Dave Borrel's ENGL301 Student Blog

When I first started the course, I was excited to learn more about specific technical writing techniques that will help me communicate in a professional setting. Although I have extensive research writing in a research setting, I think there was still a lot to learn from this course. In this course, we created a research proposal which did not require extensive references. The writing style made it more accessible to others and uses less jargon. Being able to define unfamiliar terms is a useful skill and can be useful outside of a work setting. One aspect of technical writing that I am not that confident in was writing emails and memos. As we continued to write more and more memos I am now comfortable with the formatting and feel confident that I can make these same memos in a working environment.

Throughout the term, the consistency of the assignment deadlines forced me to actively plan ahead and continue to write consistently. I think that this suits my learning style because if I don’t practice writing on a consistent basis, it will take me a while to write well. I think that this will help me become a better writer in the future as I hope to write consistently even after the course in order to maintain my ability. I also learned much more than I would have working within the writing team compared to writing on my own. It is an amazing opportunity to write with different people from different backgrounds. I felt that my writing team had a varied set of skills which helped me write better and have exposure to different learning styles. Overall, I felt that the assignments were engaging and challenging to give me a chance to learn more about different documents.

One weakness that I discovered from my own time in the course was taking enough time to revise and edit my work. Although I was able to have different edits, I think that I benefit from more frequent edits and I think that is a weakness that I learned after taking this course. Moving forward, I will ensure that there is enough time to have multiple rounds of revision for my next written document.

Overall, this course has helped me improve my written communication skills as I did not write as often as I did while I was working the last year. Moving forward, when I step into a career in Software Development these skills will have transfer when I write memos to update my team on the process I made on the project I am working on. I will be able to make instructions and proposal to future investors in future web applications that I hope to make in the future.

The process of creating a Web Folio was an interesting process as it is a way to combine the different experiences that a person may have to create an online prescence. From the readings, it is interesting to see the many different purposes that a web folio may have from convincing employers to showcasing work to the public. Thinking back to my work from the entire term, there were many strategies that I learned that can help me in future professional situations. In order to show this gradual improvement over time, there needs to be a way to see all the posts in one location without needing to scroll too long in any single direction. This is where the Web Folio can be useful in demonstrating all the work that a person does for a single course. In addition to showcasing academic work, it can also be used as a way to demonstrate your qualifications to prospective employers.

From my own research, it is apparent that creating an online portfolio in the tech industry can be a useful way to differentiate yourself from the other applicants. You can include personal projects that demonstrate your ability to learn programming languages independently while creating a useful project. I think that practicing this type of web document before I start looking for internships later next year will be a good exercise in combining my projects into a single location. Additionally, taking the time to reflect and put all of my experiences on a web page can help me plan out my next steps and know what projects to pursue to fill any gaps in my own knowledge. Moving forward, I will take the lessons I learned from this course and apply it to future work opportunities.

When creating the Web Folio, I noticed that maximizing its readability and flow is just as important as the content put into each component. I understand that the the components added into the document need to make sense and fit within the purpose of the web folio. The links need to work and the placement of the links need to make sense within the whole document. Additionally, carefully curating the images and documents for the Web Folio can help improve reader engagement and make for a memorable document. There is also a great opportunity to showcase your personality and interests by adding links to your own hobbies. I would describe myself as a visual learner and this style will help me fully showcase my ability in a creative way.

The process of drafting the formal research report was an excellent opportunity to learn about formal research reports outside of an academic setting. Compared to the research reports that I drafted in my first undergraduate degree, the tone of this research proposal was more informal. Since this was a document targeted toward a specific individual, there was much less reliance on secondary research citations. Writing in this style was jarring for me at first, but as I kept writing, I could see how this would be useful in a workplace. I also learned a lot more about the process of creating a survey. The inclusion of an ethics statement along with learning how to navigate the UBC qualtrics survey website will be useful tools for me in the future. I also learned that a significant buffer needs to be considered when creating the timeline for a formal research report. I hope to use these skills in the future.

