Stephanie A’s Strategies for Successful Word Choice

An important step in the writing process is editing. This step is important because editing and revising our work makes us step back and really look at what we have written. The editing process often requires us to focus on our choice of words. When we write, we have the liberty of choosing any words or phrases that we like. This freedom allows us to choose words that have the most effective impact possible.

Here are few strategies to fall back on when deciding which words to use:

• Eliminate Unnecessary “Filler” Words

Effective writing requires that our thoughts and ideas are presented in a clear, concise manner. If we clog up our writing with extra words and phrases that do not add any meaning to our work, we are simply using them to fill space. These unnecessary “filler” words do not provide any substance to our writing. Phrases like “kind of” and “sort of” add no real value to our writing and can simply be eliminated altogether.

• Avoid Clichés

These catchy little phrases should be avoided in professional writing. Clichés often lose their impact because they tend to be overused and annoying. Writers should avoid using these wordy phrases, when a single word will do just fine. For instance, avoid using the phrase “up in the air” when you could just say “undecided” instead.

• Be Careful with Unfamiliar Words

Writers should take caution when using words they are unfamiliar with, since they may easily be used in the wrong context. It is important to check a dictionary for the proper definition to avoid using the incorrect word. Also, writers should be careful when using a thesaurus. Not all synonyms listed will have the correct connotation. Again, always be sure to check with a dictionary for the proper meaning of a new word.

We must all remember that the words we choose can have a dramatic impact on the impression we give as professional writers. I hope these strategies will help all of us to choose our words wisely!

Check out these sites for more great tips on word choice:

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/word_choice.html

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/572/02/

Properly Address A Cover Letter Alen Fidahic

A cover letter is a document, usually attached to your resume, where you are able to introduce yourself. The goal of a cover letter is to spark the interest of the possible employer. The employer will certainly go over your resume, but in your cover letter you can add style that cannot possibly be expressed or address in your resume. Visualize yourself as the employer; you go through hundreds of resumes, and may candidates qualify for the position. In a cover letter you write how you are qualified for the position in your own words and don’t follow an almost universal resume template. In a cover letter you can express yourself, unlike in a resume where all the information are facts about your qualifications. Here are some tips how to properly address a cover letter.

· The first obstacle in addressing your cover letter is to find out your intended contact. You can almost always find your contact at the company address or website.

· Never misspell your contacts first or last name.

· If you address your cover letter appropriately, by stating the employers name wherever you get a chance, you will have a greater chance of an interview.

· Addressing the name of your potential employer will guarantee the document ends up on the right person’s desk, and not a secretary’s.

· You should always start a cover letter with the employer’s suffix. Although stating “Dear” is just as effective.

· If there is not a direct contact, address a group of individuals. For example, “Dear Human Resources”.

· Never write “To who it may concern” because it is inappropriate and is actually extremely formal.

· Always review the criteria for the position you are applying, and explain how you have the needed qualifications.

· Do not inform the employer of what you want, but further concentrate on what you can do for the company.

· Make sure to carefully state in your cover letter why you are qualified for the position and why they should hire you. Do not continually brag about you qualifications, but state how they can be excellent for the career opportunity.

· When constructing a cover letter try to keep it simple with no fancy font. Also, try to keep it to at least one page.

A cover letter is almost as important as a resume because it adds a touch of personality, where as a resume cannot. It allows the author the opportunity to describe their skills and accomplishments, and how they can be incorporated into the position.

Resources

· “How to Address a Cover Letter”. eHow. How To Just About Everything. Dec. 7 2009.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2068856_address-cover-letter.html

·

Kendall, Pat. “Cover Letter Tips”. Advanced Resume Concepts. Dec. 7 2009.

http://www.reslady.com/coverletters.html

Audio in presentations? Sounds like a Plan. By Adam Barreto

While video presentations are preffered, sometimes they are not an option for a presentation. In some situations audio presentations are better, for example, if a businessman needed to listen to a report on a plane or other vehicle but couldn't have a laptop, he could use a music player to listen to his presentation instead.

If you are going to use audio software, there are several important caveats you should remember. Video presentations have the ability to display data as an image, while audio cannot, so it's important to make sure your audio presentations can create images with words so that the listener feels like he can see what you are describing. I have never done an audio presentation, but I have given speeches without visuals, and the ideas are similar.

I think the most important part of audio presentation is the restatement of key points. Remember that your audience does not have anything to look over so if you reiterate the important parts of the presentation, those items will have a better likelihood of being absorbed and remembered.

Also, remember that like any presentation, there is a level of showmanship. What I mean is, don't be boring. That being said, I am not suggesting that you dress like a clown at a board room meeting, but there are simple things you can do to keep the listeners attention, and not lose their interest. I would suggest, for example, not being monotone. Change the tone of your voice and speak slowly and enunciate. You can effectively bold a certain part of your presentation by staying on it a little longer and speaking in a different tone to stress the importance of that piece.

Remember to vary your language. Just like in professional writing, professional presentations should use varied sentence structure and jargon and technically terms only where appropriate, or with a proper definition as a preface.

Whatever your pursuits, written or spoken, these tips can help you make the most of the auditory experience if you have to make an audio presentation.

Writting a Complaint Letter In A Positive Way By Daryl D. Scopino

There are many times in life where we come across unsatisfactory service or we receive a defective good. Sometimes our first instinct is to complain and blame someone for the poor service and take our angry out in a complaint letter. When writing a complaint letter always remember to stay calm and also remember that you are trying to solve a problem that the company has.

A complaint letter is a letter you send to a company, school, to address a problem you had with their service or their product. A good example of this was the time I ordered a printer online and the printer was supposed to be able to print photos however, that part of the printer did not work. I sent a complaint letter to the company stating my problem and asking if i could return it for a new one. My letter did not consist of anything that sounded angry, sarcastic or threatening. A few days later the company sent me a letter back thanking me for addressing my problem and allowed me to return my printer for an all new printer. If I used an angry tone of voice in my letter I probably wouldn't have gotten the great feed back and fast resolution to my problem.

• When writing a complaint letter make sure to:

1. Type your letter and not hand write it so it is simple to read.
   
2. Name of the company or specific person you are addressing the letter to.
3. Keep the letter brief and to the point about the problem you are addressing
4. Include important dates. For example, date of purchases or the time that the problem occurred.
5. State exactly how you want the problem to be resolved.
6. Include all documents that have to do with your problem. (Ex. receipts) Be sure to also send copies of the documents and not the originals.
7. AVOID WRITING IN ANGRY, SARCASTIC, OR THREATENING WAYS! Majority of the time the person receiving your letter is not the one responsible for the problem, however they can be very helpful in finding a way to help solve your problem.
8. ALWAYS keep a copy of the letter for your record.

• Here are a few examples on how a complaint letter should be formatted:

1. Example of complaint letter

Work Cited:

• Dobrin, Sidney I., Christian R. Weisser, and Christopher J. Keller. Technical Communication in the 21st Century. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2007. Print.
• Sample Letters. Web. 08 Dec. 2009. .
• Stock Images - Royalty-Free Stock Photography Images and Photos at Jupiterimages. Web. 08 Dec. 2009. .

Kerrilynn M's Creating Presentations Online

There are many, many programs to create presentations for professional projects. I find that online generators are effective and prevent you from having to purchase a program and install it on your computer. Keep in mind that online presentations allow the presenter to present their information from a browser. Here is a list of credible and useful sites that you can create a presentation online with.

• http://show.zoho.com/login.do


• http://www.sliderrocket.com/signup/ (30 day trial)


• http://www.metoshow.com/


• http://www.presenternet.com/?pcode=cpltd


• http://www.google.com/google-d-s/b1.html

Different sites allow you to do different things with your presentation. It is wise to shop around to see what graphics, pictures, and other visuals, such as videos, can be included.

Online presentations, or Webinars, do not only benefit you, but your company or business as well. According to PresentationMagazine.com, webinars provide easy access to your presentation, as well as cutting down on costs. (Face it; we all know economically sound presentations will benefit all companies these days…) This is a link to a great article on webinars related to sale if that is what you are interested in: http://www.presentationmagazine.com/online_presentations.htm.

