INTRODUCTION
The following page will outline what I consider my best work throughout this term. Starting from the very beginning of the course with the definitions assignment to one of the final assignments writing appropriate business letters. The following documents are chronological, with the oldest assignment on the top. These assignments will follow a narrative that shows how each lesson built onto the last one, and conclusively resulted in a finished product that considered all aspects of technical communications with this Web Folio.
DEFINITION ASSIGNMENT
Purpose
The definition assignment in Lesson 1:3 required students to choose a relatively complex term and define it using a parenthetical definition, a sentence definition, and an expanded definition. The context of the use of the term had to be specific and written to a clear audience. The purpose of this assignment was to help students appreciate the importance and roles of definitions in technical writing, understand how audience and purpose indicate the need for definition, differentiate the levels of definitions, and select the appropriate level of detail according to the situation.
Success
This assignment required a target audience. By concentrating on this audience and considering whether or not certain terminology needed extra defining or not was initially challenging. By applying the peer review to the draft, I was able to make corrections that improved the assignment significantly.
FIRST DRAFT – PEER REVIEW – FINAL DRAFT
FORMAL REPORT PROPOSAL
Purpose
Discovering useful research techniques and relaying them to a specific audience in the most appropriate and professional manner is important for future careers and projects. The purpose of the formal report proposal lesson in lesson 2.1 aimed to help students study writing techniques, study the research process, and brainstorm ideas for a full formal report. By having a well-drafted proposal, a concentrated and successful formal report will follow.
Success
Drafting a formal report proposal is not simple and takes a lot of research on the topic and consideration about feasibility. As a sociology student, I am accustomed to research proposals and complex designs to a research report. I tried to approach this assignment with incredibly complex topics and I could not get a feasibly version of what I wanted to report. In the end, I found a topic that I could be passionate about but still draft a great, wholesome report on.
MEMORANDUM TO EVAN CRISP
Purpose
Writing a memorandum to Evan Crisp helped with applying the “You Attitude” strategy in writing to a peer. By demonstrating a “You Attitude” while providing Evan Crisp with constructive criticism allows a positive growth without being condescending or feelings of embarrassment. By providing peers with positive criticism using a “You Attitude”, peers will most likely take the advice and will feel empowered to apply the criticisms to their work.
Success
After reading the “You Attitude Handout”, I grew a sense of understanding of how to approach Evan’s initial email. It was clear that Evan does not have any technical communication background, and I decided to approach Evan with an educating and understanding point of view rather than an instructive one. I aimed to make Evan feel like I wanted to help him rather than making him feel like I knew better than he did.
COMPLAINT LETTERS
Purpose
Drafting business letters that reflect both a “complaint letter” and a “bad news letter”. By thinking about an objective, whether it be to persuade the audience to act or think a certain way, to notify them of a situation, or to rectify a situation, the letter will hold a tone that compliments that objective. This assignment aimed to further our “You Attitude” writing style and apply them to professional situations where disappointment and unhappiness resulted
Success
As someone who has written both of these letters in real life situations, I found this assignment quite easy. Success in creating letters that express or address bad news is found by being empathetic to the reader. There is nothing worse than opening a letter that is holistic and unsympathetic, and I wanted to ensure that my complaint letter aimed to express disappointment while not pointing figures or being unprofessional about it and that my bad news letter aimed to rectify the situation in the most sympathetic manner without making excuses.
FORMAL REPORT PEER REVIEW
Purpose
This peer review was, in my opinion, the most important one of the term since good peer reviews are incredibly important to the effective revisions of a final project, and the formal report is the biggest assignment of the term. Providing peers with constructive and balanced feedback and employing a “You Attitude” throughout the review will allow peers to take the criticism without any bad feelings. This review aimed to identify both the strengths and weakness and mark specific improvements to ensure a strong final copy.
Success
I enjoyed creating a template that was organized and concise. I ensured to employ the “You Attitude” throughout the entirety of the review and took extra time to ensure my peer was getting the best opinions and criticisms that I could offer in order to help them produce a successful report.
Peer’s Formal Report Draft – My Peer Review