Writing That Works

Index of Sample Documents About the Authors Preface Brief Contents PART ONE    The Writing Process at Work  Chapter 1       Understanding the Workplace Writing Context: A Case Study Writing Systematically Determining Your Purpose Assessing Your Audience’s Needs Considering the Context Generating, Gathering, and Recording Ideas and Facts Establishing Your Scope Organizing Your Ideas Selecting the Medium Writing for Results Writing Persuasively   Chapter Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects Chapter 2     Planning, Drafting, and Revising Workplace Writing: A Case Study Organizing Your Information Traditional Roman Numeral Outline Decimal Numbering System Outline Essential Organizing Patterns A Case Study Part I: How Audience and Purpose Shape Organization  Drafting a Document       Beginning Your Rough Draft  Keeping Your Audience in Mind       Accommodating Multiple Audiences     Writing for an International Audience Writing an Opening  Writing a Closing  A Case Study Part II: Drafting the Lifemaker Brochure  Revising a Document  Content and Organization  Coherence      Paragraph Unity      Transitions  Emphasis       Active and Passive Voice       Subordination       Parallel Structure       Lists      Other Ways to Achieve Emphasis  Point of View  Style and Language       Formal Writing Style       Informal Writing Style       Context and Word Choice       Conciseness       Bias       Plain Language  Proofreading  Case Study Part III: Revising the Lifemaker Brochure Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects PART TWO    Methods and Design   Chapter 3        Collaborating on Content Advantages and Disadvantages of Collaborative Writing Functions of a Collaborative Writing Team Planning Research and Writing Review and Revision The Role of Conflict in Collaborative Writing Leading a Collaborative Writing Team Schedule Review Transmittal Sheet Collaborating with Other Departments Chapter Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects Chapter 4    Conducting Research Conducting Primary Research: Experience, Interviews, Observations, and Questionnaires Beginning with Your Experience Observing Firsthand Using a Questionnaire Conducting Secondary Research: The Workplace, the Library, and the Internet Developing a Search Strategy Workplace Sources of Information Library Research Searching the Web Evaluating, Recording, and Acknowledging Research Sources Evaluating Sources Taking Notes Quoting from Your Sources Paraphrasing Summarizing Avoiding Plagiarism and Other Intellectual Property Violations Copyrights Patents Trademarks Documenting Sources APA Style MLA Style Other Style Manuals Chapter Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects Chapter 5    Designing Text and Visuals Understanding Design Principles Designing Documents Typography Highlighting Devices Integrating Other Design Elements Creating Visuals Designing and Integrating Visuals with Text Tables Graphs Drawings Flowcharts Organizational Charts Maps Photographs Infographics Using Visuals to Communicate Internationally Chapter Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects Chapter 6    Writing in an Online Environment Crafting Content for Rapid Consumption Using the Inverted Pyramid Using a Simple Style and an Appropriate Tone Writing Concisely Chunking Content Highlighting Information Using Headings and Subheadings Using Bulleted and Numbered Lists Giving Directional Cues Providing Keywords for Content Retrieval Using Graphics and Typography Linking to Internal Content Linking to External Content Repurposing Existing Content Documenting Sources of Information Protecting User Privacy Enhancing Access to Content Ensuring Access for People with Disabilities Considering International Users Social and Collaborative Media in the Workplace Blogs and Forums Wikis Podcasts FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) Social Media Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects PART THREE    Messages and Models  Chapter 7             Writing E-mails, Memos, and Letters Using Professional Style and Tone Audience and Writing Style Goodwill and the “You” Viewpoint Structuring Effective Messages Direct and Indirect Patterns Openings Closings Developing Clarity and Emphasis Lists Headings Subject Lines Managing Your Email and Protocol Review and Confidentiality Writing and Design Observing Protocol Sending Text and Instant Messages Designing Memos Memo Format Designing Letters Letter Format Heading Inside Address Salutation Subject Line Body Complimentary Closing Writer’s Signature Block End Notations Continuing Pages  Meeting the Deadline: The Time-Sensitive Message Understand the Assignment Gather Information Organize Your Thoughts Write the Draft Polish the Draft Take a Well-Deserved Break Chapter Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects Chapter 8    Writing Routine and Sensitive Messages Routine and Positive Messages Cover Messages (or Transmittals) Acknowledgments Inquiries Responses to Inquiries Sales and Promotions Sensitive and Negative Messages Routine and High-Stakes Refusals Complaints Adjustments Collections Writing International Correspondence Culture and Business-Writing Style Cross-Cultural Examples