Persuasive Writing by Brett Trucksess

I think this video shows a great structure to follow when writing a persuasive essay. As it goes through the six steps, it becomes clear how easy writing a persuasive essay can be if you follow the proper guidelines. Persuasive writing is incredibly important for all of us because it can be used in so many aspects of our lives. Even when applying for a job, persuasive writing can be used to convince the employer that you are the best person for the job. This style of writing can also become very key when writing to a professor, a business, or to any person you find yourself in a situation with when you are trying to convince them of your cause. Powerful persuasive writing is a key feature that everyone should learn and carry with them throughout their lives.

"Quitting with Class" by Tyler Reavis

At some point in your working life it is likely that you will resign from a company, whether to relocate, to take a position with another employer, or even because you just can't stand your boss. What ever the case might be, it's be it's important to resign in a professional and respectful manner. Here are some tips to resigning successfully:

Give Notice: You should give your employer notice two weeks before you want to leave the company in most instances. Be sure to check your employment contract and see if it makes any special stipulations, if so then you might be obligated to stick it out under the conditions you agreed to.

Be Direct and Polite: Don't beat around the bush when you break the news to your employer. Let them know that you will be leaving and on what date, but do so respectfully. Even if you are leaving for personal reasons, fight the temptation to tell your boss what you really think of them. Be polite and professional at all times.

You might say something like:

"I've been considering my options here for some time, and I've decided it's time for me to move on. I am grateful for the opportunities I've found here, but I must give my two weeks' notice." (WikiHow)

Come Prepared: At the time when you give your verbal resignation, you should also have a letter of resignation with you to give to your employer. Your letter should be concise, polite, and non-confrontational. Giving your employer a letter of resignation will help you leave on good terms and will leave a favorable impression in case you need a recommendation or wish to work for the company again in the future.

If you follow these simple tips, hopefully, you won't be escorted off of the premises by security and you may even receive a counter offer or an opportunity to work for the company again in the future.

References:

"How to Resign Gracefully.." wikiHow. 20 Apr 2009 .

Doyle, Allison. "I Quit! How to Resign from Your Job." About.com. 20 Apr 2009
.

Radin, Bill. " The Proper Way to Resign." Discovery Personnel. 20 Apr 2009
.

Writing Effective Meeting Minutes (Kevin Varnes)

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Whether you are recording notes in class or recording meeting miuntes we have all had those uncomfortable pains in our hands. I am going to give everyone some good tips on how to ease the process and give your writing hand a break. When taking down information we all ask ourselves one thing, what do I need to record and what should I leave out? Meeting minutes are very important and will remind you of what your role is in the project that you are involved in. When recording your meeting minutes it should be known that you are not to record everything that is said just highlight the important information. The information that should be recorded are decisions that are made in the meeting and tasks that are assigned to each person. It is important before the meeting to have the tools you need that will help you most. Whether it is a tape recorder, a laptop, or the simple pen and paper make sure you are fully prepared. After the meeting review your notes to make sure the information is clear while it is still fresh in your mind. Here are a few other important tips to think about when recording meeting minutes. It is important to focus on the action statements and not the discussion. Make sure that you number the pages so that you keep the information in order. If your notes are boring and bland that is a good thing keep it simple. Finally, once you type your notes have them reviewed by someone you trust and you have official Written effective meeting minutes

What is a Professional Writer? Professional Writing in Reality

We're down to our last blog. We've spent six plus weeks learning about the elements of professional writing and how to become efficient professional writers. Now that we're finally finished with the course, you may be asking, "Okay, now what? What exactly is a professional writer and what do they actually do?" Well I'm glad you asked!

Professional writers work behind the scenes in almost every profession in America. From the U.S. presidency to Hollywood movie sets, professional writers keep effective language afloat and make sure it is appropriately exported to the public.

Professional writers feed on creativity. We are in essentially artists of the written word. We mustn't be worried about what others think of our writing. Becoming a writer in the professional world allows us to express who we are. 

Professional writers are:

• Published authors
• Poets
• Editors (journals, magazines, newspapers, broadcasting, etc.)
• TV producers
• Script writers (TV shows, Broadway plays/musicals, Films)
• Speech writers

So if you thought becoming a professional writer meant that you'd be sitting in a cubicle writing and revising letters and memos for the rest of your life, think again!

**Below is a video distributed by University of Southern California's professional writing program. Students tell about their experiences as PW students and their success in the professional writing world. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH7wQ6PLwlc&feature=related

http://theprofessionalwriter.com 

Speaking Skills by Michael Hirsch

How to show enthusiasm, show energy and use eye contact. The volume has to be louder than normal, and use a variety of tones, to avoid monotone. Avoid “ums” and any other, if you have to pause do it get on track and keep going. Pause after a main topic. Hands, gestures and body language will help have a slower pace. Look around the audience, be confident on what you say. Don’t do a repetitive gesture it will show you are nervous. Be outgoing, show your knowledge. Remember to understand the purpose and to keep the message clear and concise. Be prepared and have visuals. These steps will lead you to an outstanding presentation.

http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/PublicSpeaking.htm
http://www.service-training.co.uk/presentation-training/skills-of-speaking.htm

Choosing the Correct Medium by Juan Arnez

We have all been there. You just can't seem to decide which one. Your phone, send a text message, leave a voice message, send an e-mail, write a formal letter, write a memo, talk in person - phew, what a headache. Now its important to remember that all these are acceptable mediums of communication, but you must be careful and take a few minutes to think about who,where and why you are writing or communicating. In a professional business atmosphere you want to stay clear of text messages and probably want to avoid calling or leaving messages. If urgent or involving a complicated issue, speaking in person is a must. E-mail or company messaging in the form of memos is probably your best option. If speaking to someone in the same institution, you can skip a lot of the formalities. If not, then a formal business letter is the appropriate medium.
Always remember to take a few minutes to decide on the correct medium, by considering the reader.

