09/30/19

Unit 1: Reflection

Unit 1: Reflection

Links to my edited definition: Blog / Word doc

Link to Diane’s review of my definition: Review

Original Writing Process

Writing an apt definition is a vital yet underrated component of technical writing. It is something I overlook as I write research papers; I tend to dive right into the actual analysis, without establishing a solid foundation upon which an in-depth analysis can be built on. This week’s assignment forced me to take a step back and put myself in someone else’s shoes – someone who is unfamiliar with my discipline or area of study – by focusing on the basics of defining key terms. A good definition sets the tone of the rest of the writing and develops a common understanding across all readers. To write a definition that satisfies these two criteria, I made a series of choices during the defining process.

I began by choosing a term that was little-known but relevant to most people; this way, even if the reader was unfamiliar with the term, he or she would still be motivated to continue reading. The next challenge was to decide on the expansion strategies that were most applicable and useful in explaining the term just transition. In making that decision, I asked myself, if I were a reader, what would I want to know about a just transition? How did just transition relate to something I already know? Would I be interested to know more or fewer details? Thinking from the perspective of the readers allowed me to predict their expectations and choose the strategies accordingly. I also learned to be being mindful of the language I used to explain the term. Since the readers were supposedly non-experts, I had to constantly remind myself to refrain from using jargons and overly technical explanations.

 

Peer-review Process

Reviewing someone else’s writing was both a rewarding experience. It is because I could observe how my peers approached the same assignment different and learned from their writing styles, elaboration techniques, and language usage. Diane’s writing was particularly on point and effective, which contrasted with my wordy definitions. The way she explained her term, transformative learning, was clear and easy to follow, especially with her use of lists to demonstrate the operating principles. These are some of the things I have noted down to apply in my next assignments.

 

Editing Process

Diane paid great attention to detail when she reviewed my definition. She pointed out a range of grammatic, punctuation, and formatting mistakes I missed and suggested ways to avoid them. Her comments serve as a great reminder that these details are as important as the content itself. I also appreciated her suggestions to shorten some of the sentences, which is something I struggled with the most. I would certainly utilize Diane’s editing skills to review my writings in the future, and I hope to be a more careful writer as encouraged by Diane throughout the semester.

09/20/19

Email To Perspective Writing Team Member (1)

Hi Andree,

I hope this email finds you well. Your application letter stood out to me because of your articulate writing style, your extensive experience in technical writing, and the common expectations we share for a team in ENGL 301. It is my pleasure to invite you to be a part of my professional writing team and sharpen our written communication skills together.

It is evident from your application letter that you are an experienced writer in both the academic and professional settings. I have been exposed to different professional writing genres during co-op terms, allowing me to develop effective communication skill. I can offer you support in that manner and provide comments on how you can write more effectively. Likewise, I am open to constructive criticism; I believe your editing ability would be instrumental to my learning in this class. I am also excited to see that your experience as a TA for PHYS 100/101 paralleled with my work at the Geography Department as a GIScience Project Worker in terms of facilitating tutorials. I value timely communications amongst team members as well, and I believe we can work well collaboratively and learn from each other in a team.

I have attached my application letter for your review. Alternatively, you can follow this link to view the letter on my blog: https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl301emilyfungleung/files/2019/09/301-Emily-Leung-Application-letter-.docx.

Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you soon and I would be thrilled to have you on my team

Best regards,
Emily

09/19/19

Email To Perspective Writing Team Member (3)

To:                      brian.wang@alumni.ubc.ca
From:                emilyleung1997@gmail.com
Date:                 Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 1:10 PM
Subject:            ENGL 301 – Professional Writing Team
Attachments:   301 Emily Leung Application letter

 

Hi Brian,

 

As a Geography student who is passionate about environment and sustainability, I am impressed by your writing experiences in that area. I believe our skill sets are complementary to each others’, and I would like to invite you to form a writing team together for ENGL 301.

 

My work at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada involves producing documents that describe the environmental effects of developmental projects and our legislations to stakeholders in great detail. My work experiences, coupled with my competency to produce thorough reports as a fifth-year Geography student, will enable me to help you write in a descriptive and persuasive manner. Likewise, your ability to write with clarity and conciseness has been my learning priority for this semester. It would be great to have the opportunity to learn that from your experience as a Research Assistant.
I was also intrigued by your research in the UBC Ecohydrology Group and would love to learn more about it. Personally, I have taken a variety of geoscience courses at UBC on meteorology, and my specialization is in environment and sustainability. I believe our common academic and professional interests would allow us to form a collaborative learning environment as a writing team.

 

I have attached my application letter for your review. Alternatively, you can follow this link to view the letter on my blog: https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl301emilyfungleung/files/2019/09/301-Emily-Leung-Application-letter-.docx.

 

Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you soon and I would be thrilled to have you on my team

 

 

Best regards,

Emily

09/16/19

Application Letter

5959 Student Union Blvd

Vancouver BC  V6T 1K2

 

September 16, 2019

 

ENGL 301 Technical Writing Class

University of British Columbia

2329 West Mall

Vancouver BC  V6T 1Z4

 

Dear fellow classmates,

Please consider my application to be a member of your professional writing team for the ENGL 301 class. I was thrilled about this opportunity to hone my writing skill and navigate through the nuances of technical writing with your team. I believe my written communication and interpersonal skills developed through my coursework as a fifth-year Human Geography Student and my professional experiences will enable me to be a valuable addition to your writing team.

 

My professional and volunteering experiences revolve mainly around climate justice and environmental protection. I have volunteered with grassroots organizations that tackle various aspects of climate change—from removing invasive species to promoting zero-carbon lifestyles. At UBC, I was an Outreach Coordinator for UBCC350, and I had canvassed to people from all walks of life about climate actions. I was also a Sustainability Ambassador who organized events, such as the Sustainability Career Night, to raised students’ awareness about sustainable practices. Further to student involvements, I am working at the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) to assist with environmental assessments that ensure adverse environmental effects are minimized.

 

I have been exposed to plenty of writing opportunities in my professional field. Working as a Project Assistant at the IAAC, I have drafted sections of an environmental assessment report, produced briefing documents for treaty negotiation tables, and written correspondence to different project stakeholders. I am comfortable with writing collaboratively with my colleagues and reviewing each other’s work. In my role as a GIScience Project Worker, I wrote an executive summary for an environmental scan report to the Curriculum Renewal Committee. These experiences demonstrate my ability to present high-quality documents and conduct peer review for the writing team. In terms of areas of improvement, I struggle with spending more time than necessary to polish my writing. Although I have never missed a deadline, it remains to be an effort to know when to move on. Writing concisely and precisely is another area I hope to improve in this class.

 

Learning is a transformative endeavour; by acquiring new knowledge and consolidating it through continuous reflection, my way thinking and behaving change accordingly. I enjoy the process of learning and unlearning through which I can understand myself and my surroundings better. There is always something more to discover so keeping an open mind is crucial.

 

My writing and interpersonal skills will make me a strong candidate for your writing group. Please contact me at emilyleung1997@gmail if you have any questions. I look forward to excelling in professional writing with your team in the next four months Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

 

Sincerely,

Emily Leung

 

__________

Word Document: 301 Emily Leung Application letter

09/16/19

Memorandum

Memorandum 

 

To:          Dr. Erika Patterson, Instructor of ENGL 301

From:     Emily Leung, student of ENGL 301

Date:       September 16, 2019

Subject:  Application for a Professional Writing Team Member

 

In response to your posting on our class blog, I am writing to inform you of the submission of my application to be a professional writing team member.

 

The application letter has been attached to this email. It summarizes my previous professional experiences, writing strengths and weaknesses, as well as my learning philosophy. Highlights of the application include:

  • Keen interest in environmental protection and climate change as demonstrated in extensive volunteering and work experience in that field.
  • Experienced in writing, both individually and collaboratively, in the professional setting.
  • Open to learning from my fellow writing team members and from the various course materials.

 

I look forward to making the most of this semester in a writing team. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Should you need any further information, please feel free to contact me at emilyleung1997@gmail.com.

 

Enclosure: 301 Emily Leung Application letter