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Introduction:
Written communication remains a
crucial interpersonal communication skill for business and for life. Like any skill, effective writing can be practiced and learned.
Much like spoken communication, effective writing depends on the "sound" it creates for the receiver. Choosing appropriate
"sounds" enables the crafting of powerful written messages.
In Lesson 4, we investigate the factors that create excellent writing, including forms of written business communication.
Reading Assignment: Please read, in
your course text, the chapter entitled "The Writer and Writing Processes in the Workplace" from Lay, Wahlstrom, Selfe, Seltzer, & Rude's "Technical Communication," Second Edition
Study Questions: (to accompany reading assignment): Review these questions and
keep them at hand as you complete this lesson's readings. These questions will help you internalize the reading materials and apply the concepts.
Writing Assignment:
1.) Deconstructing The Writing Process (25% of writing assignment value)
Any written product is the result of some
sort of planning process. Especially in the Internet age, planning our digital documents (a process now known as "information organization") has become especially crucial.
For this assignment, please "reverse engineer" the writing process for the Web site of an organization with which you are
familiar. Inspect it for the logic, clarity, and flow of the information it provides. Finally, assess the degree to which it fulfills its purpose.
Your report will be an after the fact assessment of the Web site's planning and writing processes. Based on the
information the Web site provides, please evaluate the planning process that went into the content's organization and presentation.
Be sure to provide:
- A brief review of the site and its purpose
- Your assessment of the planning process
- Your assessment of the writing process
- Your overall assessment of the site as a written document
Your evaluation should spring from the concepts and foundations presented in this Lesson's reading. Indicate that you
understand the reading by applying its ideas to this exercise.
2.) The Passionate Professional: Writing for the Audience (75% of writing assignment value)
You have been asked to
provide a briefing paper on an issue within your organization (or community) about which you have very strong feelings that you have, as yet, been unable to express. The issue may involve any aspect
of your work or organization, or may involve a broader cause about which you are passionate.
As a professional, you realize that stirring strong emotions is a necessary but challenging aspect of your assignment.
Your audience will be comprised of readers who have diverse views, some of whom have positions of authority or responsibility.
Please select an issue about which you feel particularly strongly. Plan and draft a briefing paper devoted to this issue,
based on the writing strategies in this Lesson's reading assignment. (See pages 52-64 especially.) Remember your audience. The key is to plan, organize, sift, and present your information in a way
that persuades with professionalism.
Your submission for this assignment should consist of:
- A statement of intent that outlines your issue and your position
- A plan for developing your briefing paper that indicates awareness of your audience
- Information and positions for key issues that your paper will address
- A draft outline that indicates the information organization of your paper
- A summary draft of your briefing paper (1-3 pages, maximum)
Your submission should spring from the concepts and foundations presented in this Lesson's reading. Indicate that you
understand the reading by applying its ideas to this exercise.
Practice: There are many excellent
resources online for basic and creative writing. Some of the best include:
The Eats, Shoots and Leaves Punctuation Game
The Grammar Slammer
Grammar Gorillas
The Grammar Lady
Lesson Exam: Once you have completed the reading and writing assignments,
please take the lesson exam. The exam is this lesson's last component.
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