Writing a Cover Letter by Brett Diamond

A cover letter may sometimes be looked over and not even considered when applying for a job or internship. A cover letter allows the employer to see what you are truly about. As seen in the video, a cover letter informs the employer why they should hire you. It covers what is on the resume, but more in depth of your past experiences. Each paragraph should include different information, starting with why you are writing and what position you are looking to be hired, with the last paragraph being on your availability for interview. Remember, just like a resume, cover letters get looked at very shortly, so be sure to put your name and contact information is visible text.


"How to Write a Cover Letter - wikiHow." WikiHow - The How-to Manual That You Can Edit. 20 Apr. 2009 .

How to Handle Criticism

No matter what you write there is bound to be mixed emotions. When this happens you may receive criticism. It is important to handle yourself properly when this happens. Here are some tips that might help.

1. Enjoy it.

Someone has said something bad about your writing. Good, this means you have accomplished one of the hardest feats in writing, effecting someone enough to generate a response.

2. Nobody’s right.

Just because someone has decided to criticise your writing doesn't necessarily mean they are correct in their criticism.

3. Some people just won’t get it.

"Believe it or not but some folks out there are idiots. Some folks are struggling, others are bitter and some others are just plain angry." This combination of readers is bound to create some controversial comments. This is natural for some people to misunderstand your writing Just follow step 1. and enjoy it.

4. Look for a new idea.

You should be happy someone has chosen to share their ideas. You never know what may help you in your later writing. Hopefully this persons ideas will help.

5. Let it go.

No matter how nasty the comment may be you should always be able to control yourself. Take a few moments to yourself and move on. Not letting your emotions get in your way is the best way to generate good writing.

Hopefully these simple tips will help you handle criticism in the future.

How To Write A Rough Draft by Ingrid Fernandez

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The Voki says, "writing a draft is important for us out in the work world. Organizing your thoughts on paper before writing them down is essential."

The man is right. What better way to organize your thoughts than to write a draft? Of course, once you've gathered your thoughts and information, you are ready to write! But what are some ways and strategies to get this job done?

Well to begin with, you need to manage your time. Make sure you have space and time to write this draft without having to rush. The more time you have, the more confidence you build. Always use positive motivation while writing! Also, prepare your work enviroment according to how you like to work. Some people like the quiet "Do not disturb" thing, yet others like to listen to music. It's your choice. After you did that, start with a section of the draft that you feel the most comfortable with. It's better to get those easy little paragraphs out of the way. The most important thing is keep your audience in mind. You don't want to be writing to a top executive and sound like you are talking to a 5 year old. Ask yourself: "What does my reader probably know?" and "What are my reader's feelings about the subject?" All of this is very important in having a successful draft.

Some ways to develop confidence:
-Do not wait for inspiration to write the rough draft, it will come to you as you write.

-Do not worry about a good opening right at the start, focus on the other areas and the opening will just flow.

-Keep writing quickly to achieve unity.

-Do not criticize youself, it's the rough draft!

-Remind yourself that no one else is reading it, unless you want them to!


Sources:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2855_write-rough-draft.html

"Writing That Works" by Walter E. Oliu, Charles T Brusaw, Gerald J Alred.

Giving a Successful Presentation by Carissa Miller

At some point in your future career you will most likely have to give some kind of a presentation. This means you will have to stand in front of a crowd composed of co-workers and superiors alike and speak. "Public speaking" is the number one fear in America, so it comes as no surprise that most people choke up when they hear the word presentation. The key to presenting a successful presentation is simple. Read the following to learn how you can give a smooth, comprehensive presentation without choking up on your words.

1. Analyze your audience: before you begin preparing for your presentation, recognize the audience. How old is the general audience? How familiar are they about your topic? What is their education level? Are you pursuading them or informing them?

2. Prepare a visual aid: Whether you use a slideshow, a movie, posters, whiteboard, chalkboard, projector, etc. it is vital that you have some kind of visual stimulation for your audience. Simply standing in front of them will not keep their attention, nor will it spark their comprehension. *Do not simply use text (especially the words you are speaking) as a visual aid. This will definitely bore your audience.

3. Overcome the anxiety: The best way to dodge noticeable flaws in your presentation is by practicing ahead of time. Ask a friend or family member if you can rehearse your presentation at least once. This way you will have an idea of the sequence of the sub-topics in your presentation and will be able to remember the next key point by memory. *Take slow deep breaths in order to regulate you presentation pace.

4. Effective listening: Visual aids alone will not make your audience listen. You must appeal to their ears and in order to do so, you must make sure your voice is appealing. Pace, diction, tone, and pitch are all vital factors in a vocal presentation. Try to keep your speed steady, your diction clear, your tone varied, and your pitch appropriate for the audience.


Source:
Alred, Gerald. Writing That Works: Communicating Effectively on the Job. 9th. New York: Bedford, 2007. Print.