One aspect that I learned in the peer review process was how each individual chooses to represent data. It was interesting to see the contrast between Jenny’s selection of a bar graph, and my choice of a pie chart. To gain further insight into this process, research on the best practices for feasibility reports can improve the chances of success. Even though Jenny’s formal report draft was well-written, I think some sections would have benefitted from more elaboration. This made me realize that it is the writer’s responsibility to ensure that the information is presented in a way that minimizes as much ambiguity for the intended audience. As I read through my report, there are also many sections which could use additional edits to reduce ambiguity. I still have much to learn in terms of reviewing my peer’s work, and I hope that I can continue to practice for the final weeks of the semester.

Overall, this was an interesting unit and I think many of the comments I received from Jenny will help me prepare the final version of my report.

Enclosure – Dave-Borrel-Formal-Research-Paper-Draft-v2

Throughout this unit, I learned how difficult it can be to write to a more non-technical audience. The disparity in the level of knowledge between individuals can vary so much and it is up to the writer to communicate this information effectively. Additionally, the peer review process made it apparent that more often than not, it is better to assume that the audience may not know a specific term. In the following blog, there will be more detail about what I learned writing the definitions, doing a peer review and then subsequently editing my own work.

Although I have done extensive writing in the past, there were still new lessons to glean from this assignment. When there is enough time to make multiple rounds of drafts to edit and review, I can produce my best work. Before writing any definitions, I typed down all the ideas that came to mind without thinking of syntax or style. The next step involved making sure that the definitions were easy enough to understand. One technique that helped was to walk away from the document and then read it out loud. Before submitting, I did one final round to improve the flow between sentences and make them as succinct as possible. My writing style relies on the integration of time-management as well in order to give myself the best timeline to produce acceptable results.

During the peer review process, I learned that having a multi-phase approach to editing can also be helpful. After reading my partner’s document, I was unsure where to begin providing suggestions or feedback. I was immediately impressed by the attention to detail that Catherine displays in her work. There were almost no grammatical errors, and I find that to be a weakness in my own writing. When I review another person’s document, I try to take some time to read it out loud and pay close attention to when I am confused or having trouble understanding the meaning of a sentence. After reading through the document, these sentences are revisited and I meticulously figure out how these sentences could be improved for clarity. Reading through the document with a specific purpose in mind for each iteration, helped me come up with feedback over time.

While editing my own work, it became apparent that my assumptions were incorrect in terms of what the average university student may know about Artificial Intelligence. There are easy corrections that can sometimes be missed. Whereas other readers could see and provide feedback. It is always insightful to see how different individuals provide feedback for my work. Each writer has different strengths and I aim to integrate aspects I learn from my peers into my own work. For this assignment, I reviewed Catherine’s peer review and then compiled the suggestion into a list. One by one, I edited the definitions page and did one more read through out loud.

Please find my revised definitions page and peer’s edit attached below.

https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl301-99a-2021wa/2021/10/08/revised-version-of-definitions-for-machine-learning/

https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl301-99a-2021wa/2021/10/04/peer-review-of-definition-for-machine-learning/

From: Dave Borrel, Student ENGL 301 Technical Writing UBC

To: Jenny Li, Student ENGL301 Technical Writing UBC

Subject: ENGL 301 Writing Team Invitation

Date: September 24th 2021

Hi Jenny,

My name is Dave Borrel, a student in the ENGL 301 technical writing class, and I am interested in forming a professional writing team.

After reviewing your Letter of Application, your experience writing extensively in a team setting resonates with my experience writing research documents. It appears that you are also looking to supplement your existing expertise with fundamental business skills in the Master of Management program. I am doing something similar in my second degree, as I plan to minor in Commerce. Your willingness to contribute to the team by actively participating and working hard are signs of a reliable teammate.

The combination of our team-oriented attitude and alignment of professional interests will help us succeed as teammates. Please let me know if you are interested in joining a professional writing team with me. Attached, is my Letter of Application. I hope to hear from you soon.

