Week 9: Reflection

A reflection paper or presentation is often used in colleges to identify how well students are able to apply course concepts. For this posting (which should be more in depth and longer than previous postings) tell us the following:
1) Explain what you learned and the insights you had from completing the blog assignments. Be specific.
2) Include what you learned from reading the comments posted by your classmates.
3) Identify which blog assignment you felt contributed the most to your professional communications skills.
This is your final blogging assignment and is worth 20 points.

Week 8, Chapter 8: Persuasive messages

Many of you will have careers that do not require you to write sales letters or marketing materials. There are, however, reasons why you should still be aware of persuasive strategies and techniques. Describe a situation where you were persuaded to do something, buy something or say something that you would have preferred not to do/buy/say. What was the primary persuasive technique the person used and why do you think it was effective on you?

Week 7, Negative messages

Describe a business situation in which you either received or had to give bad news. This may be, for example, getting turned down for a job or a loan, having to give a staff member a poor performance review, or having to tell a customer you could not comply with their request. Tell us the channel it was delivered (in person, over the phone, via email or by letter). Explain if you feel the message was delivered sensitively and why or why not.

Week 6, Chapter 6: Direct letters and goodwill messages

For this week’s blog assignment, describe a goodwill message you have written or have received from someone else. Explain what the situation was (thank-you note, sympathy letter, or other expression of goodwill). Analyze how well you think the purpose was accomplished based on the “Five Ss of Goodwill Messages” discussed in your textbook. What could have been done differently? What was particularly good about the message?

This site provides some good examples and instructions for a variety of letter types, including such specialty items as fax cover sheets as well as goodwill messages: http://www.letterwritingguide.com/ (You may want to add it to your favorites/bookmark it for future use.)

Week 5, Chapter 5: Email and memorandums

Read this article about tips for writing email in the workplace: http://careerplanning.about.com/od/communication/a/email_tips.htm The author provides seven tips. Describe an email you have received that broke one or more of this tips. Be specific. Explain what the email said, which tip(s) it violated, and suggest how it could be improved.

Week 4, Chapter 4: Revising and Proofreading

As you go about your usual business this week, keep your eyes open for errors in spelling, grammar and/or punctuation. What did you find, what is the error, what would be correct, and where did you see it? For example, last winter I was at a professional development seminar. The speaker had a slide with two incorrect apostrophes in the same phrase. The phrase as written on the slide was “plaintiffs attorney’s.” Because the plaintiffs possess the attorneys and both nouns are plural, the phrase should have been written, “plaintiffs’ attorneys.”

Week 3, Chapter 3: Improving Writing Techniques

Many people now believe that writing skills have declined in America. 1. Explain why you agree or why you disagree with that statement. 2. Give examples to support your view. 3. Provide suggestions for what can be done to improve writing (if you agree with the statement) or suggestions for what can be done to continue the situation (if you believe writing skills are satisfactory in America).