Kitaek Kim's ENG 301 Blog

September 19^th 2015

ENG 301 Classmates

UBC

Vancouver, BC

Dear Classmates,

SUBJECT: Application for ENG 301 Technical Writing Job

My name is Kitaek Kim and I would like you to consider me for a position in your technical writing teams as advertised on http://engl301.arts.ubc. I am currently attending the University of British Columbia as a senior Political Science major. In Political Science, the essay is the student’s main medium. I have been able to maintain an overall A- grade average and I attribute my academic success to my writing.

Besides academics, I have been involved in a variety of different work where I learned a corresponding variety of skills I believe are relevant to this job. This past year I have written two short film scripts and completed directing both of them as part of a UBC Film Production course. In the developmental stages I learned to exchange ideas and reach agreements with creative people. Later on I was in charge of scheduling and corresponding with cast and crewmembers through email, keeping records of rented camera equipment and film budgets, while also directing the films.

I was also involved in writing and editing the text of a seafood-truck menu, where emphasis was placed on both retaining a professional menu aesthetic while playing with the imagery and cadence of the text to make items appear more appetizing. I have also written a short critical opinion article for the Ubyssey, which was published in 2011.

This eclectic variety of jobs reflects my belief that one should look past off-putting or confusing superficialities if there is a truth or value to be gained from the overall experience. Different jobs, like different written forms and content, make my life and writing more interesting. While I value variety highly, I also put a great emphasis on execution. I prefer working on a schedule and using my time efficiently to ruminating on projects. Through this job I hope to strengthen my technical writing skills, which I will put towards becoming a lawyer.

If my experiences impress you, or if my work ethic and philosophy resonates with you please do not hesitate to get into contact with me at kkim_@live.com. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Kitaek Kim

301 Kitaek Kim Application letter

English 301 is an online course offered at UBC taught by Dr. Erika Paterson designed to introduce students to the elements of writing that are specific to professional, business and technical contexts. Students will first learn the principles of technical writing like style, format and knowing one’s audience. Then, students will progress to the practice and refinement of these techniques by producing various documents commonly used in such settings like abstracts, reports, e-mails and resumes. A peer-review system between students of their assignments will serve to facilitate discussion about concepts learned in class while also allowing for them to practice working collaboratively.

Since the use of sites such as Facebook or LinkedIn are crucial to building one’s career nowadays the course will introduce students to social networking strategies and to creating an online presence. Thus, students are expected to complete three main assignments: a final formal report, a LinkedIn profile accompanied by a job application package and finally a WebFolio.

Today, both people and companies practically live on the internet. Often one’s Facebook profile precedes one’s reputation while many first interactions are increasingly made through text rather than in person. Fluency in technical writing, as well as the proficiency at navigating and maintaining social networks are becoming truly necessary for job-getting and job-keeping. I am very excited for this course because I plan not only on learning and practicing the art of technical writing but also on crafting an online resume that I will actually employ in kindling my own career.