying to the recipient.

Attachments:

It is possible to attach an exact replica of a document to the e-mail and send it as an attachment. An attachment can sometimes contain viruses and should be mentioned in specific detail in the e-mail to alert your reader the message is safe.

Following the above tips will allow you to effectively communicate via e-mail in both the work place and socially.

Source: Dorbin, Sydney. _Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century_. 2nd.

Mika's Resume Writing Tips

Resumes play a big role in getting that job interview you were hoping for, and even landing that dream job you’ve always wanted. In these tough economic times it is imperative that a job seeker is armed with a killer resume to stand out from the group. A simple resume search on Google gave me 143,000,000 matches! That is a lot to sift through if all you want is few tips on how to write a resume. Granted that internet is a great tool when looking for samples and how-to’s, one can easily get lost in the enormous amount of information that is available. No need to navigate through some 143,000,000 sites, here are some basic tips that can be applied to any resume to make it an attention grabber.

• Make sure the resume fit the position you are applying for
• Write a minimum of one page, but don’t over crowd the resume with information
• Avoid referring to yourself in first person
• Include your accomplishments and honors
• Use white or off white paper for a professional resume
• Arrange the information in an orderly fashion
• Utilize type faces to emphasize your name, section headings and any other important information
• Last, but not least don’t forget to double and triple check for grammar and spelling errors

With a killer resume in hand now all you will need is a bit of good luck!

Reference:
Dobrin, S. I., Keller, C. J., & Weisser, C. R. TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION: in the Twenty-First Century, (2002). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Custom Publishing.

Tips And Tools For Resume Writing

Writing a resume can be intimidating for most individuals. However, if you have the appropriate format along with some guiding tools, it is really quite simple. Resumes can be difficult to those unsure of what to include, what not to, what needs to be emphasized, highlighted, etc. Most employers only spend about 10-30 seconds on average looking at your resume. So, organizing information incorrectly could cost you your chance at scoring an interview.

Below I have compiled a couple key tips on the do's and don'ts of resume writing:

• A resume should be easy to read- keep the layout clean using appropriate spacing, bolding titles, and displaying a consistent font



• Make sure your information is relevant for the job you are applying to. Do not just list job history, yet stress relevant skills you have in alliance with that specific job. Your resume should be accomplishment based, measurable, action- oriented, and detailed



• As you make list under each subtitle, write the content in reverse chronological order-- present job(s) in present tense



• Use commonly used industry verbiage- show the employer that you are qualified for THIS job.



• Edit your resume! Do not miss out on a job because of spelling and/or grammatical errors.



• Try to keep your resume no longer than one page. Remember, not much time is spent looking at this document.



• Never refer to yourself by using "I".

• The E-mail address you have listed should be professional

Tips on How to Analyze Readers

One of the most crucial parts of any type of writing comes from analyzing your audience. If you do not cater to your readers, your writing will not be interesting and will not apply to them. 3 different ways you can do this are listed below:

1. You should always make sure your readers can connect with what you are writing. You can do this in several ways, depending on your audience. The writer should know what the audience's interests and goals are.

2. You should aways get a second opinion on your writing. Whether you have a family member or friend look at it, or ask for feedback from others, it is always good to get another person's thoughts and comments about what you have written before you make it public. This prevents a bias from you, grammar mistakes, and spelling mistakes.

3. You should always have knowledge about the topic you are writing on. When you are writing on a subject, your readers will usually know how interested and knowledgeable you are on that subject. The point of analyzing your readers is to be able to write specifically to them and show them the knowledge that you have on a specific topic.

Mike P's Tips on how to write clearly

There’s nothing more annoying then picking up an article or piece of writing and having to struggle to comprehend the writers main point. One of the most important tips on writing clearly is to understand what you are writing about. The more you understand the subject, the more effectively you can convey information about it. It is important to try to write things as you would say them. If you are finding it difficult to read your writing chances are others will find it difficult too.

Try not to use words that are too long or difficult to pronounce. Use transitions words such as “further more” or “in addition to” to allow your ideas to flow easier. Make sure to arrange your points in a logical way. Keep the more important things on top and the less important things at the bottom. Keep your sentences short, simple, and to the point. Try not to jump around too much with your ideas as this could confuse the reader. Write direct sentences using active rather than passive verbs. If possible, ask a friend to read your document over to point out any unclear, jumbled, or run-on sentences. Revise, re-write, and edit! Make sure you check for accuracy, spelling, and sentence construction. Always look for ways to make more complex ideas clearer and simpler to grasp.

Here is a helpful video: