ENGL 301A Blog

I was skeptical of the material presented initially, when I joined English 301. I find it difficult to assess a course where blogs are the main form of providing material and assignments. However, it seems that my fears were unfounded.  Throughout the term, I have been proven time, and time again that the UBC blog system is a much more personalized and intuitive system for providing information and handing in projects and assignments. I particularly enjoy the ability for students to edit their previous works.

One of the most enjoyable experiences is the peer review process as I always felt that I was good at it. However, I realized that I can be overly critical sometimes, which made it difficult to formalize a critique that did not come across as picky or rude. Often, I would need to consult friends or family in order to make sure my responses were in line, but I greatly appreciated the opportunity to further develop this skill. Additionally, the section of writing with a YOU-Attitude further improved my writing, and drastically aided in procuring the responses that I needed during the Formal Report section of the course.

Further, I found the peer review process beneficial to my skills as a writer in general, and I know that my skills have substantially improved in this course and will do so as long as I continue my efforts. Avoiding imperatives was a big wake-up call for me; it made me realize how authoritative my writing often sounded. However, I think one of the greatest improvements in my writing is conciseness. I had a tendency to use far more words than necessary to get a point across which could have been stated in a sentence of a few words. The previous sentence is an example of this issue. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to learn of my issues in wordiness and improve upon it. Additionally, peer reviewing my teammates’ work also opened my eyes to similar issues in my own writing.

I greatly appreciate the practical applications of this course. The professional skills in writing will aid me in gaining and keeping employment in the future. I beleive that communication is essential for a professional career, and a good way to ruin a career is through consistent miscommunication! For gaining employment, this course focused on letters of reference, professional social media, resumes, cover letters, and interactive online resumes hosted on web pages called web folios. In the writing assignments, we cemented the importance of writing professionally using the technical skills explored throughout the course.

I greatly enjoyed my time at English 301, and I will miss my professional writing team, The Scribblers. We worked well together and learned and improved our writing styles as a team to produce meaningful work. And thank you, Dr Paterson, for a great term. I hope you all have a great summer and stay safe indoors!

The web folio assignment is an eye-opening project that allows me to see what I have learned in this course. Having all the best works, reflections, and pertinent job application resources in one location really showcases the effort put into the course over the semester and it’s motivating to the progress of writing style. Reviewing the old assignments and updating them to have You-Attitude shows what I learned and how my writing style improved. Although my writing may have been at a good level, it has dramatically improved in just three months later. I recognize that there remains many areas of improvements to be made. In the future, I will be sure to continuously improve my skills!

When designing the web folio, I put a special emphasis on ease of navigation. For this reason I included detailed breakdowns of each page, easily accessible pages located at the top of each page, and plenty of descriptions of each element. I would not want a potential employer to become frustrated with a potentially faulty interface. A webpage that is intuitive and informative shows potential readers that I care for the visitors on the webpage and value their time. The most important part of the web folio is how it is intended to help students gain meaningful employment. Too often universities gloss over how students are supposed to be learning useful life skills for progressing careers and I greatly value this aspect of the course. The assignments in unit four have made me realize the processes and effort required in job hunting, and how continuous self and peer review can be pertinent to the success of resumes, cover letters and personal letters in the professional field.

Lastly, my favorite aspect of the web folio is how it is personalized. I added an additional page that showcases a couple of personal writing and art that I have completed, which showcases my individuality. This shows potential employers that I am a person beyond my status as a professional, and opens up avenues to create genuine connections where otherwise, connections may not have existed.  I know that it is a great personal detail to include that adds considerable value for parties interested in hiring me.

Unit Three has helped a great deal in understanding to write professionally in a number of ways. The class started out the Unit focusing on “Writing with a You-Attitude” where two letters of “Complaint” and “Bad News” were assigned. Upon completion of these letters it was our responsibility to read and review a team member’s letters, and vice versa. The end portion of this Unit focused on our Formal Report (Draft), which served as a terrific starting point for this project. These are all very valuable learning points that will surely transition well into the professional world I will find myself in upon graduation.

Writing with a “You-Attitude” opened a new door for exploring techniques in writing and language. It helped strengthen my understanding in writing for a specific attitude that aims to ensure the reader’s contentment, and more importantly, not attacked or accused in any malicious way. Initially, the writing process suffered greatly as modalizations would often need to be placed in order to soften the intended message. Additionally, when writing the “Bad News” letter, often accusations were placed between the lines unknowingly. It took taking a step back and rereading the document many days later in order to fully render the document free of any malicious writing. My partner had done a much more thorough job at crafting a seemingly perfect document, utilizing the “YOU-Attitude” to its full extent. Cathy’s utilization of modalization and care to exclude malicious writing aided in her execution of the assignment well. There were very little areas lacking other than the introduction which could use more emphasis on the reader. This was very helpful and will be applying her insight to further projects.

