Creating Strong Professional Writing Skills

Grammar appears, at some point, in every persons educational experience. Some catch on quicker than others. Often times, those who struggle with composition and grammar possess a better strength in arithmetic and the sciences. Regardless of the path you choose to take in college, some form of professional writing will be a necessity for your future vocation. Even after we conquer Composition I and II we tend to forget some of the basic rules, which strengthen our writing skills. The website http://designsensory.com/pws/index.html offers a variety of incredibly helpful tips to insure that we as writers continue to write smoothly, strongly, and effectively. The web page Professional Writing Style provides twelve separate lessons on how to write well. After reviewing several of the lessons I learned that even a knowledgeable professional writing student can acquire more strength in his/her writing from these lessons. The lesson sections are titled as follows: Preferring Active Voice, Denominalizing, Trimming Fat, Reducing Jargon, Unraveling Adjective-Noun Strings and Reducing Preposition Sprawl, Using Parallel Form, Being Emphatic and Coherent, Using Modifiers, Choosing the Right Words, Mastering Punctuation, Using Ethical and Inoffensive Language, and Finding the Right Tone. Each of the lessons goes into extensive detail on its topic. Examples, explanations, and tips provide a simple refresher for readers. No matter what level of professional writing you have mastered, I highly recommend you visit this website and take something from it's fantastic offerings! 

Choosing Words by Michael Hirsch

Short strong words are better in many ways, they get to the point without any twist and turns, look better and are not as confusing. Choosing longer words might confuse the reader and will not look smarter or any better. As the video says, stop is a better word than discontinue, it’s more affirmative and gets a clear message trough.

Instant Messaging & Professional Writing by Juan Arnez

Everyone using instant messaging, right? Well it is extremely important to separate instant messages and text messages from friends and family and those from the work place. Allen Brizee says "Although instant and text/SMS messaging is beginning to supplant email for some groups' primary means of Internet communication, effective and appropriate email etiquette is still important. This resource will help you to become an effective writer and reader/manager of email" (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/681/01/) . To avoid problems, some companies have developed their own instant messaging programs, and only these are permitted on their computers. Always remember who your audience is and the 3 C's continue to be important. As informal as IM might be, you must still conduct yourself with all the elements of professional writing, if ever in doubt follow e-mail guidelines. Don't forget a subject line!

Source: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/681/01/

How to Write a Proper Email

by bjscott | Create your own Cartoon at www.toondoo.com

There is nothing worse than reading an email that isn't written properly, and the only thing worse than reading an email that isn't written properly is writing the email yourself. Here are ten tips to help you write an organized well planned email that the person receiving it will not only enjoy reading, but will also deliver your message in a clear concise way.

1. Be concise and to the point.
2. Answer all questions, and pre-empt further question.
3. Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation.
4. Make it personal.
5. Do not attach unnecessary files.
6. Use proper structure & layout.
7. Do not write in CAPITALS.
8. Read the email before you send it.
9. Do not ask to recall a message.
10. Use a meaningful subject.

If you follow these easy but very important steps to writing a successful email you will be on your way to writing the perfect email.

Source: http://www.emailreplies.com/

The Importance of Citations in Writing - By Brett Trucksess

I chose to focus on the importance of properly citing sources when writing a paper that uses unoriginal ideas. There are two different styles of citation, MLA and APA, that are very important to familiarize ourselves with, particularly while we are still in college. This video provides insight as to how to properly cite sources from different places like books, magazines, websites, etc. It is extremely important to learn the fundamentals of citaion in order to avoid committing the offense of plagiarism. Following these simple steps can assure you that you will not be infringing on someone else's ideas, and that the information you have attained for your writing assignment is credited to the correct person.

The Importance of a Resume by Ingrid Fernandez

Some people ask why resumes are so important and why we must take so much time in learning about them. Well here's your answer. First of all, a resume is basically your first meeting between you and your desired employer. Afterall, you only get one time to make that first impression. You want to be remember as interesting and precise not boring and unorganized. Making resumes pretty much saves time for a company by not having to interview everyone -just the ones with the best resumes! Another thing why resumes are important is because it says a great deal about yourself. Your goal is to make sure you're telling the employer that you're the perfect one for the job. An effective resume will lead to a chance to get interviewed, which is the whole purpose of this. Once you turn that resume in and the employer likes it, they call you in. With a resume you have complete control over what the employer knows about you, of course like the toondoo says above, your accomplishments and qualifications. Be sure never to falsify imformation, it will be caught.


Source:
http://essayinfo.com/resume/resume_importance.php

Persuasive Writing in the Work Place by Tyler Reavis

Tips for Persuasive Writing
In order to get ahead in the corporate world it is important to know how to get your point across and effectively sell your ideas. While hopefully no one would be as inept as our comic friend Brian in writing a persuasive letter, it is important to note that how you write your letter has a huge impact on how successful you will be with getting your objective met. Below are a few more tips on how to write a great persuasive letter:

1. Focus on your Reader First. Think about his/her needs, wants, desires. What might their objections be to your proposal? How is your proposal likely to be received: with hostility, warmly, cautiously, neutral? Also consider who else may read your proposal besides the person whom you are addressing the letter to: your bosses superior, another co-worker, etc.

2. Consider your format. Some requests are simple enough that an informal email may suffice, other times you may need to compose a memo or a business memo.


3. Get Specific: Give specific and relevant information on your topic. Make sure that you have thoroughly researched before you make a proposal. Give the pertinent information, don't confuse your reader with unnecessary details.

Keep these tips in mind next time you want to persuade someone in the workplace and you may be pleasantly surprised by their response!

For more ideas check out: More Tips for Persuasive Writing.

Writing Effective Emails by Brett Diamond

Writing emails may seem like a small task, and a pointless thing to waste time learning about, but in actuality they are very important and must be done correctly. The first thing, anyone does, or should do is make the subject line. The subject line allows the reader to know the topic of the email before he/she even opens it. The subject line is similar to a Newspaper heading, and without a heading, no one would take time to read it. After you correctly make the subject line, start writing the email, making sure it is not to long, and stays on a certain topic. If you need to write an additional email concerning a different matter, it will be no problem because unlike letters, emails are free. After you have finished the body of the email, make sure to tell the reader how to respond, and what to respond to. It is also smart to include any contact information they may need including phone number and address.  

Citation

"Effective Email - How to communicate powerfully by email - Written Communication from Mind Tools." Mind Tools - Online Management Training, Leadership Training and Career Training - Right Here, Right Now. 06 Apr. 2009 .

Kevin Varnes Writing Manuals

"http://www.stc-phoenix.com/Rough%20Draft_Current/July05%20files/insdesign_july05.htm"


Now this does not seem like a very fun and interesting job to do. I am sure we all have read a policy manual right here on campus. The process of writing a manual takes time and must follow the three C's. When writing a manual you must be careful when you edit the policies and when making changes to the policy that you follow clarity, conciseness, and coherence. The policy manual must be straightforward and simple. Most people really don't spend much time reading the manual but there are some out there who will read a manual from front to back. If you are one of those people who do read them I am sure you want to be able to read it quickly and as painless as possible. The manual must have clarity so that it is understandable and easy to read. You want the reader to understand right away what you are trying to get across. You don't want the reader to have to stop and try to figure out what points you are trying to make. It is important when writing that you do not include unnecessary words or phrases. It is important to be exact and complete to make sure that the information is explained concisely. It can really help the reader if you are very coherent with the writing. Make sure the policys contain logic and have been thought through completely. I have included a link to information on writing a manual and some good tips to being a professional writer.