Best,

Dave

—

Dave Borrel

Student

The University of British Columbia

dborrel@student.ubc.ca

301 Dave Borrel Application Letter

From: Dave Borrel, Student ENGL 301 Technical Writing UBC

To: Darius Zhang, Student ENGL301 Technical Writing UBC

Subject: ENGL 301 Writing Team Invitation

Date: September 24th 2021

Hi Darius,

My name is Dave Borrel. I am another student ENGL 301 technical writing class that is interested in forming a professional writing team.

Based on your Letter of Application, there is a breadth of experience in Business and Economics. To supplement my interests in software engineering, I am actively developing my business skills and knowledge of economics as they relate to technology. These skills are necessary for a successful transition from a software developer role to software consulting with clients directly. I also find that creating new ideas is one way to truly apply the knowledge learned in the classroom.

With your business-based skillset and willingness to form new ideas, and my experience writing in different contexts, we can complement each other well. Please let me know if you are interested in joining a professional writing team with me. Attached, is my Letter of Application and I hope to hear from you soon.

Best,

Dave

—

Dave Borrel

Student

The University of British Columbia

dborrel@student.ubc.ca

301 Dave Borrel Application Letter

From: Dave Borrel, Student ENGL301 Technical Writing UBC

To: Catherine Yu, Student ENGL301 Technical Writing UBC

Subject: RE: ENGL 301 Writing Team Invitation

Date: September 23rd 2021

Hi Catherine,

I received your email and would like to join the team along with Darius Zhang. After careful evaluation of your application, the extensive writing experience in different contexts, and work experiences stands out. I resonated with your learning philosophy as active participation is necessary component for immersion in a subject. Furthermore, there is concrete evidence that you will be a dependable and professional teammate. Our combined experience and willingness to challenge our own writing abilities will only strengthen the team.

Attached is my letter of application, I hope to hear from you soon.

Best,

Dave

—

Dave Borrel

Student

The University of British Columbia

Email: dborrel@student.ubc.ca

301 Dave Borrel Application Letter

MEMORANDUM

To: Dr. Erika Paterson Instructor ENGL 301 Technical Writing UBC

From: Dave Borrel, Student in ENGL301 Technical Writing UBC

Date: September 20, 2021

Subject: Letter of Application Posted

As requested in the Course Schedule, I posted my letter of application to my blog. Please see the attached copy of this letter at the bottom of this post.

The Letter of Application includes

• Interest in forming a professional writing team
• an outline of my professional interests, work experience, volunteering and academics
• an overview of my strengths and weaknesses for writing and work habits
• personal learning philosophy

Please let me know if you need any additional information. I hope to hear from you soon.

Enclosure: 301 Dave Borrel Application Letter

13784 104 Ave

Surrey, BC V3T 1W5

September 20^th, 2021

301 Technical Writing Class

University of British Columbia

1873 E Mall #397

Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4

Dear ENGL301 Colleagues:

I am interested in finding a professional writing team to collaborate with this semester. I found this posting on the ENGL301 blog. I am a first year BCS student and hope to meet like minded teammates with similar interests.

I plan to work in software development, and I hope to be involved in projects that make a significant positive impact on the world. Prior to my studies, I was a phone room support worker at the Fraser Health Crisis Line. In that role, I trained over 50 new volunteers, led 10 training workshops, and managed the schedule. During my undergraduate degree, I worked as a research assistant at SFU. I was involved in drafting, editing, and submitting an original research manuscript to a peer reviewed journal. I was listed as a co-first author and presented my findings at a poster presentation. Outside of academics, I have experience volunteering with several non-profit organizations in the community.

This breadth of experience makes me an adaptable writer in different contexts. From writing research proposals, to sending emails related to management, my insight would be an asset to a writing team. In addition, I want to improve my ability to provide helpful feedback for my peers. To address this, I will seek out resources that will help me edit more effectively in the upcoming weeks.

As a lifelong learner, I continually seek new ideas to improve my professional and personal life. Working with peers is another way to bring together different writing styles and backgrounds. This approach suits my learning philosophy quite well and I am motivated to work hard and learn from others.

Thank you for considering my application. If you would like to form a writing team with me, you contact me through email at dborrel@student.ubc.ca.

Sincerely,

Dave Borrel

Encl. 301 Dave Borrel Application Letter