The Formal Report (Draft) was the main component of this Unit, and was a section that I really enjoyed. The research process, including gathering information through interviews and the survey I posted at my place of employment, was a lot of fun. Not only was I completing requirements for our course, but I was also engaging professionally with my co-workers about an important aspect of the workplace. Surveying and interviewing the staff and volunteers proved to be the most tricky aspect of the assignment due to the availability of time, and the lack of resources. Some cases, staff or volunteers were away, without connection to wifi and it made scheduling the interviews extremely difficult. I found that I used the YOU-Attitude in the emails written to the student, staff and volunteers, which garnered a quick response from everyone. It showed me the true value of my schooling, and made me smile to realize the extent of the skills developed. In reviewing Glen’s Formal Report, the extent of the visuals and content amazed me. In the final report, visual aids will be used to portray important data discussed within the text. Additionally, I realized the lack of direct citation provided within the document, and will remedy this in the final product. Reading and reviewing Glen’s draft gave me many ideas to improve on when crafting my final formal report.

Completing the Formal Report (Draft) gave me a feeling of accomplishment, as I have never composed a document that resembles the one we are currently working on. It was challenging, but I am eager to learn new techniques in writing. This Unit has been very enjoyable, and I look forward to completing my Formal Report. Attached to this word document is a file of my Formal Report (Draft), please see below.

Formal Report Draft

Unit Two focused on strategies for formal reports and creating a LinkedIn profile. During this time, I wrote a research proposal, a report outline, survey and interview, and created a LinkedIn profile. The reflection will focus on the creation of my LinkedIn profile as well as the writing, peer review process, and editing of my research proposal.

Creating a professional LinkedIn profile was an intimidating experience; a big challenge during the process was balancing a profile with an engaging and professional tone. Knowingly the details to omit was another large challenge, as social networking often involves putting yourself out there. In this regard, putting the details out in public made me feel vulnerable. Overall, the assignment allowed me to view my professional abilities, experiences and goals, objectively, displaying them in a professional manner. Additionally, it opened my eyes to areas that I was lacking in; for example, I should work on more personal projects that highlights my abilities as an educator and promotor of schooling. Drawing from the “Ten best LinkedIn Advice” memo, aided me greatly in the processes of developing my profile. Without much information going into the assignment, I learned to write concisely, and effectiveness regarding my professional experiences. The LinkedIn assignment equipped me with a variety of tools and skills that I hope to use in improving my profiles in the future.

The formal report, on the other hand, felt much more daunting in comparison. With no experience in writing a formal proposal, I found it difficult to find a topic. I stumbled upon my idea, when discussing the efficacy of peer tutoring blocks with my fellow peers, and I found it frustrating that many students were not able to efficiently schedule more time. Writing the proposal itself proved to be difficult as I was unaware of the processes and information I needed to prepare. Although the project started rough, I am confident that my final report proposal adequately outlines the proper information required of a professional formal report. As this is the first time I am writing a formal report, I am uncertain how effective the information in my report will be presented. One area that I will need to spend more time on, is writing in an engaging, persuasive and professional tone. I wonder if I should study the use of technical jargon or phrases when writing the report itself, as to maintain a persuasive tone without jeopardizing the engagement or professionalism of the report.

I am always glad to peer review works of my peers, as it enables me to understand different elements which I may have overlooked initially. I peer reviewed Glen’s proposal on smoking on campus. In his initial proposal, Glen had created many points on the importance of separating smoking from students and children at his university. I found that Glen’s scope was much more developed, outlining distinct areas of investigation. In comparison, my scope was broader, allowing me to develop it as I proceeded with the assignment. I realize that the vague scope of my initial report has caused the development of my formal report to become unclear. It was not until I wrote my formal report progress that I had developed the formal report more concisely and narrowed key aspects of interest. As I have never had an experience drafting a formal report, this was informative and I learned a great deal regarding the key elements of crafting such a document. Additionally, I greatly appreciate Glen’s review, as he kindly pointed out areas where I may overlook during edits; this aids in the constant development of my writing skills. It is nice to have others identify areas of confusion in my writing.

Glen’s Peer Review

301 Aran Chang Researche Proposal Revised

As Unit One of distanced English 301 comes to a close, I have learned a great deal consisting of techniques in the formulation of professional letters, emails, memos and definitions. During this period of time, I have started a blog, formed a team of talented writers and peer reviewed my first document in this course. The following reflection will outline and discuss my experience with the original writing assignment, the peer review process, and the editing process afterwards.

The definitions assignment made me pay attention to the clarity, purpose and efficiency of my writing. Normally, I am surrounded with individuals who are adept in the same knowledge that I am, which causes me to speak in a way that may seem jargon to others who are a non-technical audience. Thus, I found it frustrating in having to repeat information that is considered common knowledge for individuals in my field. After hours of rewriting, I felt defeated and tried to communicate my ideas using as few technical words so that those without prior knowledge on the subject could comprehend the document. The assignment repeatedly reminded me to write clear and concisely. With much time, I was eventually able to form a concise and simple document for the definition of deixis.