Meeting the Deadline: Writing a Sensitive Message Chapter Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects Chapter 9    Writing Informal Reports Planning and Writing Informal Reports Considering Your Audience Collecting Information Parts of the Informal Report Reaching Plausible Conclusions: Evaluating Cause and Effect Types of Informal Reports Progress and Periodic Reports Investigative Reports Incident Reports Trip Reports Test Reports Chapter Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects Chapter 10    Writing Formal Reports Transmittal Messages Front Matter Title Page Abstract Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables Foreword Preface List of Abbreviations and Symbols Body Executive Summary Introduction Text (Body) Conclusions Recommendations Works Cited (or References) Back Matter Bibliography Appendixes Glossary Index Chapter Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects Chapter 11    Writing Instructions Planning Instructions Learn to Perform the Operation Yourself Assess Your Audience and Purpose Organize the Instructions Writing Instructions Write Directly to Your Reader Include Warnings and Cautions Using Illustrations and Design Principles Illustrate for Clarity Design for Ease of Use Testing for Usability Chapter Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects Chapter 12    Writing Proposals Planning and Writing Proposals Audience and Purpose Project Management Repurposing Content Organization Persuasive Writing Internal Proposals Routine Internal Proposals Formal Internal Proposals External Proposals Solicited Proposals Unsolicited Proposals Grant and Research Proposals Sales Proposals Meeting the Deadline: The Time-Sensitive Proposal Requests for Proposals RFP Structure Information about Your Company Project Description Delivery Schedule Proposal Description Vendor Qualifications Proposal-Evaluation Criteria Appendixes Chapter Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects Chapter 13    Giving Presentations and Conducting Meetings Preparing and Delivering Presentations Determining Your Purpose Analyzing Your Audience Gathering Information Structuring Your Presentation Using Visual Aids Practicing Your Presentation Delivery Techniques that Work Reaching Global Audiences Meeting the Deadline: The Time-Sensitive Presentation Part I: Planning Your Presentation Part II: Creating Your Presentation Part III: Practicing Your Presentation Part IV: Delivering Your Presentation Listening Fallacies About Listening Steps to More Effective Listening Conducting Productive Meetings Planning a Meeting Chairing a Meeting Chapter Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects Chapter 14    Finding the Right Job Promoting Your Skills for a Successful Job Search Establish Your Personal Brand  Post an Online Personal Profile  Create a Personal Website              Conducting the Job Search  Networking Campus Career Services Strategic Web Searches Job Advertisements Trade and Professional Journal Listings Private, Temporary, and Government Employment Agencies Internships and Co-ops Direct Queries and Informational Interviews Job-Search Record Keeping Preparing an Effective Résumé Analyzing Your Background Organizing Your Résumé Digital Formats and Media Résumés Sample Résumés Writing an Effective Letter of Application Opening Paragraph Body Paragraphs Closing Paragraph Sample Letters Completing a Job or an Internship Application Doing Well in the Interview Before the Interview During the Interview Sending Follow-up Correspondence Sending a Resignation Letter or Memo Chapter Summary Exercises Collaborative Classroom Projects Research Projects Appendix A  Revision Guide: Sentences, Punctuation, and Mechanics Proofreaders’ Marks   Sentences Sentence Faults Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices Sentence Fragments Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers Nouns Count and Mass Nouns Articles Prepositions Pronouns Pronoun Case Pronoun Reference Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Adjectives and Adverbs Comparatives and Superlatives Placement Usage Verbs Subject-Verb Agreement Voice Mood Tense Helping Verbs Conditional Sentences Gerunds and Infinitives   Punctuation Commas Linking Independent Clauses Introducing Elements Enclosing Elements Separating Elements Using Commas with Other Punctuation Avoiding Unnecessary Commas Semicolons Colons Apostrophes Showing Possession Indicating Omission Forming Plurals Quotation Marks Identifying Quotations Setting Off Words, Phrases, and Titles Using Quotation Marks with Other Punctuation Periods Question Marks Exclamation Marks Parentheses and Brackets Hyphens Linking Modifiers Separating Prefixes and Suffixes Other Uses Dashes Ellipses Slashes   Mechanics Capitalization Proper Nouns Common Nouns First Words Specific Groups Specific Places Specific Institutions, Events, and Concepts Titles of Works Professional and Personal Titles Abbreviations, Letters, and Units Numbers Words or Numerals Plurals Money Measurements Time and Dates Addresses Punctuation Documents Abbreviations Names of Organizations Measurements Personal Names and Titles Italics Foreign Words and Phrases Titles Proper Names Words, Letters, and Numerals Subheads Index