Just remember when you are creating your presentations online, you still need to be aware of the general rules: spelling, grammar, appropriate images, relevancy, and professionalism.

Editing and Rewriting Tips Alen Fidahic

It does not matter if you are writing a letter to your relatives, a high school term paper, or a document for a fortune 500 company, every single person should revise and edit their document rigorously. Editing and revising a document is extremely important because many people do not like to read errors and mistakes. Imagine you are president of a major company, sitting on your comfy office chair, at your busy office, and you receive a document form a respectful and powerful employee. You start reading the document only to find out it has horrible grammar mistakes and is not organized. What would you think of the employee, you pay millions of dollars a year, about the time involved in construction of the document? Revising your writing requires taking a look at the structure of the essay and making some major modification. You want to maximize the overall outcome of your document to the audience. Here are some checkpoints you should take a look at when you have completed your document.

Revision

1. Does the introduction grab the reader’s attention?

2. Is there a thesis statement in your introduction?

3. Is the thesis clear enough for the reader to understand your position?

4. Is the writing understandable and easy to read?

5. Are the paragraphs organized?

6. Are there enough examples for the reader to see different views?

7. Is there a sufficient amount of detail to support your idea?

8. Are the details related to the topic you are presenting?

9. Do you display vivid images and examples?

10. Do you use effective transitions throughout the document?

11. Are you repeating anything such as words or phrases?

12. Do you end with a strong conclusion?

13. Are there any grammatical errors in the entire document?

Editing, revising, and rewriting basically illuminate the document you wrote. Visualize yourself at a car show and you see a Corvette that is dirty and has not been waxed in months. Although the Corvette has unbelievable construction, many people will choose a waxed and polished car, rather than a filthy automobile. The point I am trying to get across is you could have a great idea, but you need to make sure you take the time to improve it and more exquisite.

Resources

Petkus, Thadra. “Editing & Revision Essay Checklist”. Suite101. 10 Mar. 2008. 30 Nov. 2009.

<http://high-school-lesson-plans.suite101.com/article.cfm/editing_and_revision_checklist>

Stephanie A’s Tips on Courteous Writing

With all the hustle and bustle of the business world, it may be easy to overlook professional courtesy. However, good manners never go out of style. Everyone appreciates writing that has a kind and respectful tone. As professionals, we must keep in mind that our writing should include those little social niceties that everyone appreciates.

In order to incorporate these niceties into our writing, it may be helpful to know what courteous writing entails. Here are some great tips on incorporating courteous elements into our writing:

• Proper salutations

Everyone appreciates having the correct salutation attached to their name. If a person is a doctor or if a woman is married, they expect to have the correct salutation in a business letter. I think that if a person has earned a specific title, like a Ph.D. or a law degree, they appreciate it when the appropriate salutation is used.

• Proper greetings

The standard and most widely accepted way that a greeting is used to open a letter is “Dear,” followed by the proper salutation, and the person’s last name. If you write a letter without using this standard opening, it may immediately alienate your reader. Also, the greeting of “To Whom it May Concern,” often comes off as cold or distant.

• Proper tone

You should always try to use the appropriate tone or attitude in your business correspondence. The better you know someone, the more informal the tone can be. However, in most business settings, the tone should remain somewhat formal. This formal tone relays the fact that your message is courteous, but should also be taken seriously. The proper tone should make the reader comfortable, while maintaining a certain level of respect.

• Clarity

Courteous writing should be respectful, clear, and concise. Clarity is important because it does not waste valuable time. Confusing messages will often be perceived as wasteful by the reader. Clarity of thought and purpose is another essential element of a courteous letter.

These tips can help everyone become a more courteous writer. A little courtesy can go a long way in the business world. After all, who doesn’t appreciate a simple “please” and “thank you”? I know I do!

Check out these sites for more great tips on becoming a more courteous writer:

http://www.businesswritingblog.com/business_writing/courteous_writing/

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/652/01/