I greatly enjoyed the peer review process as I am often tasked with reviewing papers for both friends and peers. It is always enlightening and interesting to compare and contrast the different writing styles, and learn from others where I find interest. In my process, I followed the peer review templated and created a detailed document outlining the issues and strengths in Cathy’s paper. As I have taken multiple psychology courses in the past, I am somewhat experienced in the jargon and background knowledge relating to the field. In Cathy’s document, she focused on its context, such as its history and applications, providing a great example for the reader to understand the definition. However, I found that Cathy could have created a more solid situation to ground her definition. It was helpful to practice identifying specific problem areas in writing and learning how to convey constructive criticism in a professional tone and friendly manner.

Lastly, the self-editing process was relatively easy with. I greatly appreciate Cathy’s feedback as it was specific and identified areas that required more work. Through following her suggestion, I added the visual aspect of my document and provided more elaboration on areas that seemed vague, such as lines where I used “something.” Additionally, I realized that I had falsely assumed interlocutors as a common term. Following Cathy’s suggestion, I replaced interlocutors with simply speakers to provide enough information without over-simplifying the definition. Overall, the task was difficult but rewarding; I found that it takes much deliberation when carefully plucking words or phrases to a non-technical environment. This experience greatly differs from my experience with children. I look forward to the upcoming assignments and the opportunities to improve my writing even more.

1-3 Assigment Revised Three Definitions

Cathy’s Peer Review

From: aran@abasa.ca
To: alisonma@alumni.ubc.ca
Date: May 26, 2020
Subject: Invitation to English 301 Writing Team

301 Aran Chang Letter of Application

Hi Alison,

After reviewing your application letter, I would like to invite you to be a part of my writing team.

From your writing, it is evident that you have extensive knowledge in economics and communication, which would be a valuable aspect to the team. Additionally, I find your experience in the Alzheimer Society to be exceptionally diverse, providing our team with a variety of different opinions and views.

Attached is my application letter for your consideration. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to be in touch. I am very much looking forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Aran Chang

From: aran@abasa.ca
To: cathyliu0627@gmail.com
Date: May 26, 2020
Subject: Invitation to English 301 Writing Team

301 Aran Chang Letter of Application

Hi Cathy,

Your application letter is impressive and leaves a resonating impression and I would like to invite you to be a part of my writing team.

From your application letter, it is clear that you hold a great amount of knowledge regarding communication and writing. Your ability to think critically will bring much contributions to the table during our discussions and I believe your worth ethics are much to be admired. Your experience working in a group setting will serve to more efficiency create a cohesive environment for writing, communication and planning. Lastly, I believe your extensive knowledge in grammar and structure will prove to be a valuable asset to my team.

Attached is my application letter for your consideration. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to be in touch. I am very much looking forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Aran Chang

From: aran@abasa.ca
To: money_sd@hotmail.com
Date: May 26, 2020
Subject: Invitation to English 301 Writing Team

301 Aran Chang Letter of Application

Hi Money,

I thoroughly enjoyed your application letter and I feel a resounding impression from it.  I would like to invite you to be a part of my writing team.

From your application letter, it is evident that you have an extensively wide range of different skills and interests, and I find your philosophy to learning to be a valuable trait to have as a prospective group member. Your experience as a kinesiology student will provide a greater range of perspectives to our writing team. Despite your lack of professional or technical writing, I believe your experience will greatly aid in the formulation of the assignments from our writing team.

Attached is my application letter for your consideration. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to be in touch. I am very much looking forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Aran Chang

ENGL 301 is an exploration into the foundations of formal writing and effective written communication. It guides students through the principles of formal written communication and helps create individuals that are sensitive to the needs of the reader. In addition, the course also maintains standard practices for education in the research processes, and how to create effective proposals to better aid in the students’ academic career. Lastly, the course teaches business writing, drafting business plans, and the writing of job resumes and application letters. The course will be taught through the method of self-studying via textbook looking and class exercises, coupled with the help of peer review to stimulate communication between peers.

My Expectation
In the course, I expect to engage in activities that prepare me for planning and creating an effective job application and resume. As I lack the experience in creating a compelling application, I hope to strengthen these weaknesses in the following months so that I am able to create writing that showcases my assets in an effective and profession manner.

Lastly, I expect to push my boundaries as an effective writer by the end of the term and look forward to learn about creating a professional online presence so that I can broaden my networking strategies.

In the coming weeks I look forward to learning together with you all and best of luck in all your future endeavors.

MEMORANDUM

To:                          Dr. Erika Paterson, Instructor, ENGL 301, UBC
From:                    Aran Chang, Student, ENGL 301
Date:                     May 21, 2018
Subject:               Letter of Application Posted on Blog for ENGL 301 Writing Team

In order to apply for a position in a professional writing team, I have created and posted a letter of application to my ENGL 301 blog. Attached to this email contains my completed application as requested.

The contents of my application letter include:

a request to be considered for a position on a professional writing team at ENGL 301

a summary of my academic and professional background

a summary of my writing strengths and weaknesses

a summary of my role and contributions on the professional writing team

Please let me know if you have any questions or if you require any further information.

301 Aran Chang Memorandum